Talk Morgan Forums Community The Malvern Arms Factory visits back i n the day

I bought my Morgan in the early seventy's, when I was stationed at RAF Woodbridge. I would visit the factory several times in those years. The doors were always open then, and one could just walk in, wander around and talk to the factory workers. They would often stop and explain what they were doing--nearly always working in teams of two, with one master and an apprentice-type younger guy. The wood shop folk were especially accommodating, and they would offer my wife and I a cup of tea, brewed right there over the glue pot fire. I have some old photos of those visits somewhere. The Spares Department, also, were very friendly, and I often bought a part or two there.

Things changed somewhat in the mid-eighty's. I flew to London in 1985 on business, rented a hire car and drove to Malvern Link. Walked in to the same dusty Spares Department with a little list of small parts I needed. The owlish older man behind the counter looked at my list and kept repeating, "This is highly irregular, quite unusual!" I believe he wore a green eyeshade and sleeve garters. I explained that I was just there for a short time, and besides, I saw several of the windscreen rubbers that I needed hanging on a nail behind the counter. I pointed this out. "Highly irregular, quite unusual! You must write a letter to the Spares Department stating your requirements and then you may collect your parts!" says he. So I grabbed a pad and pen from the counter and began writing my list. "No, no, no! You must POST the letter! You Yanks are all alike! You just can't come in here and buy parts like this!" Hmmmmm. So I left, checked in a nice hotel in Banbury (across from the Cross), had a pint of the best at the bar and wrote my requirements on the hotel stationery and put it in the afternoon post.

Next afternoon, back at the Spares Department, the same little man was all smiles. He had gotten my letter, put together all my parts, had them boxed up neatly and had my bill ready. Couldn't be friendlier. I thought, well, this IS Morgan Motors.

Now I understand that parts must be bought through a dealer. Must we miss these experiences? Sigh.

Allen
'69 4/4

Very amusing and interesting tale Allen, I can visualize the quaint intra-personal exchanges!....
My only visit to "The Works" occurred in the autumn of 1981. I recall arriving in town on a Saturday having traveled by train and being constrained in having only one day to spare. The workshops were all basically closed but the Dispatch Bay was being attended to by two or three employees. The men greeted me very pleasantly and seemed almost apologetic for my not being able to have a proper look around. They wanted details of my car and seemed genuinely pleased to have a Canadian visitor. I was allowed to meander among the several cars ready and others being prepared for shipment and pickup. At the end of my brief visit I was given a couple of brochures as souvenirs of my visit. I will have to convert the photo slides I took to enable their posting at sometime. I truly felt as though I had visited B1800's birthplace! I would enjoy making a return visit but I'm fairly certain some of the "cottagey" atmosphere will have dissipated somewhat by now, although hoping I am mistaken in this regard.

What a great reminiscence. The factory is still a friendly place but I suspect it is a good deal more formal and organised than before and has lost the spontaneity that you remember. You don't need a posted letter to buy spares though - just wander into Aero Racing across from the Reception and you can buy what you want - you will however be given an elaborate detailed invoice, even if you only buy a badge clip as I did.

Has this thread the potential to become a vignette of Morgan's gradual transition from the "There is a 2+ year waiting list for your new car sir" that drove Sir John Harvey-Jones to distraction, to the modern era of parts assembly, and on the spares front "Here is your touch up paint sir, that will be £49-00 please.... Thank you, and here's you nice (but totally OTT) receipt".

Somehow, as with many things in life, not all progress is good, just as being stuck in the past isn't always viable. Getting the balance right for the environment you are in is the trick.

Rose tinted specs off now....

Much longer than 2-years MZ, I waited from 1976 to 1982 for my first Plus 8 and that was a direct order on the Works - with some Dealer's it was up to 8-years!

It was however worth it...

Brian that looks lush!!

Thanks Andy, I was delighted with it and stopped on the way home to take this photo just outside Deddington! I don't know what happened to POA, though I did see it in the traffic, though quite a long time ago - must check and see if it is still registered?

Cheers
Brian

Really nice Brian - was the roll bar a factory option then?

Yes it was Simon, this was how it came from the Works so the folding windscreen was also fitted by them. I specced an aluminium body too, so it was a lighweight. It was a really nice car and very fast for its day - 3.5 litre Rover V8 on carbs and very little avoirdupois.

The only major problem I had was that MMC had forgotten to etch prime the wings, bonnet, valence, etc, in fact anything forward of the windscreen and the paint started flaking off after about 6/7 months. So when I read posts on other threads about 'fettling' it does seem to really be a case of déjà vu or is it plus ça change to continue the French theme...

P.S. I'm still buying red Morgan's!

Plus il reste le même...

I guess your point is todays cars have improved c.f. a six year wait for a car that paint flakes off in six months... Which ever way you look at it though, when you are paying out not insignificant amounts of hard earned cash, non of the "horror" stories look good really.



Bon courage mon brave! or put another way...

"So Brian, come and lay down on my couch, and tell me... How long have you had these masochistic tendencies?"

P.S. is it just me, or is there a slight rosy tint in that photo you posted?