If you pay attention to any of the chatter on websites that discuss automobiles, one of the biggest complaints is that cars all look the same now.  While a lot of that is due to draconian fuel mileage standards, some of it is due to the march of technology and its ever-present demand for efficiency.  Despite this lack of panache on car lots today, reader Tony P. has found for us a car that is at once both stylish and devoid of any technological breakthroughs.  This 1958 Morgan 4/4 for sale on Craigslist in Santa Fe, New Mexico is a wonderfully anachronistic example of how cars were made before World War II despite being produced in 1958.  In fact, Morgan made this same model with a few updates up until 2018!  This running and driving relic of a more gentlemanly time can be yours for a $28,000 asking price.  Is it worth paying that princely sum to shed the shackles of sameness and oppressive technology?  Thanks to Tony P. for the Morgan tip!

The Morgan Motor Company got its start all the way back in 1910 in the Malvern Link section of Malvern in Worcestershire, Great Britain.  In contrast to the other offerings of Britain’s burgeoning automobile industry, founder H.F.S. Morgan produced three wheeled automobiles.  These efficient vehicles were quite popular and were produced until 1952 and have since made a comeback under the current iteration of the company.  Morgan’s first four wheeled vehicle debuted in 1936 was dubbed the “4/4” for having four wheels and it being propelled along with a four-cylinder engine.

The car was built in the tradition of nearly every car on the road at that time in that the body was framed out in wood with metal panels applied over the framework.  While this type of construction was adequate for the time, it was also slowly phased out as companies gained the ability to stamp larger and more complex body panels in steel and, occasionally, aluminum.  It wasn’t long before wood stopped being a structural component and was more commonly seen as an accenting material.  That is, everywhere but Morgan.

The company prided itself on the distinct lack of technological progress.  Incredibly, the company manufactured the 4/4 from 1936 all the way until 2018 with just a few breaks in production.  While the drivetrain slowly evolved to a point where the Morgan was a legitimately fast sports car, much of the change in that department was due to the company being too small to economically produce many of their drivetrain components.  Off the shelf items would have to do in many areas.  However, the company still builds cars with wood as a structural component to this day.  How do they get away with this?  Customers have shown a decades long desire for such a vehicle, and the company spent much of its existence with a large list of backorders.

While they no longer produce the Morgan 4/4, this 1958 Series II is available right now.  The seller doesn’t tell us much about the car other than it is in great running condition and that it has been “thoroughly gone through.”  While that usually means that the car has been properly mechanically sorted, it is always nice when the exact repairs and replacements are revealed in the ad.  We are told that the interior is swathed in all new leather and the canvas top is new as well.  The owner confidently states that everything works and you can drive it home.  Presumably after paying, of course.

Under the hood we see the car is still equipped with an 1,172-cc Ford side valve four-cylinder engine.  This beast belts out 36 horsepower and is backed by a Ford produced three speed manual gearbox.  Customers could order a competition version with 40 horsepower and a slightly better gearbox.  0-60 times were glacial at 26.9 seconds, with a top speed of 75 MPH.  Later Morgans would thankfully come with much stronger engines and more gears in their gearboxes.  Perhaps if we have a Morgan enthusiast among us, they could chime in on how difficult it would be to do a much-needed powerplant transplant under this car’s hood.

In all, it is a very nice car that is certainly distinctive.  The only drawback to this car is the engine’s lackluster power.  Other than that, this is certainly a car that one could enjoy motoring in, with stringback gloves and jaunty hat being optional.