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Wales
by Joske Vermeule, September 1
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Forums39
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Jun 14th, 2026
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Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,948
Talk Morgan Enthusiast
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Talk Morgan Enthusiast
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,948 |
Stuart
"There's no skill substitute like cubic inches."
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Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 5,017 Likes: 3
Charter Member
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Charter Member
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 5,017 Likes: 3 |
One should not forget to consider:
The Classics are the best way to enjoy classic car driving - also with new cars. For anything else the market offers better and/or cheaper cars.
MMC sells something which is very different from others.
As soon as they sell similar items as others do they have to compete directly and I wonder MMC would be competitive in price, performance, quality and so on...
Hannes
once: Green M3W; 2013
now: Red 4/4 Sport; 2011
and some practical cars for use in real life
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Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 1,575 Likes: 55
Talk Morgan Enthusiast
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Talk Morgan Enthusiast
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 1,575 Likes: 55 |
I don't think it's about what we (the current demographic) want and love. My Morgan is perfect for me. It's more about looking to the future and the survival of the company, whilst keeping the essence of Morgan, in the shape of the classics (not the perfume!). When I picked up my Morgan I was given the '100 Years of Morgan' book. Every time I turned a page there was another change! Hm.
Morgan Plus 4
Royal Enfield Classic 350
Brompton M6L
Giant TCX Advanced
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Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 5,017 Likes: 3
Charter Member
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Charter Member
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 5,017 Likes: 3 |
Nohing against change but one has to be very careful not to damage the Morgan spirit.
Hannes
once: Green M3W; 2013
now: Red 4/4 Sport; 2011
and some practical cars for use in real life
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Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 990
Talk Morgan Regular
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Talk Morgan Regular
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 990 |
I see a Morgan as a very special car thats appeal is pretty much timeless. I agree with fox terrier about the need for reliability but see the challange as the need keep ahead of the regulators and maintain the cars as special. I am lucky to own several other cars , example an MX5 and a cooper S Mini, both are more capable than a Morgan trad and are better in many respects. However i dont think they have 10% of the appeal of my Morgan. We talk of demographic, at 47 i suppose im in a certain bracket now but when younger i didnt see the appeal of a Morgan at all or would have been able to afford one. The apprecation comes with age maybe?
2015 Morgan 4/4 (Wolf fettled) previously 2014 M3W
MINI Cooper S and numerous BMC/BL relics.
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 22,370 Likes: 354
Roadster Guru Member of the Inner Circle
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Roadster Guru Member of the Inner Circle
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 22,370 Likes: 354 |
Top half.......hopefully.
DaveW
'05 Red Roadster S1
'16 Yellow (Not the only) Narrow AR GDI Plus 4
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 14,749 Likes: 158
Member of the Inner Circle
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Member of the Inner Circle
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 14,749 Likes: 158 |
I think there will need to be changes soon to meet the new demographic that Morgan will NEED to appeal to i.e. the generations that were not brought up servicing and maintaining cars that regularly broke down, and who actually quite enjoy greasing, adjusting and fiddling with things mechanical. The next generation of Morgan owners were bought a new Vauxhall Corsa by their parents who insured it and paid for it to be serviced.
However, I predict that Morgan, and the new generations, will need to meet in the middle somewhere; e.g. Morgan provide power steering and a front suspension set up that doesn't need greasing every 500 (1000) miles, and the next generation can get out to put up the hood and learn to drive properly without too many driver aids.
And eventually use an aero-type chassis for all classics. An opinion I have voiced on a number of occasions. The only thing I am not sure about is the need to migrate away from a steel chassis. It would benefit from a redesign however, particularly arching the rear chassis over the axle the way everyone else had done by the mid 60's.
Peter ![[Linked Image]](http://bradley.it/public_images/drive.jpg)
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 14,749 Likes: 158
Member of the Inner Circle
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Member of the Inner Circle
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 14,749 Likes: 158 |
Just how much longer can we drive around in cars part made of wood, no airbags, crumple zones, solid steering columns, roll bars, lack of side impact bars etc etc... yes I know its said that the current build structure is helpful in an accident but it wont comply for much longer...enjoy while you can!! Actually the Morgan performs quite well in the safety area. The front crash tests are OK, it fails at the rear because there is simply not enough distance between the passengers and the rear of the car. The timber frame is tough and resiliant and a good absorber of impact forces. By law, the same as the requirement for seat belts, all cars, including the Morgan, must have, and do have, side impact bars and colapsible steering columns. I must say that the lack of any roll over protection has puzzled me but it is inadequate in most open top cars. Naturally Morgans are exempt from airbag requirements under small volume rules. It is almost surprising that the Aero series has them.
Peter
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Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 347
Learner Plates Off!
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OP
Learner Plates Off!
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 347 |
Ah yes - that's it the Morgan spirit.
Modern cars have become safe and easy to drive, so much so that people can usually get away with driving them badly, but they are boring! Our Mercedes coupe and the 4x4 have all the modern toys but when I am driving the Morgan Mrs M wil tell you that I have a smile from ear to ear. I feel that you need to think about what you are doing more in a Morgan than in any other modern car and I think (& hope) that my driving is better as a result.
Life is too short to drive boring cars!
John
2014 +4, Le Mans Blue / Magnolia
"Meg" the Mog
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Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 881 Likes: 31
Talk Morgan Regular
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Talk Morgan Regular
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 881 Likes: 31 |
Wish I had something more substantive to contribute to the discussion but for me it all boils down to my strong inclination towards revering and even finding a certain solace in the past. That's why I am drawn and feel a genuine affection for automobiles that take me back to earlier and much simpler times. I haven't completely eschewed ownership of a post-2000 automobile however and manage to glean an undeniable amount of pleasure carving my way through city-traffic with a ten year old Golf! 
Bert & B1800
"Tis well enough to know how much to know; and when to know, not to know, too much."
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