Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Morgan Aero 8, 2012< Plus 8, SuperSports, Coupe & Aeromax Aero platform for all Morgans ?

I wonder what the impact on cost is of "volume" manufacturing the bonded aluminium chassis?

If the firm that's making them charges £23k for Aero/ +8 chassis, and say 80 a year, with a commitment for (say) 160... then what happens to cost if Morgan were to order 7-8 times that number?

The cost would go down - the question would be by how much.

& I can't help thinking this is a 5 year change - the one where +4s are available as hybrids, and as fully electric models.
Remember there's an innovation strand in Morgan's DNA: trads made as they are now will eventually be killed off by legislation, or by changing market expectations.

Will

I've loved the trad for being a trad in feel, warts and all, as I wanted something that looked and felt classic with mostly modern underpinnings to it for reliability.

For the next generation of people younger than me to come through as trad owners the question is will they want that kind of feel as they never grew up with what we did in the simplicity of cars? Will they also want/be bothered with greasing kingpins and other things as their expectations will be for 'less maintenance and tinkering' as they don't have the skills, inclination or time?

Interested that Oakmere posted on their FB page the other week of a 28 year old woman who bought a 2009 4/4 Sport. That must be a rarity but great a woman does want one. My always thought more women should be driving them but I'm not quite sure how many would be greasing King pins...

The 3 wheeled version is tubular I see no reason that the Trad couldn't go that way. (especially if the ally tub is prohibitively heckspensive!)

Don't forget, the VAT man skims off 1/6th from the selling price of all cars.

I think there is a bit more to this that we aren't aware of.
A small manufacturer, Morgan, choosing or having to comply with type approval legislation has to rationalise production.
My guess is that once the BMW engines have gone Morgan will move to an all Ford engine supply with abs/ traction control etc incorporated into the build to simplify the supply and build process to reduce unit cost, or to an other single engine supplier which could be BMW.
The upcoming legislation in Morgan terms has little relevance as to whether it's the ladder chassis or aluminium. If the difference in supply cost is really £20,000 then its unlikely we will move to all aluminium chassis (£70,000 for a decent spec plus 4) if it's £1,000 then it's a done deal.

These new regulations. where they not from the EU?
As in if we are no longer a part of it, perhaps an exception can be made for a low volume manufacturer such as Morgan..?

We are still in the EU and if we want to continue supplying cars to Europe and the wider world Morgan needs to meet the standards set. Small car exemption is fine for kit cars but if you are selling a premium price product with kit car production standards that's a brave marketing strategy.

It's also worth mentioning that Ford appear to operate on a take it or leave it basis, whereas BMW want to be involved and the senior (BMW) men take it seriously.

This has been done in the early fifties when the Dellow Morgans where build. I sat in one and you cant tell it from a ash framed body tub....And it was a flat rad.

Not sure what method the Aero chassis is produced by, but a brand new Lotus Elise with an extruded and bonded chassis is only £30k complete and ready to go. If Morgan are paying £23k just for the Chassis I would think they are getting done!