Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Classic Morgans (pre-CX) Composite Storage Trunk

Not being able to find a suitable storage trunk/suitcase/ box I decided to design and get one made. (fortunately I have access to a factory that manufactures mobile vending units) The trunk has a very strong welded aluminium angled internal frame to which is bonded a composite material called Dibond which is 2 layers of Pre painted aluminium with a polythene core which gives a superb finish and is extremely durable. Because the trunk blocks the High level brake light on my Roadster we have designed a stainless steel bracket that acts to locate the trunk onto the rack and also hold the additional High Level Brake light, this can be simply removed from the trunk. We modified the rack by removing the bottom retaining foot which can be put back if required.
Once the trunk is located on the rack there are two fixing bolts inside the trunk so when the trunk is locked it is not possible to remove it without unlocking the trunk. The trunk can be fitted and removed within seconds.
So how much did it cost? well this one took quit a bit of trial and error to come up with quite a simple solution for fitting and removing quickly and it has probably tipped the £1,000 mark but if there was any demand I think we could produce the Trunk for about £450 +vat The light bracket and modification to the rack would be in addition to this Please message me if you want any additional information
[img]http://www.flickr.com/photos/188567249@N02/shares/x1c3BL[/img]
[img]https://www.flickr.com/photos/188567249@N02/shares/Kt79Uu[/img]

Very neat! Has it been tested in heavy rain for "waterproofness"? How did you modify the original rack - you mention removing the retaining foot, but what was involved in that?

Flickr don't make it easy to get the actual picture URL but here they are.





Very smart BTW

Great solution, very neat indeed

Very neat solution.

That's very smart!

A nicer solution than the Mogbox but I prefer a simple boat bag as it leaves the brake light visible & you can also use the rear mirror. I found with a big case the rear view also gets blocked.

Neat solution. It looks more at home than some odd shaped ones being sold as “ genuine parts” !
A few years ago I called in at Life’s whilst en route to Morgans at Windermere. It was to see a roadster they were selling. It had a coach built rear compartment that followed the lines of the rear of the car and was designed to hold a wheelchair. It did not detract from the normal lines of the car, was removable and with minimal modification would have been a proper boot. It was sold when I checked soon afterwards. I was tempted.

Great to see innovation in terms of modifying aspects of all things Morgan related, though as one who modified much when younger, I am reminded of being told that there is ever the possibility that my latest new idea was unlikely to be new at all...? (-:

From a failing memory I think there was a commercially available trunk design perhaps marketed by Hills Alive, which worked around some of the associated issues of capacity security and rearward visibility..?

My Morgan came with a trunk designed by Kevin, the chap who performed a nut and bolt rebuild of what was his Morgan at the time, and which has been in my custodianship since 2002, and in my opinion his design for his case was was a rather classy, being constructed in glass fibre and finished in the colour to match the Mog, interior lined to match perfectly with the trim of the Mog and finished off with smart chrome handles and latches, it even has the Morgan script visible to all those following behind, and yes rear view is restricted to some degree but Kevin obviously had to try to balance capacity against that rear view desirability..... But then some rather expensive sports cars have even less rearward view than my old Mog with it`s case in position...(-:

Kevin`s design utilised stainless steel "P" clips fixed around the tubes of the rack and bolted through the case to ensure it could not be removed without access to the internals of the case, which creates the desire to have a soft bag, or bags to fit within the case, his and hers perhaps... (-: I have carried the case fully loaded but trying to protect it`s paintwork while negotiating a variety of accommodation from former farmhouse outbuildings to ancient Châteaus, etc.etc.etc. was a bit of a struggle, thus while touring, I found it best to go the soft bag route.

Kevin`s design worked out well for us in terms of water resistance, and my Mog being 85/6 model does not have the requirement for a high brake light. I suspect Kevin`s design could carry quite a weight therein, thus perhaps best to consider security of rack mountings and tyre pressures, the case it`s self is sturdily constructed too.

As for the cost of reproducing Kevin`s design today.... Given the materials used and the build quality, I suspect demand might be somewhat limited, but then perhaps things Morgan related have evolved somewhat...Hmm..?

We managed rather well in terms of luggage of while touring with the case, and I even managed to squeeze in a good selection of tools and spares, under seats and in the space under the rear wheel. More soft bags behind the seats and my good lady being somewhat diminutive allowed her to store a few bits and pieces in her footwell... Even with all of that, I have to admit to being surprised to see her come out of a fancy shop in Cortona with a porcelain a salad bowl and matching ornamental porcelain handled utensil set.... Thinking .. well perhaps not type what I was thinking but I suspect you might guess...? (-: It sat proudly in it`s place in the kitchen for years...(-:

Think Brands Hatch and perhaps others may well provide a footwell lockable locker which could be handy for some photographic kit or other valuables on occasion...?

Who said a pic can say more than a thousand words.... Seems not to work for me...(-: Will try to post a couple of pics.

Hi Ken we removed the foot (retainer) to allow the box to sit lower I have full bumpers and the rack sits higher than on overriders (I think) We have tacked a stainless bolt into removed part so it can be bolted back if necessary. Its not a DIY job I have access to a very experienced welder. In its current position I have partial rear view where it is fitted As the high level brake light is fitted to the trunk it remains visible wherever trunk is fitted. So it may not be necessary to modify rack other than to drill two holes for internal security bolts