Howard, I suspect I could apply similar thinking to my current 991....? Not a faulty comparison to make, but I chose not to buy an aero8 tin top when the time came, and just kept my old Mog for the rare occasions when I might be able to enjoy it a tad...(-:

As for my thinking re Harley :-

My memory was never good and age has not improved things.... However I do remember perhaps back in the eMog days (?) that I too thought there were many comparisons between Harley and Morgan in terms of it`s evolving customer base, Thinking those who valued some measure if history, heritage, craftsmanship, and who perhaps preferred to be a little different... As best I remember Morgan did try to modernise and designed an entirely new body to more suit the trends of the time, but that was quickly binned and the Trad was thought to be the way forward... Apparently according to some it was the US market that kept the MMC going for a number of years when times were difficult, for which I for one am grateful at my Mog was not built till the mid eighties.. (-:

It does seem that the MMC may indeed have taken a take a leaf out of Harley`s book as circa the nineties, it seemed that the MMC may have set out to stamp their ownership on the Morgan badge/logo, and the actual outline of the trad. I think at the time Harley were employing lawyers a plenty to stop folk using their brand on anything, I think they may even have played a part in shutting down HOG magazine in the UK..? I think Harley may have educated many in the industry in terms of the value of branding and the protection thereof..Even the BMW club in the UK was not allowed to make use of the company`s logo on club literature etc.etc.

Some might determine that Harley went to some lengths to exploit their ownership of the brand.... Harley aftershave anyone...? The list of Harley related merchandise seems huge..?

However it does indeed seem that there are quite a few similarities betwixt Morgan and Harley, try beaming up the Harley link below, should you have any interest in creating your own comparisons, though I note that there is no mention of the Aermacchi link up in an attempt to get into lighter bike sales... I also admit to being a bit of a Harly fan in my yoof, having written to Fred Warr the then only Harley dealer in the UK in the sixties. Why a Harley in the sixties, perhaps as they were so very different back then, and perhaps the same sort of thinking got me interested in Morgans in the nineties..(-:

Oh the link...

How Harley-Davidson Is Killing Itself (roadandtrack.com)

Whadaya fink...?

I sure hope Morgan survive, though I depend on other than the MMC to provide me with any parts I might need to maintain my Morgan...