At what point does a person enter the older demographic? Is it age, or looks, or attitude? I don't know the answers of course.
What I can say is this: When I bought my Morgan most of my friends (40-60 years old bracket) thought two things: firstly, that they liked the car and secondly, that they thought that it was too old for me. When I told them I was off to a MSCC meeting, they chuckled and offered me a zimmer frame and a hearing aid. Not sure what they would make of TM.
So there is an image out there of a 'typical Morgan owner', whether that image is justified or not is not the point, it is an image and it is out there. One thing is for sure, it is not the image portrayed in the recently issued Morgan Accessory Brochure - so either Morgan are trying hard to appeal to a different set of people or they have seriously misjudged who buys their cars (although clearly I was one of the first in the queue to order a Tax Disc Holder and Collapsible Coat Hangar).
It seems to me that these days a car (or motorcycle for that matter) can no longer be marketed as a form of transport without some form of accompanying lifestyle statement e.g. BMW Motorcycles doing their utmost to remove the 'Pipe and Slippers' reputation whilst simultaneously offering those with the cash a 'one stop shop' to the world of motorcycling, or Harley Davidson with leather chaps and rebel attitudes for 'Rebels without a cause', or Morgan as.....(please fill in the gap as you see fit).
Do I care? Personally, no I don't. People have the freedom - at least here in the UK - to do what they want within reason and can choose to drive or ride what they like; if they want to be with like minded people and join a club or something similar in pursuit of their interest, they can do that too. I suspect that most people tread the middle ground between operating alone and being a total 'groupie or fanboy' - some people being self-contained and others thriving in groups (or with audiences!)....human nature I think.
I found TM when searching for information on the experience of Morgan ownership (pre-purchase research really) and I am really pleased that I did. TM has proved to be very useful, particularly in the early stages of ownership, and I for one am extremely grateful for the advice, so freely given, that I have received from members. Could awareness of TM be raised, particularly to new owners? No doubt it could, if that is what was desired. Just a question of how.
BTW: Forgive the 'newbie' question, but is there conflict or competition, either current or historical, between TM and MSCC? Or do they rub along fine? Just interested to know.
