Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Classic Morgans (pre-CX) HOT TOPIC - End of traditional Morgans

Following posted by a very well respected person on MorganExperience forum

There was a odd notice posted by a very reputable French Dealer (situate just outside of Toulouse) https://www.facebook.com/104446156274315/posts/1928409007211345/
The translation to English is not very good, but in brief it says that Morgan will end the production of the 4/4, the world's longest automobile model run.

I made some inquiries closer to Malvern, and for what they are worth (aka I hope they are wrong), they say that the family shareholders have agreed that all trad models will be cancelled shortly, and instead move to a aer-type chassis and mechanics. The new format will copy the retromobile they used to sell the remaining BMW V8s. Of course, it is envisaged that prices will sharply spike for the new models and the shareholders hope this will make far more profits. They have a point. If we ignore the corporate veil and speak of Morgan as a going concern, the average of profits and losses since the introduction of the Aero (2000) has not been stellar. Though the compnay was a virtual goldmine before[/i ]

This should spark a good debate Rob.

Scare story ? It will alienate most of the Mog fraternity !

IF TRUE second hand prices will rise sharply. Perhaps the story heralds a revamp of the traditional 4/4 to incorporate the costly little tweeks found wanting. Lets call it the "Plus 4 Plus" or even the "Plush 4"

What a bombshell! Oh and the task ahead for Morgan. Chasing a big ticket sale - the product must be desirable and special. I guess the Areos are just that - but at prices many "Trad" owners can't afford.

I wonder how many Trad owners will feel the draw to "upgrade". Or have the cash to do so. But things move on and progress happens. Values set to rise I expect as well.

Or what a good way to encourage some showroom traffic and boost sales? When the trads do go we'll see some limited editions surely? I imagine it'll be a few summers yet - but after 2020 who knows.

Anybody who knows the truth care to reveal?

Google translate says,

“In September, the traditional Morgan 4/4 will no longer be available in the catalog. You still have the opportunity to get one of the last 6 that will come out of the factory by the end of August. Four of them are already configured and available for re-entry, two others are still configurable!
Do not hesitate to contact us at 0562122900 for any further information.”

Sounds to me as if they are talking about the last of the V8 (aero) +8's, not the trad range, something lost in translation or understanding I think?

Is this not the move away from the Trad chassis to an Aero style platform?

IMO this was / is bound to happen.

And is I guess strongly linked to what I see as the MMC strategy of pushing the Brand ever more upmarket.

Naturally this will create price increases. And potentially radically upwards!

So yes the 4/4 as we currently know it will be no more. Still available but on a new platform.

My sadness would be that the wonderful Ash content would be gone or at best relegated to a token presence. Rather like the M3W has always been.

A good post - and v interesting how often these news gems emerge!

Always assuming it's not Fake news!!

Even if this refers to the Plus8 it probably still applies to the 4/4 and the Trad range eventually.

I too heard rumours the 4/4 was going to be discontinued, but that the remaining Classics including Roadster were going to be powered by the three cylinder Ford EcoBoost in various states of turbo tune.

Whilst a little radical I thought, there is a ring of truth. The Mustang from which the current Roadster engine is derived has already had the V6 dropped from the range in the US to be replaced by the 2.3 4 cylinder EcoBoost engine developing 25 bhp more!

The news story is here on the morgan experience forum and the editor is very well linked to gomog a well read technical reference for trad morgan owners

https://www.morganexperience.com/phorum/read.php?2,13036