Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Morgan Three Wheeler & Super 3 Looking for Basketcase M3W Beetleback

In the realization that with the prices of built up M3Ws going for what I see as crazy money and incredibly out of my pricerange, I wondered if anyone had or knew anyone with a basketcase, project, or barnfind M3W Beetleback that was contemplating selling.

Im a young guy trying to get into a classic M3W and have the time and energy to put into a car, I just dont have the deep pockets required to buy seemingly anything driveable as prices steamroll higher. Seems like good news for those that own cars, but devastating for those who would like to own one.

I am also a member of the MTWC and plan to post something there as well, but also wanted to see if this community knew of anything.

Unless you are very lucky to find one or know someone who has one to sell, they appear to be a rare as Hen's Teeth, partly due to Multiple Unit Owners and Collectors . I would love one myself.

Perhaps you need to find a Wealthy Widow with one in the Garage and offer to give it the occasional Clean and Warm Up .

(The Trike , that is, not the Widow).

If you were lucky enough to find a M3W Beetleback "basketcase" and add together the purchase cost and the cost of rebuilding it to an acceptable standard you will probably have spent more than what a new 3 wheeler costs. The costs will just be spread out over years.

I realize that they may be rarer than hens teeth, but I presumed it might be worth an ask. You never know who might know someone who knows someone who has exactly what you are looking for.

Also, at least from the surface, it seems easier to consider a car purchase where I can buy it for a good amount less and put X amount into it for many years to come compared to putting down a much larger amount all at once.

Anyway, thanks for all the thoughts and advice. Ill keep looking and see if anything eventually drums up. Shame I am not near anyone who has one as I would happily go over on weekend and work on the car with them just for the experience.

"The Morgan Three Wheeler Club" in the UK has a few listings in the "for sale" area, none are basket cases, but I'd much rather buy an older running unit than a basket case. The missing parts would be impossible to find.

The club looks well worth joining.

As Bert so rightly points out, the values of prewar Morgan 3 wheelers (even basket cases) are such that it wouldn't work out any cheaper than a new M3W. I suspect that building a Triking http://www.triking.co.uk/
or an Aero Merlin kit http://www.spitfireart.com/veetwintrikes.html
would be a better budget alternative.

I'va always had a hankering for a Triking ever since the old Ducati importer Richard Avent took me for a spin in one. Mind you, I now think the Merlin looks even better.

Im already a member of the MTWC, but I appreciate the suggestion Rufus. I feel the bulletin alone is well worth the cost of membership. I look forward to my copy each month. Just got my January this afternoon as a matter of fact. As you mentioned, missing pieces is my fear in buying a basketcase at all. Im not expecting 100% original parts though for what I am looking for. Just the ability to make a driveable car.

I understand what you are saying pandy and I have looked into the idea of a triking or an aero merlin. I do like the looks of the Aero Merlin more as it has better lines (imho). However, I would much rather have a Morgan if at all possible. If nothing shows up, Ill just keep putting money aside as I have been the last couple of years and maybe find a more reasonably priced driver as time goes on.

thank you again all for your thoughts and advice. I do appreciate all the insight

This raises the very interesting question of modern or old?

for the same money you can have an old car, a very old car, with all the aggravation, or fun of keeping it running and finding parts, or a brand new one, with, I guess, much of the same character of the old one, with no aggravation.

I've done my time with old motors, mainly T type MGs, and I now relish the thought of going into the garage to tinker because I want to, not because I have to, and the driving experience is just so much more relevant on today's roads, note, I didn't say better, because that is a very personal thing. I also love the idea of being able to make a phone call, or even go into a local motor factor and buy spares off the shelf.

I have often thought about getting an old three wheeler, but when the new one was announced, I got my name down for one right away, it was a dream answered for me.

It would be interesting to hear the other side of the discussion, ie why go for an old one against a new one, as I can't see the attraction any more.

I can only comment from the perspective of old MG's. When I was 18 and consuming Motorsport magazine every month, I had no idea what a T Type MG was. They were often for sale, as were the prewar cars, and for not much money. So I went for what I knew, which at the time were current cars of course, and had a series of Midgets and MGBs. I didn't crave anything more modern, and because my car was a daily driver couldn't risk anything older. By the time I could afford a weekend car the older cars were creeping ever upwards, so although I fancied the idea of a TC, it never happened and I got a V8MG instead. At the outset, any of these MG's could match most modern cars on the road, but over the years they became old classics. Until 2008 I was happy with that, and the maintenance needed. Some enthusiasts stay in this zone for life, and this seems to be where most of the three wheeler brigade sit. Some people are never in this zone and have to have the latest of whatever floats their boat, whether its cars or IT, or TVs. I've migrated from the classic group, into the centre ground where I'd rather not have to mess all the time, just when I feel like it and this centre ground is where 4 wheel Morgan owners tend to be, although older Morgans need owners in the classic camp. The reason that you can't see the attraction of an old three wheeler is because you've moved out of that camp, into the middle ground. I completely understand the attraction of tinkering because I've done it for years, but now I need cars for certain duties, and a three wheeler, old or new doesn't fit my needs, when for the same money I can have something that does!.

I have restored a Maserati and quite a few motorbikes. In almost every case it has cost me much more than it would have cost to buy one already restored, and that is without considering my time. In the case of the Maserati it was sold for two thirds of what it actually cost me in the end.

The other problem with classics is that there always seems to be something going wrong. Lets face it, even restored, a classic is the sum of a heap of old parts.

I opted for a new Morgan for this very reason: I could have my classic without the costs and agravation of owning a classic. Under the skin, modern engine, modern running gear, and modern electronics, (ok we will not mention the century old suspension system).

Owning a new traditional Morgan gives me far more smiles per mile than any classic could possibly give me.