Teri Mendelsohn <t-terim@microsoft.com> writes
>
>I am interested in buying a Morgan. I have a great deal to learn:
>
>* which model is appropriate for my needs;
>* whether to buy an antique or new model;
>* whether to go through a dealer;
>* upcoming antique car shows.
>
Here's my contribution to the above points:
(i) The vast majority of Mogs in the UK are 4 str 4/4s,
family men, the vast majority of new morgans sold in
Germany are +8s, speed freaks!, The best bet, find a
local club, volunteer as a navigator/marshall/labourer
for a rebuild and try to drive a few. Most morgans are
as personal as the owners underwear, so finding one to
suit may be a long process.
(ii) Old or new is less of an issue for morgans as for any
other cars- all of them will need regular attention to
stay at their best, even if it is only to tighten all of
the bolts/screws that vibrate loose! For me in the UK,
the choice was simple, I ordered a new 4/4 in January
1989 and I am still waiting, my local dealer says 1999,
so to stave off boredom and to stop spending money on a
depreciating new car I bought a 1972 4/4 2 str to
restore gradually. For most of it's tenure it has been
my only car, although my wife has a modern car and I
have the odd clunker.
(iii) If you feel the need to use a dealer, make sure they
work for their margin and the car is well prepared,
presented, straight and are offering some form of
warranty, otherwise you may as well take the risk with a
private sale. Looking at any morgan, take someone who
knows what they are looking at and doesn't have a stake
in the purchase- else the cash will jump out of your
pocket. Most long term morgan owners will be a fair bet
as purchasers assistant.
(iv) No help here, I'm too far away!
Generally, the usual advice applies- buy the best you can afford and
research it as carefully as you can. In my experience rolling rebuilds
are not usually possible, as a chassis change is time consuming and body
faults often need lots of supplementary dismantling. Performance wise
anything is possible, some of the german speed freaks are running 300-
350bhp in a +8, a Kent engined 4/4 can with off the shelf tuning parts
run 120bhp reliably.
I'm not keen on things I can't fix so my car has the following
specification:
1972 Morgan 4/4 2 str, Ford Rosso Red, black leather bucket
seats with red piping, rubber mats, everflex trim.
Ford kent 1598cc crossflow, tubular exhaust maniflow, Kent "fast
road" cam, polished and ported head to stage 2 standard,
unleaded valve inserts, rejetted Weber DCD1 carb, (2 hours on a
rolling road), rally spec. dizzy. 5 speed Ford sierra gearbox,
scuttle roll bar, Koni telescopic rear shocks.
Not a car for the purist, but is goes like hell!
--
Jeremy Edwards
1972 Morgan 4/4 2 str
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