Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Classic Morgans (pre-CX) 4/4?

When my narrow Plus 4 was built, (may have been the last one), 185/70×15 Vredesteins were unobtainable. Believe me I tried. 12 months earlier I put a set on Bumble.

And Blockleys were too fat on the sidewalls to clear the top spring mounts. The 4/4 wire wheel has the greatest rim 'inset' so tyre size is critical on 4/4 wires.

Vredestein Sprint Classic
185/70 R15 89H

Are in sock according to mytyres.co.uk

It Seems that there is an across the board engine supply issue?
No more suitable V8.
Sigma not meeting emissions.
GDI....?
3.7 Cyclone seems the more stable.
Surely there are moves afoot to rectify these issues?
I don’t believe MMC are not working on replacements from whatever source?
One thing for sure....diesels will not be on the menu!

I had Berrybrook supply me with a valuation for insurance purposes of my 4/4 a few weeks ago. In passing, it was said that the 4/4 is to be re-engined with a two litre, but exactly which remained uncertain.
The upshot as far as I can see is that second hand values will continue sharply upwards.

Geneva will be interesting next year! Either the factory has new prototypes waiting in the development shed to put on the stand, have a very scarce collection of cars to show......or the first time for ages, no presence there. 😳

Even the Cyclone has been dropped from the Mustang now in favour of the more powerful 2.3 4 pot turbo!

I can see a pattern here, with Ford at least. Its cheaper to drill three holes rather than four, or four rather than six, and to fill them. Then pop on a turbo and choose the numbers

The thing is........the perennial question.......when is a 4/4 not a 4/4??

In the past as far as I know, the 4/4 didn't go beyond 1800cc. * but see below.

The 1800 Duratec 4/4 is said to be a jewel, but was only produced for a short time.

* The 4/4 75th Anniversary dropped right into this conundrum being a 2-Litre 4/4, but also a narrow winged Plus 4 with 4/4 wheels...............

There was/is one of these for sale at Ledgerwoods.

These Morgans are superb having a blend of balance with performance....... Obviously I'm not impartial.

So if MMC market the narrow Plus 4 as a 4/4, I would like to see the Plus 4 marketed with more power to maintain the differential. Maybe to Clubsport spec or beyond........

That shouldn't be such a big deal to sort out?

Very, very hard for Morgan I should imagine to get the model range and engine specs, right. I'd have assumed the Eco boost engine was maybe destined for a 4/4.

I'd love Morgan to have another 100 years of success but as well as engines I feel they simply must address suspension and road manners if the 4/4 is indeed to continue and more importantly to survive if it does.

I bought a new one last year and sold it this year, I p/x'd a Caterham for it.
I have to say even compared to the Caterham it is awful on the road, and in fact that's being unfair to the Caterham even comparing them.

My Morgan looked the real business, I loved it, others loved it but I just did not like driving it.
It felt like a new car trying to be old.

Yes I was warned "they are an acquired taste" and took that on board although it made no difference.
I bought one because I'm a true Brit car enthusiast and had never owned a Mog. As the cliche goes the "itch needed to be scratched"

Sadly all too soon the novelty wore off, and in all honesty annoyed me. The Caterham still looks like the car Patrick McGoonan used, but drives infinitely better due to modern upgrades, in fact it is sublime compared to a 4/4 I now realise.

I just could not live with the clattering and jumpy ride, the total lack of cabin space/storage and the turning circle of an A380. Beautiful? Yes, but sadly that for me was its only merit.

On top of that the rattles it had, yes we all know "they all do that sir" but it's wrong. I've had 7's all my life, TVR's and Lotus and none have made as many noises as that did. My current Lotus drives like you'd not believe and just does not rattle or squeak anywhere

I offered it (the 4/4) back to Oakmere and they gave me a fair price for it, although it still was an expensive year of "fun car" ownership.

Glad it is out of my system now, 7's always make me return to the marque, Sadly the Morgan won't. At 45k for a base model it for me just did not come up to the mark anything like I'd maybe expected.

One nice part of the ownership was the great guys I met, some I still meet up with at shows.

I'm now thinking if I'd taken the used V6 off Oakmere or one of the plus 4's at similar money would my feelings still be the same? Would I indeed still own the car? I'll never know now.

Reason I'm saying all this is because I really feel if Morgan are to push ahead and keep the flag flying the suspension and steering really must need looking at, engine for me is secondary. Plenty of good engines to choose from at present but give the car a set up which is more inkeeping with modern day roads and traffic.

Hope you guys don't mind me putting a negative post on here, believe me I would have posted great things as I do with the Lotus if that were the case. Just being honest and hope to see a 4/4 that looks like a 4/4 soon, but one which drives like a modern none assisted sports car.

Is it just me? The clanging, leaping about and leaking in the rain all make me smile and love the car a little bit more.
If I wanted modern suspension I'd buy a Bmw or Mazda or something.
I like the unconscious exercise of the core muscles that the Mog encourages/demands.
Nick

Spot on Nick - every drive is a new adventure and I've never thought that in a tin top . 2 Plus 8's and a 4/4 Sport and 14 years on the magic is still there for me

Had a lovely 40 mile bimble around on local roads with loads of smiles two thumbs up and a long chat at the petrol station with an Audi Cabrio Morgan fan. It never happens in the Fiesta good little tractor that it is.

It's nice to spread a little fun around the places you visit, people love them.