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Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 2,272 Likes: 7
Talk Morgan Expert
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Talk Morgan Expert
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 2,272 Likes: 7 |
Initially I misread that as a Ford Cosworth engine! Should have gone to Specsavers I suppose. That would be a whole bunch of fun. I've wondered if it would be possible to squeeze a BDA into my 4/4 - not that I could afford one! I posted a picture of just such a beast a few years ago which if I remember correctly was one of John Shealley’s race cars over in the States. It looked pretty special. https://www.classyvice.com/morgan-cosworth-bda-for-sale/https: Not the only one around it seems. Yes , the first BDA-engined 4/4 was built by MMC for Andy Duncan , the company's legal counsel. It replaced his Lotus Twin Cam engined 4/4 that was also built by MMC. The later was passed to his brother , Mike Duncan, the then Midlands agent. Both brothers competed on the hills and at sprints. The second BDA was a "home built" special. It was done by Chas Smith , the then secretary of the Morgan 4/4 club (predecessor of the MSCC ) and still the Vice President of the latter. He has been competing with his Ford 1500 cc Series IV car on the hills , and wanted a bit more oomph. He built it up using a lot of David Rutherford parts (one piece f/glass body , lighter gauge chassis etc ) It was quite a fiercesome beast but Chas never really had the resources to develop it fully , and it got sold to John Shealley , who did spend an awful lot on it over in the USA, including a Cosworth BDD engine. It became quite a formidable car in the events that John entered. I think various others tried similar conversions, with mixed success. Mainly in the UK because there was no real opportunity for one to compete without going into the "Specials" category, so it was of limited appeal as a BDA did not make a good road car engine. More recently Billy Bellinger (of JB Engineering) has developed a Cosworth engined 1500cc 4/4 for HSCC and similar historic racing. His reasoning is that the Ford Cosworth engine , even with all the dry sump engineering is so much lighter than a race prepared TR engine in the +4 , that it should be a competitive car with the Historic +4s. I think it is down on power from a 2 litre +4 , but the lighter weight and nimble handling will make it pretty quick IMHO.
Andy G
1999 +8 , Indigo Blue.
Ex-John McKecknie/Mike Duncan 1955 +4 racer.
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 27,811 Likes: 749
Member of the Inner Circle
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Member of the Inner Circle
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 27,811 Likes: 749 |
Ken,
you are in the area of Thames Mog & Swan Mog. Join the MSCC and go to talk to them. They may even offer to look at cars with you.
Good luck
John
JohnV6
2022 CX Plus Four
2025 Renault Scenic Alpine etech "Yvette"
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Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 2,274 Likes: 41
Talk Morgan Expert
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Talk Morgan Expert
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 2,274 Likes: 41 |
I can recommend a 4/4 Sport with the Sigma engine, they are great fun  ![[Linked Image]](https://www.tm-img.com/images/2020/09/21/C3D52EEA-5132-49AD-B6BA-ED36AF0742AA.jpg)
Craig Jezz
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 37,418 Likes: 978
Tricky Dicky Member of the Inner Circle
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Tricky Dicky Member of the Inner Circle
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 37,418 Likes: 978 |
Initially I misread that as a Ford Cosworth engine! Should have gone to Specsavers I suppose. That would be a whole bunch of fun. I've wondered if it would be possible to squeeze a BDA into my 4/4 - not that I could afford one! I posted a picture of just such a beast a few years ago which if I remember correctly was one of John Shealley’s race cars over in the States. It looked pretty special. https://www.classyvice.com/morgan-cosworth-bda-for-sale/https: Not the only one around it seems. Yes , the first BDA-engined 4/4 was built by MMC for Andy Duncan , the company's legal counsel. It replaced his Lotus Twin Cam engined 4/4 that was also built by MMC. The later was passed to his brother , Mike Duncan, the then Midlands agent. Both brothers competed on the hills and at sprints. The second BDA was a "home built" special. It was done by Chas Smith , the then secretary of the Morgan 4/4 club (predecessor of the MSCC ) and still the Vice President of the latter. He has been competing with his Ford 1500 cc Series IV car on the hills , and wanted a bit more oomph. He built it up using a lot of David Rutherford parts (one piece f/glass body , lighter gauge chassis etc ) It was quite a fiercesome beast but Chas never really had the resources to develop it fully , and it got sold to John Shealley , who did spend an awful lot on it over in the USA, including a Cosworth BDD engine. It became quite a formidable car in the events that John entered. I think various others tried similar conversions, with mixed success. Mainly in the UK because there was no real opportunity for one to compete without going into the "Specials" category, so it was of limited appeal as a BDA did not make a good road car engine. More recently Billy Bellinger (of JB Engineering) has developed a Cosworth engined 1500cc 4/4 for HSCC and similar historic racing. His reasoning is that the Ford Cosworth engine , even with all the dry sump engineering is so much lighter than a race prepared TR engine in the +4 , that it should be a competitive car with the Historic +4s. I think it is down on power from a 2 litre +4 , but the lighter weight and nimble handling will make it pretty quick IMHO. Thank you for the full story on the car Andy, quite a history.
