Until a few years ago, we trad friends could buy a car that had been built since 1936. From a small family run business, passed down from founder to son and grandson. With a ladder frame, straight-travel front suspension, rigid axle on leaf springs at the rear. A wonderful ash wood frame for the bodywork. There was an extremely successful optical facelift in 1952. This pre-war car was basically just kept on being built, only the latest engines and gearboxes were installed. So you could go to the Morgan dealer and buy a brand-new classic car, albeit with an up-to-date engine and gearbox. This was the perfect combination of two worlds, a reliable drive in a brand-new, ancient car that offered an almost unadulterated pre-war driving experience. (I also have a motorcycle that is almost 80 years old, sometimes you're glad when the drive technology isn't that old as well). That's all over now. (Don't tell me about the little bit of wood that is still used for marketing reasons). Yes, I come from the veteran car corner, I would rather buy an MG TC than a CX or even a Supersports. However, I'm also a lifelong Morgan enthusiast, so the development of the brand doesn't leave me cold. The Plus Four was no longer the ever-improved pre-war car that I loved, but at least the beautiful original body design has been successfully brought into the modern era. Long may it continue to be built. For me, Morgan has disfigured a beautiful car with the Supersport design. It's like installing a hyper-modern plastic door in a beautiful half-timbered house. Others may celebrate this “modernization”, but it's not my cup of tea.
