Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Classic Morgans (pre-CX) Do you remember?

I hired a Morgan 4/4 for a long weekend in the summer of 1976. An orange one.

We, the then current love of my life, and I set off for a British Grand Prix practice day at Brands. Driving along the Embankment in London this jealous fellow in a maroon Ford Anglia 105E kept blowing his horn at me - until we pulled up at a set of lights and he informed me that effectively my indicators had been wired up in reverse. We drove over Battersea Bridge, stopped and Lo! He was right.

So for three days I drove indicating left when I was turning right and vice versa. On the fourth day the indicator stalk gave way and fell out of its mounting to be saved from total dislocation by its wiring and it was back to hand signals!

We also had an oil leak. At 70 mph great streaks of oil appeared along the bonnet, emanating from the louvres, and splattered across the windscreen. It transpired that the rocker box gasket had been twisted and oil was escaping!

July 2003. Hartlebury Garage and the fulfilment of a boyhood dream. The car was everything we hoped for and was soon ours. And is still with us - drying out after the DonMog trip to Derby and the Rolls-Royce heritage centre.

When I was 6, at the 1960 motor show I sat in the drivers seat of a racing green 4/4. I almost disappeared down the footwell but always wanted a Morgan after that. The first drive was when I collected my 2 yr old 4/4, bought from Berrybrooks in late 2007, and then I drove it home - 300 miles - with my 12 yr old daughter as passenger! And yes, with the top down.

1992 4/4 at Allon White.
test drive was awesome.
"old school" feel was brilliant compared to a modern box.
I did the deal on getting back to the garage!
I then phoned to say I had bought the car.
She grew to like it as we used it more.
I love the drive experience as its more involved compared to modern over-nannyfied cars.
Some of the "but its a Morgan" aspects can be annoying but the "hands on" greasing/maintenance is a big part of the enjoyment too.
its like tying your own fishing flies and catching fish - a complete experience.

When I was 20 I fell in love with Morgans but waited until marriage and 3 offspring had been through Uni before I got my 1st Morgan.
This was a 3.9 +8 and that first drive seared itself into my memory so vividly after 30 years waiting.
That was 10 years ago and I have a 4/4 Sport now, when the joy of driving it goes I shall sell it, this is very unlikely !

After reading some of the posts, there does not seem to be an identifier of why we have our Morgan. It's like a lust, the common theme is I saw one or I sat in one but never seems to be a single reason like they go fast or they have style. The members in this forum talk of other makes but identify reasons why they like them. I think that owning a Morgan is just a life experience it is not always great but it is always good, it is something that is difficult to explain, but once bitten you are hooked.
Apart from the occasional spirited debate on the forum, most owners seem to be like minded spirits

We never own them; we're just custodians.

Wow, I know BC a bit, from skiing, which way did you go, vie Fernie or Golden? Whichever must have been a wonderful drive.

There is a common theme here, I think: it is emotion.
We bought our Morgans because that first drive pulled the trigger an emotional connection that endures and so they become part of our life.

A bit like a dog, or even, perhaps

I think emotion is a large part of this. There is a huge element of 'coming alive', experiencing driving for what it really is, in the raw. You are driving without the aid of technologies which somehow leave you numbed. This is fresh,stimulating, invigorating. It's like taking a challenging walk in the Dales with old friends you know well. You feel satisfied, healthy and in control of your destiny. Having just moved on to an 'armchair sports car' for health reasons, enjoy all you can while you can, as soon as you can.
Cheers, Dave....Mogless but still out there!