Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Morgan Three Wheeler & Super 3 Modern or Old?

Given that everybody on this forum is looking for 'Character' and therefore buys a Morgan, whether 3 or 4 wheeled, what then, keep it standard, buy period accesories and clothing or go for modern stuff?

Interesting subject. Have thought a bit about this as I have been fortunate enough to put in some quality drive time as well as quality cleaning!

At first I was fantasizing about acquiring the aero screens as well as mirrors to match but then after an almost grueling trip through some bug happy stretches and the inevitable cleanup I killed those thoughts.

The M3W, as is, is a very clean aerodynamic shape which really helps the cleanup. I may get the stainless wire rock guards for the lamps but I am very pleased with what I have!

My other hobby is building and listening to tube/valve powered stereo amplifiers and long ago it became readily apparent to me that other people's opinions don't matter. It has to sound good to me.

I bought the Morgan for me. It will be what I desire it to be.

+1

I have a MX5/Miata and I would rather have a M3W

That sums it up perfectly Simon .
It is curious that when we own rarely seen and individual cars ,that we (myself included) like to make them even more individual. I personally favour the period modification approach .

This is more complex than it seems - especially in relation to the M3W. At first blush I would agree - that the Morgan should be kept "traditional" and accessorized accordingly. But it's harder to do than you think. When I see some of the wooden steering wheel installs (MotoLita, Lempert, etc.) on M3W's it seems like they don't quite "fit" with the car in relation to the plastic steering column and the dashboard gauges.

Now I think the Ace did things right, as you can see below, as it was a faithful, fully traditional build with vintage gauges and an engine-turned dash :



But when you start adding "traditional" bits to the interior of a modern M3W things kind of fall apart a little, and you wind up with a non-cohesive whole, because the rest of the car's interior is really a modern interior with a "retro" feel, it's not exclusively "traditional".

I've really struggled with this, as I really want to add a wooden steering wheel (ala MotoLita) to my car, because I love the look, but I just haven't been happy with the installs I've seen. As a result, I'm thinking of going with a black leather 4-spoke Simmonds wheels because it's more of a "retro" look than a frankly traditional look, that I think that fits better with the overall theme of the car.

Don't even get me STARTED on the air cleaner replacement issue!

Cheers,

Greg

All Mogs are unique - so just do your own thing with whatever feels right for you - particularly if you can get away without drilling too many holes - then if you change your mind or(heaven forbid!!) sell it the mods can be removed.

I would really love the look of a wooden steering wheel but after driving this beast on dodgy roads I am really very grateful for the padding of the supplied wheel! If I could have padded spokes on said wheel that would be a bonus. Have almost disjointed both thumbs with the so-called 'bump-steer' issue which is a reality on crap roads!

My point here, is that there is a decision to make: Does one desire a collector's dream which looks fabulous and is a picture of perfection unattainable or does one wish to have a car to drive?

I'm driving this puppy! Someday, after I'm done and gone, this vehicle will enter the market as one that was driven well with joy and gusto. There will be stains on what is left of the leather. The paint will be scratched and marred. Various things will be worn and will need replacing. The insurers will be aghast at the mileage! I won't care!

Michael ,I have fitted a 15" wooden wheel and don't find it any worse than the original, most of my driving is on very bumpy back roads . I learnt never to put thumbs next to spokes on old tractors, some steering similarities!!
I agree about driving and enjoying them ,that's what it's all about for me too.

Well I think it is personal choice that matters here, in my Plus 8 I have fitted a MK Holtztechnic burr walnut dash and had the Matt black dial rims replaced with Smiths Chrome ones, and fitted a wood rim wheel and stainless indicator stalks. I did this because I did not like the leather dash with Plastic rocker switches and warning light from the eighties, to me it was a cheap and out of keeping finish to the car. So it is a retro look now but quality was also what I was looking for. I have recently replaced the plastic rear fog and reversing lights with more classic look stainless ones, for similar reasons. I have kept all the original parts so if I ever sell some can put it back to original if that's their bag.

If I had a newer Morgan say a roadster or 4/4 I am not sure I would have done the dash and so on as the interior feel is quite different, but once again it's down to personal choice.

I think all that matters is what you like personally, and not what others think is right or wrong. After all if we all conformed to uniformity there would probably only be a few manufacturers of cars with very similar models in the same shade of grey being driven by people in the same clothes and hairstyles. Now wouldn't that be a drab world.