Back them Morgan was hard core. Remember the untreated wooden frame? Remember wings being fitted before spraying and so the beading was sprayed over?
When the Trad Morgan had those rivals listed above, most were built to a similar poor standard, but most were more, (coughs), sophisticated. Even wind-up windows.
I would not have chosen a Morgan in a new car market when the MGBV8, TVR, Lotus Elan and TR6 were rivals. I think that Morgans slow evolution made it what it became. The treated wood frame, alloy body panels, long doors, stainless bulkhead. Each one upped the game. Eventually of course, the Trad didn't have any rivals, and the vintage design, once spurned by the modernists (sound familiar?) became desirable because there was nothing else. Then the options list grew and you could pretty much have what you wanted.
Building a low volume niche car with no rivals must be a sound business plan, providing costs can be managed. But now, the CX cars are in a market with serious, competent sports cars (whatever your definition of this may be). With rivals and a recalibration of prices, AND the loss of predictable Trad sales, it becomes a different environment.
Dave I would be very interested to know who you think the CX Morgen's competitors are.
I never intended to buy a sports car. My wife always wanted to own a classic car. So we went to a morning dealer. I test drove a used 2010 roadster that my wife liked so much. Was not mine. Then the salesman told me to drive a PlusFour. What can I say ... I was immediately thrilled. The new combined with old design has thrilled me. I know of no manufacturer that offers this combination. Of course, this is a niche market. But I think this is the only way that MMC exists in the future.
