There were several responses which I hope people will re-post in this thread.
OK, here goes with the list - but with some supplementary thoughts to get my retaliation in first ahead of the inevitable flaming...
My personal wish list would be:
- Bonded aluminium chassis, scaled down for width to preserve dimensions of narrow-bodied cars
- Independent coil overs F&R with a touch more travel
- Keep narrow wheels with tall tyres
- Small capacity engines with light-pressure turbo and transient overboost
- Entry level model hits £30k price point* (* I did say 'wish' list - Lotus can do it... for the time being)
Elsewhere in this thread, there are persuasive views that 'Trad' must equal period or vintage feel. I can see the appeal of classic Morgans, but are owners of recent Trads tempted to discard their contemporary dampers, kingpin bushes and tyres? What about brake pad compounds, engine management systems or even modern petrol and oil?
In short, most of us enjoy the progress Morgan has made. Yes, compared to the rate of evolution over the last six decades or so, a bonded aluminium chassis would be a big step change for Trad cars. But drive an Aero or new +8 and the bonded-chassis cars still 'feel' like a Morgan. The turn-in and steering of the Aero are dominated by how far behind the front wheels you sit - just like in my trad. The suspension is busy over rough roads but soaks up larger undulations - sound familiar? And in both cars you feel like you sit on the back axle with a visceral sense of what the rear tyres are doing. All very different to a modern car.
I'm not an expert in manufacturing economics, but I suspect that Morgan could use a narrower version of the Aero/+8 tub for the 4/4 +4 and Roadster, adjusting the wing width and track for each of these models independent of the chassis, just as today.
And for all those for whom such changes would be a step too far, there is no shortage of pre-owned cars out there. So stop smashing up that Spinning Jenny and think what it could do to the residuals of your car...
