Short story to preempt the question. My father bought a 1957 Plus 4 with bustle back. The car was restored to a high standard back in the late 90s. We are in North Carolina and we have to have an 'inspection' by theft and bureau before they will issue a title. The inspector had no idea what a morgan was and because the restoration was so well done the guy convinced himself it was a replica car. Now I have to prove that the car is a 1957 Morgan to an idiot who doesnt know what they are. I know it is what I think it is. The chassis has the number stamped under passenger seat. Now to my question. We have a bustle back, which I'm led to believe were produced prior to 1958. Can anyone state for certain what year the bustle backs were made? I have sent morgan a chassis record request, so that will help prove my case. Thanks in advance.
Can't help with your query, Nathan, but welcome to TalkMorgan anyway. I'm sure someone more expert will be along soon, in the meantime we'd all welcome some photos of your car.
Nathan Put your query to Hermen Pol on the FaceBook page "Morgan History Info" He has access to a lot of the factory records.
From my less educated perspective I would say that the bustle back was produced between 1953 (end of the flat rads) and 1957/8 when the classical "High Line" body came along. The bustle back was only used on the 2 seaters of course which again cuts down the potential numbers.
Having a chassis number makes your task a lot easier, I am sure we can track down the exact history of your car given time.
Andy G 1999 +8 , Indigo Blue. Ex-John McKecknie/Mike Duncan 1955 +4 racer.
Ok folks, here are some pictures and more info on the car. Chassis number is 3946 and Engine number TS28814ME. I was able to locate the number 28814 stamped on both halves of the hood. I also measured the rear differential to confirm it has a 3HA unit installed.
Very interesting car. Based on the pictures your car appears to be a wide-bodied Plus 4 roadster, which began with the 1958 model year (October 1957). But most 1958 roadsters have the straightback rear with the low gas tank. (The bustleback rear was necessary to accommodate the high gas tank which was discontinued in 1958, except in drophead coupes.)
I have seen at least one other wide-bodied bustleback +4, and I think these are very early 1958s, made in late 1957, when Morgan transitioned from narrow-bodied bustlebacks to the wide-bodied straightbacks. Morgan probably made the transition in 2 steps: First, the bodies were widened, along with the wider bonnets and windshields. After successfully producing a few dozen wide-bodied bustlebacks, the factory then modified the rear to the the straightback form.
I think it would be correct to call your car either 1957 or 1958. Prior to 1970, in the USA it was common for registrations to be delayed for a year or more.
Nathan, When the build sheet arrives, it will greatly assist you with the DMV inspector. Another thing that would help would be a book about Morgans, which are readily available on Ebay. Most of these books show pictures of the cars being built in the factory in England, and should convince him that your Morgan is not a kit car. Mac
Nathan, That Fergus plate looks wrong to me. I have Fergus plates on two of my cars (1959 and 1961) and the Fergus stock numbers are completely unrelated to Morgan chassis numbers. (They are much higher.) It looks to me like someone acquired a reproduction Fergus plate and stamped the Morgan chassis number on it. If your car still has the original chassis frame, the chassis number should be stamped on the cross-member under the passenger seat.