2009 4/4 Sport Henrietta
1999 Indigo Blue +8
2009 4/4 Sport Green prev
1993 Con Green +8 prev
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Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 6,669 Likes: 434
Talk Morgan Sage
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Talk Morgan Sage
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 6,669 Likes: 434 |
Initially I misread that as a Ford Cosworth engine! Should have gone to Specsavers I suppose. That would be a whole bunch of fun. I've wondered if it would be possible to squeeze a BDA into my 4/4 - not that I could afford one! I posted a picture of just such a beast a few years ago which if I remember correctly was one of John Shealley’s race cars over in the States. It looked pretty special. https://www.classyvice.com/morgan-cosworth-bda-for-sale/https: Not the only one around it seems. Yes , the first BDA-engined 4/4 was built by MMC for Andy Duncan , the company's legal counsel. It replaced his Lotus Twin Cam engined 4/4 that was also built by MMC. The later was passed to his brother , Mike Duncan, the then Midlands agent. Both brothers competed on the hills and at sprints. The second BDA was a "home built" special. It was done by Chas Smith , the then secretary of the Morgan 4/4 club (predecessor of the MSCC ) and still the Vice President of the latter. He has been competing with his Ford 1500 cc Series IV car on the hills , and wanted a bit more oomph. He built it up using a lot of David Rutherford parts (one piece f/glass body , lighter gauge chassis etc ) It was quite a fiercesome beast but Chas never really had the resources to develop it fully , and it got sold to John Shealley , who did spend an awful lot on it over in the USA, including a Cosworth BDD engine. It became quite a formidable car in the events that John entered. I think various others tried similar conversions, with mixed success. Mainly in the UK because there was no real opportunity for one to compete without going into the "Specials" category, so it was of limited appeal as a BDA did not make a good road car engine. More recently Billy Bellinger (of JB Engineering) has developed a Cosworth engined 1500cc 4/4 for HSCC and similar historic racing. His reasoning is that the Ford Cosworth engine , even with all the dry sump engineering is so much lighter than a race prepared TR engine in the +4 , that it should be a competitive car with the Historic +4s. I think it is down on power from a 2 litre +4 , but the lighter weight and nimble handling will make it pretty quick IMHO. Yes, thank you. I went to school with Mikes son Tim.
"Y mae dafad ddu ym mhob praidd"
1972 4/4, 1981 MGBGT, 1984 FLHT1340, 1980 XLH1000, 1990 ZX10
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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 7,342 Likes: 49
Talk Morgan Guru
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Talk Morgan Guru
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 7,342 Likes: 49 |
Welcome Ken from sunny Sydney and good luck with the search
A Morgan Identified Fastidious Owner...
2011 4/4 Bespoke, 1981 Delorean, Auburn Boat Tail
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 321 Likes: 3
Learner Plates Off!
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Learner Plates Off!
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 321 Likes: 3 |
Ken
I am in the corner of Berkshire, where it joins to Hampshire and Surrey. If you want to pop over I can show you around a Plus 8, and a Plus 4. If you do join Morgan Sports Car Club we will be very pleased to welcome you to Swanmog. Drop me a PM (private message) and I will send contact details to you
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Mike Smith
2007 +4
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Joined: Jan 2014
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Talk Morgan Enthusiast
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Talk Morgan Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,671 |
Hi Ken, a Berkshire welcome from FInchampstead.
Good luck with all your research & once you’ve done let’s then talk about the M3W
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Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 52 Likes: 1
Just Getting Started
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OP
Just Getting Started
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 52 Likes: 1 |
Thanks for the quick responses, I went to my local dealer and had a drive in 2L Duratec and a 3L Roadster which was fantastic. So my quest continues as the test drive confirmed my need/desire to purchase something soon!
Cheers
Ken
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Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 52 Likes: 1
Just Getting Started
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OP
Just Getting Started
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 52 Likes: 1 |
yes, the show was at West Green house near Hartley Wintney. The weather was great and he turn-out of Morgans certainly has set me off in a mission to find one!
And it goes without saying the members made my wife and I extremely welcome to ask questions on ownership
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