While it might look like a car built in the 1930s, this Morgan was the product of ’50s. Heck, Morgan is still building the Plus 4 and it doesn’t look much different than this one. Well, there’s one major cosmetic difference and that’s the flat radiator. In 1953, Morgan redesigned the front of the Plus 4, receiving the curved style grille that can still be seen on their modern cars. Some ’53s were shipped with the old style flat radiator, such as this one. It’s believed there were just 200 or so of these flat rads built. This one was parked in the ’60s after being rear-ended. The previous owner had plans of restoring it, but that never happened. The current owner has had it for the past 8 years and had the same plan for it, and as you can see they never got around to it either. They’ve decided to move it along, so you can find it here on eBay in Saint Simons Island, Georgia.
Restoring this car won’t be a simple task, seeing as it’s a mixture of steel and ash wood. Since the Plus 4 hasn’t changed much over the years, you can still get replacement wood and body panels, but they aren’t cheap! Between its rarity, desirability, and beauty, hopefully, someone takes on the restoration though, as this car deserves to be saved.
Morgan didn’t build their own engines for these cars, so power is provided by a version of the Triumph TR2 2.0 liter engine. The seller hasn’t tried to start the engine or even turn it over, so its condition is otherwise unknown. It doesn’t look rusty and hopefully will move by hand. Given that it’s a Triumph engine, finding a replacement shouldn’t be all that difficult if necessary.
If you’ve been on the hunt for a truly unique and interesting classic car, you can’t go wrong with a Morgan. They aren’t all that complicated to work on and there’s a dedicated and knowledgeable following that is willing to help newcomers. Restoring this one won’t be cheap, but in the end, you’d have one rare and special car. So, do you think this car will finally be restored or will it stay in its current sad condition?
I guess on the bright side, the body damage is out in the open instead of leaving you to find a bunch of rotten ash down the line. Cool car.
Maybe that’s why someone else did this to their Morgan… https://barnfinds.com/exclusive-crazy-morgan-boat-tail-speedster/
Owning, driving or even riding in a Morgan is surely an acquired taste , same as buttermilk, Kim Chee and haggis are acquired tastes . It IS a unique experience!
Hello Smokey, I have a 1952. It was “vetted” (?) in England and shipped here…I have over 50g in it at this point and still spending. Note to all who would acquire: a 70 year old car is the old, old grey mare. She was overheating badly. Got fixed. Then we found a split block and that the #4 cylinder was dead. Now looking for a new engine. On the bright side, I have the best Morgan mechanic/technician in America working on it, Larry Wexler in Copake New York. So, she will gallop again. What the Hell, it’s only money. Replies invited. Stuyvesant
Hi Josh,
The ’50 – ’54 Morgan Plus 4 is powered by the Standard Vanguard 68 hp 2088cc single carb engine rather than a TR2 mill – 90 hp 1991 cc dual SU carbs. The 2088 cc has a bore/stoke of 85/92 vs 1991 cc 83/92. Same family – easy mods.
Definitely a major restoration project, but worth the effort. The catch is hand built Morgans with their wooden body frames have panels – steel or aluminum – that are massaged to fit the individual machine.
The engine was also used to power ‘grey’ Ferguson tractors.
These hand built cars are excellent candidates for restoration by skilled amateurs. Almost all the parts are available from the US distributor, Morgan Spares and the hard to find items seem to be there. There are few cars that are as fun to drive as a Morgan.
I had one of 1953 with the curved grille and the standard engine in the early sixties here in Paris France. A peculiarity : two spare wheels fixed vertically at the aft!!
sold 15,500. The idea of a wooden frame scares me–not ony do you have ironworms working against you, you have termites. Throw in some collision damage maybe a tree fell on it? Good luck to the new owner, sure will be cool when done!!
Cheers
GPC
Here is a picture of a 58 plus 4 in my shop right now. The main frame, that the suspension and engine attach to is steel, and this is the same for all morgans. There is a wood ash frame that supports the body but this is common for a lot of cars from the early 1900’s to about 1950’s. MG’s and chevrolets both had wood frames for body components. The replacement and later cars had treated wood that last pretty much forever and insects do not attack.
10 years ago I missed a ’50 in a storage unit for a few grand. It had a Standard and was in good shape but I couldn’t fit in it at 6’1″ 180 lbs.
Boattail ?
I had one like this which was a great Florida car; and I got called back into the army in 1962 to Ft Devens, Mass and commuted 30 miles during the winter. The snow came in between the top of the windshield and the top as well as everywhere else, no fun, no winter car. The TR2 engine made it a great runner; and I had a lot of trouble with the light pieces of sheet metal which ran from the frame to renforce the front end. They would shift periodically causing a shimmy in the front end. You would have to pull over, get out the wrench, and tighten everything up; good to go. There was a button on the floor where the dimmer might be which one pressed several time with the engine running. The engine oil pressure luricated the front end parts. Interest car and wonderful fun to drive.