The history of the British sports car industry is littered with companies which have been labeled as “men in sheds.” These are small companies that have tried to build and market their own version of this type of vehicle, and some have been more successful than others, with many collapsing under a mountain of debt. One company that defied the odds has been Morgan. Formed in 1910, the company continues to operate to this day, producing hand-made sports cars. This Morgan Plus 4 is one such car, rolling out of the factory in 1962. Now being listed for sale, bidding has reached $10,000, but the reserve hasn’t been met. Located in Stamford, Connecticut, it is listed for sale here on eBay.

Production of the original Plus 4 commenced in 1950 and continued through until 1969. The model name has been revived twice since then, and a modern version remains in production until this day. The appearance of the little Morgan looks to be quite good. The owner is unsure whether the paint is original, but he does feel that if the car has undergone a repaint, it must have been some time ago. The frame looks to be solid, and apart from some peeling on the front bumper, all of the external chrome and trim looks to be in good condition. One interesting aspect of the Morgan is the fact that the frame for the actual body-shell is made from wood. This is a construction characteristic that harks back to the company’s earliest days, and one that they continue to use to the present.

In 1962 there were two different engines available in the Plus 4, and this one is the 1,991cc engine as used in the Triumph TR3. With a claimed output of 100hp, it was capable of propelling the Plus 4 to a top speed of 103mph. Power is transmitted to the rear wheels via a 4-speed manual transmission, while front disc brakes were introduced as a standard feature on the Plus 4 from 1959. The owner says that this Morgan is quite healthy and that the engine sounds really nice. The car has recently had its gas tank cleaned and relined, while a new fuel pump and thermostat housing have been fitted, and the carburetors and generator have been rebuilt.

The interior of the Plus 4 is complete, and there are no obvious signs of rips or tears in the upholstery. The owner admits that the seats and associated trim would benefit from a thorough clean, and I really can’t disagree with him on that. The dash looks to be in really good condition, with no obvious issues with the timber veneer or finish. The owner also says that all of the gauges work as they should. The car also comes with a soft-top and two side windows, and these all look to be in really nice condition.

As I said at the start, Morgan has managed to survive and succeed where others have failed. Companies such as Austin-Healey, Jensen, and Triumph were all producers of some beautiful sports cars, but all are names that are consigned to the dusty pages of history. Morgan has been able to survive by hanging onto traditional values while updating and modernizing designs to meet a diverse range of customer requirements. This particular Morgan looks like a really nice example of the Plus 4 model, and with a relatively bullet-proof design, this would be a great little British sports car to park in your garage.