Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Classic Morgans (pre-CX) Bespoke 4/4

Can you still order a bespoke 4/4 with the steel wheels with chrome hub caps. I know most people prefair wires but after cleaning wires for over 20 years i have had enough

According to Morgan's price list it is not possible. You can order a Plus 4 with alloy wheels and exchange them with steel wheels and hub caps. Someone told me that the steel rims are not available anymore.
An alternative would be to buy a used 4/4 70th anniversary. They often have steel wheels and a more powerful engine than the actual version.

Keep mogging,
Christian

Christian
Some of the 70th Anniversary 4/4 did have steel wheels, as you say, but I believe they had the 1.8 Duratec engine, which gave a similar power output to the 1.8 Zetec.
It was the 75th Anniversary 4/4s that had the 2.0 Duratec, but they also came with spoked wheels.
All a bit confusing

Rocket Man
You will need to get your dealer to ask MMC the question about steel wheels. I do like the look they give on the 4/4, and the ease of cleaning

Bud
__________
2003 - 4/4

I can't see why MMC would not be able to build you one with the correct 5-stud hubs for steel wheels, why not ask a dealer to enquire for you? Also with those hubs you could have minilites in the correct 5.5x15 size instead of steel rims - light, easy to clean, no rust potential and look great IMO.

The 70th anniversary 4/4s all had steel wheels with chrome disc hubcaps, and a folding windscreen with the 9-stud traditional hood. When I was buying mine in 2007 every dealer seemed to have one so I saw a lot of them! They had a 1.8 Duratec with a little more power than the 1.8 black top Zetec, and the dash layout is similar to the latest cars. The 75th anniversary version also has the traditional 9-stud hood, but a fixed windscreen and the 2-litre Duratec from the Plus 4 as mentioned above. Personally I much prefer the newer type fixed screen and easy-up hood, which would rule these two versions out for me - others will disagree!

Photo of 70th anniversary model:
http://www.seriouswheels.com/2006/2006-Morgan-44-70th-Anniversary-FA-1920x1440.htm

However I find my S/S wires easy to clean! I just use "Muc-off" spray (sold for mountain bikes), spray on, leave for a minute, then blast off with a hose or pressure washer. I've never had to do any other cleaning in 4 years, except once when I had the wheels off I cleaned the inner side too. This was the reason why I changed from chrome wires to S/S.

Nigel

That is a smart looking car.

I do more or less the same however the manufacturer of the wheels specifies that they should not be pressure washed. I wrote and asked why this was the case for stainless and never received a reply. The only thing I can think is that they are worried about water entering the hub spline area. I've decided that if the spline is adequately greased it is probably ok.

To Nigel's point about the 70th anniversary cars having the traditional hood; its actually a hybrid design and is an easy up frame which clips into the body at the back but with traditional fasteners on the windscreen, best of both worlds IMO as its quick to put up but looks like a trad hood from the front

[quote=Budster
Christian
Some of the 70th Anniversary 4/4 did have steel wheels, as you say, but I believe they had the 1.8 Duratec engine, which gave a similar power output to the 1.8 Zetec.
It was the 75th Anniversary 4/4s that had the 2.0 Duratec, but they also came with spoked wheels.
All a bit confusing

Rocket Man
You will need to get your dealer to ask MMC the question about steel wheels. I do like the look they give on the 4/4, and the ease of cleaning

Bud
__________
2003 - 4/4

[/quote]
Bud,
the Duratec engine has a Little bit more power (+15hp) than the current Sigma engine. The steel wheels were Standard for the pre 70's "representives". The "younger" anniversary could be ordered with wire wheels. Have look on this link:
Brochure 4/4 70th anniversary
I think the modern narrow 4/4 bodies could not be combined with steel wheels because their track is too wide. My anniversary has the same width like a +4. The rim offset is quite flat.
BTW. A german dealer often painted the rims in the Body colour what was realy an improvement in my eyes.
Pictures of my Moggie

Keep mogging,

Christian

I don't blast them with the pressure washer - only ever from several feet away, and it;s the lowest power model made by Karcher! - in fact I rarely use it at all, mostly a hose. But I do recommend Muc-off, it's cheap and it works.

I seem to remember seeing pictures of a car with centre lock Minilites - could have been Roger Tatton's old car.