British firm Morgan Motor Company Ltd still makes cars in much the same manner as it did in the early 1900s. Body panels are formed around ash frames, and the cars are hand-built. While other long-time British manufacturers also produce cars, their methods are substantially modern, as are their products. In some cases, you can’t tell a British car from any other make on the road. But not the Morgan. Today’s Plus Four doesn’t look a lot different from yesterday’s Plus Four. If you have your heart set on the vintage version, though, look no further than this blue 1965 here on eBay, with an asking price of $34,000 or best offer. This car is ready for a Springtime jaunt to your garage from Rogue River, Oregon – a charming place to visit, by the way.
This car is said to be “all original” though of course it’s had maintenance work, including new brakes, as well as “bearings and seals” recently. That four-pot breathing through twin Strombergs is from the Triumph TR4. Displacement is 2138 ccs, good for about 104 hp, with plenty of scope for improvement if you want to invest a few bucks. The gearbox is a four-speed manual. The driving experience is agricultural in a most charming way, with plenty of power on tap and immediate steering response. The cut-down doors somehow make the Morgan – like the TR2/3 series – seem faster.
I’m a sucker for soft, wrinkly leather seats, especially in oxblood red. These could benefit from reconditioning – like every weekend for a month – and of course, the steering wheel is a reminder that you’re coping with RHD. It’s not hard! The dash wood needs attention – I see at least one crack. The car has its soft top as well as a tonneau.
The paint is showing its age, and panel fit is indifferent at best. I’m not sure I’d lift a finger to improve the exterior other than attempting a gentle buffing by hand (Meguiars!). This model was an upgrade to the pre-war 4/4, situated on a longer chassis, utilizing a variety of more powerful engines. Produced from 1950 through 1969, only 4584 were sold. Given the variety of Plus Fours, values are striated: early cars have fans, and later cars have fans. Engine swaps are common. All that said, a buyer can choose from plenty of offerings at any one time, ranging from mid-teens to $25k. It’s not a surprise to me that this car hasn’t found an owner yet, given the steep premium that the seller seems to want for “originality”.
Sweet! I’ve always had a soft spot for Morgans and, to me, there’s nothing as nice as a car that that has been kept in good nick by attentive owners. I’d rather have this than a restored example, any day, feeling less restrained about putting lots of miles on it, which I’d do.
Details like panel fit look pretty original to me. Bonnets, wings and door weren’t stamped out on giant presses, but were shaped and fitted by hand. In fact, the amount of hand labor expended on these would drive the bean counters at, say, Toyota, stark raving mad.
BTW, kudos to Michelle for not reviving any of the old wheezes about Mogs, like “it has a wooden frame.” The actual chassis is, of course, steel. Only the body has a wood frame, to which the metal bits are tacked.
I’m a little surprised that nothing was said, good or bad, about wood rot –it’s an issue with these cars even though it’s only body framing, and at this price I would want a lot of reassurance.
I drove a ’66 for a while and loved the feel. It was so original the owner had ply tires on it which were really fun for screeching around every corner. It reminded me of my MGTD only much more comfortable and faster.
Those original beat up leather cushions are an air bladder and the original ones were in that driver and held air for months.
These are underpriced cars and a great deal during this value downturn.
My brother in law had a ’93 Plus Four, beige with red interior. It looked just like the unit for sale here. In the 90s the only ones that could be imported had to run on propane to meet US emissions, so his did. That little Ford engine (I believe it was a 1.8) could barely get out of its own way and finding a propane station was a pain, so he slipped a Honda S2000 engine and transmission under the bonnet. That thing could scoot afterwards. He eventually ended up selling it to someone north of the border, and he still kicks himself today for getting rid of it..
That is a fascinating thought, adding the S2000 drivetrain.
It’s ok to have a soft spot for Morgans (as I do, also) as long as said Morgan doesn’t have a soft spot (in the body frame) for you!
Like blood pudding, this is a Brit thing.
Certainly this is a decent, original patina car. What does that get you in the US? not much.
Unlike MGs and Triumphs, ACs, and Sunbeams, Morgan’s have little traction in the US due to their rarity over here, combined with no real US competition background or famous racing celebrities associated with them to soothe the soul while owning one. You’re kind of out there on a limb with one of these in the States.
Maybe you get lucky and find a Brit in the US who has to have it at this price.
A proper British sports car!