Talk Morgan Forums Community The Malvern Arms Morgans may actually be too cheap.

Why do I say that?

There is an interesting article in Autocar this week looking at rebuilt retro classics. It covers the Jensen intercetor, Lotus Elan, MGB, Jaguar E Type, and Porsche 911.
Other than the Elan at a shade under £50K all the rest approach £200K.

It can be argued that the Traditional Morgan is a retro classic that just happened never to have stopped production. The difference between the retros and a Mog is that the retros are built and finished to avery high standard, fitted with modern suspension and brakes and as they use a donor car VIN plate they are legally "old" so don't bother with emissions, MOTs, Car Tax and so on.

But with Mogs new from £35K to £50K our Mogs seem cheap. All MCC needs to do is add £5K to the price and spend a bit more time paying attention to details, such as vaccuming out the cars before trimming, making them quieter, using better quality shocks and so on.

A used Mog for £25 to £35K, which most probably benifits from this "fettling" is a total bargain.

Much as I'd love an Eagle E Tupe there is no way I'd pay £200K. But the Spydercars Zetec Elan presently on sale for £25K...hmmmm That could be tempting.
Blue Passion

I had one of these and really liked it - 150bhp big valve - quick and comfortable. Strangely, the latent Morgan bug got me.

An interesting view, though I've yet to see an MGB approaching £200k.
In the current classic car market it's all to do with perceived investment value. I can't really complain, I've just sold my 1960's Alfa GTA for three times what I paid for it. The only problem I have with new Morgans (and I'm about to get one) is all the legislated on emissions and EU type approval crap we have to put up with (though Morgans, through limited production volume exemptions, seem to have kept this to a bare minimum). Buying an older car with no ECU, no catalysts, no PCV, no EGR and silver on black number plates is always going to seem tempting.

An mgb at200k?!!! If you wait whilst I find a few dozen good ones, I will happily sell the to you at say 150 k each. Veryhappily.

The autocar article is tripe. The sort of prices that you see in the back pages of motor sport and no one but a london yuppie with his large bonus ever pays.

As for the trad Morgan, its neither fish nor fowl is it. It hasnt the patina not to mention the rust and the problems of a classic. And it doesnt have the civilised facilities of a modern sports car. Its a real niche product with a price that reflects its small volume and high manufacturing cost

More like £75k for the MGB. The concepts nice...I like the MGB LE 50 but at that price there's a number of classics I'd prefer!

Chaps,
May I enter the fray by saying that, whilst I love Morgans ( currently looking for my third ) with all their inherent "faults", for the sheer pleasure of it's looks, feel and sound, I can't fault my Suffolk SS100. It has all the modern ( well only 41 years old ) oily bits with good spares availability, no road tax, black and white number plates and character in bucket loads and at a price around a new Plus 8.

Reg

The MGB LE50 is overpriced. There were two on display at classic Silverstone, and I'm sure they will drive well, but not at the asking prices, nor with inevitable depreciation. The old B isn't highly regarded enough for that by enough people.
I would rather have another V8GT for a third of the price, and accept the inevitable rust.

For someone who owned a Morgan Aero8 and has just ordered an MGB LE50 I think you are not really comparing like with like.

An old classic MGB is not the same as a LE50, no mater how much work has been put into it. The LE50 is a new car with the exception of the rear axle and a few cosmetic bits, it has parts made by British Motor Heritage www.bmh-ltd.com using the old tooling and the borough up to modern standards with new running gear, the spec and fit out are 2nd to none, to look at a photo of the car doesn't do it justice, the panel gaps and leather are top quality, I chose a Bentley leather.

An LE50 should be compared with the Eagle E Type, Singer Porsche, I believe the Jenson and the Lotus are actually restored cars with less new kit so not really "re-engineered"

So a LE50 @ £70-80k is better than the £500k for the Eagle or th Singer and that is because they can use new "heratage" parts instead of remaking every single one of them by hand.

a little one sided as I am someone who has one on order but I did have a EVA GT on order and I think that would have cost me far more than the LE50

Neil, you have a PM.
Nick.

Great Neil! I was lucky enough to be taken up Prescott hill climb last year in the LE50 and I was very impressed with it. As you say, the fit and finish is superb and performance and handling spot on. And I've always liked the MGBGT shape....very classic lines.