Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Classic Morgans (pre-CX) Opinions and suggestions invited 1961 Morgan 4/4

First of all, Christmas greetings to you!

My brother in law has just corralled what appears to be a nice, mostly original, 1961 Morgan 4/4. I am very familiar with other British marques, but this is the first Morgan in our family.

The documents with the Morgan are the most complete I have ever seen, down to original correspondence from Fergus Motors about this car, sales invoices, brochures, delivery information, and records. However, I think the tool kit is mostly missing, and there must have been a handcrank that is also missing.

The top appears to be suitably aged to be original, but the vinyl has a grain I have not seen on any other British car of that era. I understand from the records that the tachometer was added by the previous owner. Also, from the records I see the original color was Imperial Crimson, but was repainted by the original owner in Carnation Red circa 1962. The original owner must have decided on a flashier red soon after purchase as there is correspondence with Fergus Motors and receipts for samples of Carnation red. Later the paint was removed to bare metal and repainted in the original Imperial Crimson.

Since I am a babe in the Morgan world, both my brother in law and I would really appreciate your input and suggestions to make this Morgan as complete and factory original as possible.

Here is a link to my Smugmug photos that I just posted a few minutes ago. If you need more detail shots to give an accurate critique, please let me know.

https://milepost105.smugmug.com/1961-Morgan-44-Roadster/

Thank you for your guidance and expertise. Jeff

Wow that looks nice.
The MSCC has a technical team to support early cars

http://www.mscc.uk.com/technical.html

I find this site is also very useful

http://www.gomog.com/allmorgan/44index.html

Good luck

That's a lovely car. Well done.

A beaut of a car. Congratulations.

Superb looking example! Well done!

Very nice

I have only seen a couple Original 4/4's. Most have been re-engined with a later Ford engine. My '63 had a 109E engine and a push pull transmission. 1348CC as I recall. The push pull transmission is easy to use and I found it worked quite well. I had sourced a Ford Crossflow/Transmission and Robert Couch converted it for the New Owner (New Owner now owns a 2005 Roadster). Not sure what engine You have but would guess it is a 105E out of a Ford Anglia.

You have a very rare 4/4 IMO. Hope You keep it Original and enjoy it.

Tell Your Brother in Law, to enter this Morgan into the "Amelia Island Concourse". I bet He wins an award.

Hi Button,

I took a closer look after your post and located the chassis number, A582, and the engine number, 175198, with an S in front of it.. The numbers jive with the original bill of sale from Fergus Motors in 1961.

Also, I found the engine number stamped upside down (!) on the bonnet halves. It kind of gave me a start as the stamping in the bonnet first looked like 86......, then I realized it was upside down 175198...There is a 100E on the cast timing cover.

So I think I can safely say this is the original engine, a Ford 100E?

Best regards, Jeff [img]https://milepost105.smugmug.com/1961-Morgan-44-Roadster/i-kKXc7zp/A[/img]

A582 according to John Worrall's "Original Morgan" is a Series II made between Oct 1955 and Nov 1960. Probably registered in the US in 1961. It should have a 3 speed gear box. It was not until Oct 1960 that Morgan made the Series III with 105E and 4 speed gear box.

"Original Morgan" is not all that accurate. I forget the chassis number of My 4/4 but according to Original Morgan it was a Series V. It was not. It was a Series IV during the transition of Series IV to Series V. The Rep at MMC told Me it was the "floor sweepings". It was also a Fergus Import.