Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Classic Morgans (pre-CX) Create a 4/4 after reading "Talk Morgan Must Have"

Right then, I read all "Must have", "Desireables" and "Favourable option" threads for a classic Morgan and paired your forums opinions with my recent visit of the factory to my personal taste. Here is the result so far (with some uncertainties and questions marked with?):

I am in the configuration stage of buying my first Morgan and it will be a classic narrow body version, i.e. the older it will look, the better. Unfortunately the narrow body Plus 4 isn’t available new anymore, hence I spec`d a 4/4 instead:

Standard Sport Black Paint
4 x black wire wheels
Waterproof XT leather seats and most of the interior in black
Waterproof Orange Tan leather on top of doors (armrest area)
Waterproof Orange Tan leather above dashboard
(The idea is to create a visual circle of brown leather on the black body work – a bit like on vintage open planes)
Doors with no elasticated pocket, just flat black XT leather
Door locks covered in black leather
Sun visors in black leather
Door stays stainless
Dash painted black
Union Jack badges in black

Standard Seats
Question: What is the difference/benefit of the Performance Seat?
I am 6 foot 2, so the more space I can create inside the cab, the better.
Heated Seats

Moto Lita Wooden steering wheel with “rivets” if available straight from the factory (if not, then the standard one for now)

Black Carpet, but I would prefer rubber mats to keep moisture at a minimum.
Is there a good aftermarket rubber matting option for the Morgan?
The factory rubber mats are merely there for protection of the carpet (imho)
Or could I just paint the plywood floor with a hard wearing black non slip paint?
Chassis rail covers to protect the phosphoric chassis – probably homemade in black - not very keen on the polished covers.

Traditional Hood Black Everflex (as I want to remove the old style hood completely)
Tonneau Cover (with zip to drive with the tonneau on) in black Everflex
Side Window Bag in black Everflex
No need for a hood cover from the esthetic point of view, unless required to keep things from flapping around.

Coming from motorcycles and open top Land Rovers, realistically, I will ride the Morgan most of the time with no hood and no side windows, just the ½ tonneau (if alone).
But I guess it would be good to have the parts already fitted once, rather than buying a Speedster and then later fit a hood, or?

Black grill with black mesh
Blacked chrome (light rings, etc.)
Chrome internal mirror dash mounted
2 - Wing central wheel nuts, but I saw distressed brass hexagonal central nuts at the factory, they look beautiful and would be preferred.

No radio required, but one power outlet/cigarette lighter socket for the satnav
No fog lights
White turn signal glasses
No bumpers or overriders
Can I still fit a luggage rack without overriders being fitted?

Handling stuff (fitted from new or later, what is easier? What is required for twisty road usage? No track day
-Quick Steering Rack?
-Anti Tramp Bar Kit?
-Panhard Rod?
-Front axle rod?

- Sport Exhaust Side (does it make sense on the tiny engine?

Aftermarket fitment:

Stainless steel wiper stalk
Aeros instead of front windscreen

I hope I have not lost you on the way reading Santa Morgans list. Any advice or opinions greatly appreciated. Cheers.

Just out of interest have you noticed the 4/4 'Speedster' in the for sale section? Some compromises with the more detailed aspects of your spec but 600 miles and £30k, you could respray to whatever colour you like and save a fortune.

And yes a rack can be fitted without the need for overriders

Thanks John, yes I have seen the orange :-O Speedster.
In my humble car collection I do own lhd as well as rhd Land Rovers, but on the Morgan, I`d prefer a lhd one for German roads (as I do hope to overtake some cars - and not like in the old LR stay behind tractors ;-)
Notwithstanding what I just wrote, maybe I should give it another thought, I just contacted Andrew.

I loved My '63 4/4 Series IV. I had rebuilt it from a "Basket Case". Nothing special about it. So long as the road had curves I could keep up with any Morgan, any year and any model. On the straights it was lacking. 63HP I think. The Modern 4/4 has over twice that power. If kept light whats not to like.

I do not like "Aero Screens". Look nice but not enough protections.

I like the idea johncc has. I would prefer more than 600 miles and wonder Why so few but in a LHD country I would not own a RHD car. (I once owned a '54 Bentley "R" Type - hated RHD)(I did have a friend with a RHD Morgan and He said NO PROBLEM) If I bought a RHD I would convert it to LHD. If You are DIY(Do It Yourself) it should not cost much. If not maybe the used 4/4 is not for You.

Seems to be a very nice car.
Only a few comments from me.
When driving in the rain my car gets wet from the underside. So when let to dry I remove the carpets which has a plastic or rubber backing against the floor.
My car is the 1.8 litter, and I thought I needed anti tramp bars as the rear axle was bouncing around when accelerating hard. installing adjustable AVO´s at the rear cured the problem.
I also drive mostly with the tonneau cover, which I had modified adding a lip over the zipper which is not waterproof when parked outside in the rain.

Really like your idea of having the orange tan leather for the dash and door toppers contrasting with the black everything else - not seen that before so I'm looking forward to seeing photos when it's all done

I think an orange tan bonnet strap would look great to match

My suggestion for what it's worth is to not go for a factory fit tonneau cover and go to those very nice chaps at Morgan Park (or other trimming establishment) and commission a 3 zip tonneau cover, especially as you want to drive it sans screens and hood in the wet .
The extra zip and side panel it creates to your outside will help keep the wind and rain out and off those nice orange tan leather toppers and protect your cockpit to a greater extent

Morgan Park have also just brought out a folding windscreen bracket for your car and they are taking orders for them in black as Kevfitz has just ordered some

That would look top banana with some aeroscreens

Stewart You made mention of Morgan Park. I tried to Google them but no joy - please let us know a web address if you have one. Folding windscreen brackets is one mod I have wanted for the 2008 4/4.

Morgan Park (Hamburg)

Thanks guys for your replies as well as the helpful PM`s that I received. Cheers Axel. I will keep you posted on the progress.