Width of rear wheel arches is a big thing for me.
I'll take you back to 1969! I was 17 and just passed my test. Autocar road-test a plus 8. It's the fastest accelerating car in Britain according to the test. There's a picture of the back of it. The caption says something like ...this is all most motorists will see of the new Morgan. There's another picture of the rear from the side...those lovely rear wheel arches so narrow...caption says something like....when motorists sit next to you at the lights they know you have rejected everything they care about except performance.
It was a moment of love for me aged 17. Of course it was many more years before I could afford one.
In my mid/late forties we were on holiday near Malvern. I talked my wife into visiting the factory. In those days there were no tours as such. You entered the factory via Peter Morgan's office. He said help yourself and ask anyone anything you like. So we wandered about...no health and safety then....it was fabulous. Outside (sunny day) we bumped into the man who road tested every car made then. Would you like to come with me, he asked. Trade plates on, me in the passenger seat (illegal I believe) off we went around the hills. Back 20 minutes later and he's lifted the bonnet, adjusting the tick over or timing I think. I had a rather large smile and my wife said...oh dear, I feel a large expense coming on. I still couldn't afford new so for a few years I chased used ones with a good friend of mine who'd had his 4/4 since he was 21 and was in the MSCC. But the cars were always sold before I could get there.....rather different from today. But finally I bought my first 4/4 (mid 80's 4 seater). That must have been in the nineties.
There followed cars of each model, a new one from the factory every four years or so. The cars gradually modernised and one day, a few years ago, I awoke to the fact that as I no longer used the Morgan every day, what I really wanted was the experience of the older cars, so I sold my latest and found a mid eighties plus 4. Heaven!
That's how I decided over the years....narrow wheel arches.....!
Nick

Last edited by nick w; 11/11/25 04:51 PM.