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

If anyone has a 4 Seater, I have a question.

Is it true that you have to fold the rear seats to put the hood up, or remove the headrests?

You don't mention the year of car you are asking about but I had an 08 4 seater and the answer for those is yes, the hood frame will not clear the headrests if you try and erect the hood without removing them or tilting the seats forward to about 45 degrees. My rear headrests lived in the shed until the day I sold the car! I only bought the 4 seater as I did the road test for Miscellany (back to back with the then new version of the Aero) and liked the extra luggage space, we had a holiday in Sweden planned.

As per Colin's email I think the year is important but in the previous incarnation of a 4 seater this was not the case (nor did they have headrests!).

Richard, you were quicker than me, but don't we have to answer that irrespective of the number of seats, the hood should never been used....!

Too true!

I was thinking about post 2000, as I saw this video on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9HfknjSX40

I noticed that Chris has to dip the seats.
Could you theoretically remove the headrests, put the hood put, then replace the headrests when the hood is up?

No

I've got the 2000 4 seater and the frames are so tight behind the seat backs that you have to just release them a little - only about a couple of centimetres so you you can do it with peole sat in the rear seats - I just get them to lean forward a tad

That's even with headrest out

Thank you.

I have a 1996 +4 4 seater with headrests.

I do not have to remove the headrests or lower, fold or in any way move the rear seats. I have the standard traditional PVC hood with tensioners fitted.

There are no snags of the type you describe and I can have the hood properly erected or taken off in less than 5 minutes.

I do have to take off the headrests to fit the tonneau cover, but doesn't everyone?

Because the hood fabric comes right off the car leaving only the tubular frame (which folds down flat) I can always access the small boot space behind the rear seat to remove or insert all but the largest items (for which I just lift the frame a bit while I do it).

I just do not have the problems that you describe.

I have seen the modern 4 seater with attached hood fabric which doesn't fold away so neatly, I assume it is more convenient but I am very happy with mine as it is.

I have a 1999 4 seater, it had a Simmonds hood from new and this looks like the current 4 seat hood, it does not have headrests, however it is necessary to tip the seats forward but this is very easy as they are individual seats and released by an easy to use catch, Simmonds added a couple of over centre catches at the top of the back scuttle so access to these are needed.

Once the front is secured then push down at the back, flip over those catches and all is tight, it is a much better hood than the Morgan offering of the time.