Talk Morgan Forums Community The Malvern Arms Before I bought my first Morgan...........

I drove my 4/4 Sport at Tim Ayres on a whim. We were holidaying nearby(ish) and it was my turn to pick a day out. I said "Why don't we go and have a look at some Morgans at New Elms". "Just a look round for something to do and a bit of lunch after" I said.
We were lucky and Tim had a bit of stock at the time so when he offered me a test drive in a 70s 4/4 I drove my first Morgan. It was an amazing experience but the cockpit was cramped and it had been modified, so I asked Tim if he had anything else?
"Only that one on the ramp, but it is much more money". he replied.
"Can we see it?" I said.
Well it was one of those magic visual experiences that happen so rarely, as the ramp descended from the shadows, this vision of beauty in the form of a Black 4/4 Sport gradually revealed itself and I was never going to walk away from that car from that moment.
I took it for a test drive first with my petrolhead son, and then with Mrs M and we bought it as soon as we got back to Tim's. It was a much better fit as it was a long door and only had 14000 miles on the clock.
Another case of love at first sight.

I looked at a few used, clapped out cars. I bought my 1995 4/4 sight unseen from a private seller in Florida. I live in Pennsylvania, more than 1000 miles away from where the car was. It had only 1035 miles on it when I purchased it in 2009. I had been looking for a Morgan for a few years but had never driven one. It showed up in an enclosed car transporter and was as described, like new. My 3 wheeler I purchased new, from a dealer in Morgantown, West Virginia. I had not driven a 3 wheeler before buying it, but at least sat in it to make sure I fit before making the deal. I got a ride to the dealership a few days later and drove it home in cold, rainy, November weather.

John

I'd wanted a Morgan since I was at university, and came close to placing a deposit on a new 4/4 in the early 80s when my mother was living on Barnard's Green, about a mile from the Works. Then came marriage, kids, emigration, and career changes. And then one day my wife--who was well aware of my desire for a Morgan--said "I think you should get one". Needless to say, I moved swiftly. A key milestone in my search was visiting the regional dealership to ensure that I could actually get in and out of the cars. I found my Plus 4 through the dealership and truth to tell, decided to buy it before the test drive--it just looked so fabulous sitting there on the previous owner's driveway.

My dad brought me a brochure from a car exhibition in London back in 1970 when I was 11. His friend at work had given it to him as we were far too poor to buy new cars or even go to a car exhibition in London. I spotted the black and white picture of the Morgan Plus 8 and the description of its performance and said I’d have one someday.

Dad died in 1979 and I started work the following year.

6 years later I bought my first classic car, a VW Beetle to ‘restore’ as we could only afford one decent car and I had to make something for my wife to drive back and forwards to work. The beetle cost me £60 and I spent £200 fixing it up. She drove it for 3 years and we sold it for £600.

Wizz forwards to 2018, 120 or so cars later including about 40 different classics and I’ve retired. I’ve had some very nice classics but nothing exotic as although I now have quite deep pockets my arms are much too short to reach the bottom!

Driving back from seeing my old mum in Manchester we decide to visit a pub in Nantwich for lunch, surprise surprise Oakmare is en-route. They had a nice Plus 8 needling a bit of TLC which if I sold my MGB and Stag would be within my ‘fun-fund’ range.

Unexpectedly wifey said I should buy it so I did.

3 years later with New suspension, heated seats, mechanical and trim fettling and its now sitting in the garage covered up waiting for lockdown 3 to end......

For me it started with; Marianne Faithfull;.. Ride through Paris in a sports car with the warm wind in her (my) hair.
I was 38 and thought will it ever???
But our house first needed a new roof. A friend willing to help me came along with his 1980 Morgan 4/4
I told him my next investment would be an open sports car. It wouldn't be a Morgan that's far out of my range.
An MG or a spitfire will do. But every time he came by I kept asking questions about this Morgan.
On a very hot day; I think he had enough of my questions: He gave me his keys and said I could take a ride
Getting into a Morgan for the first time with the hood up even without windows is a challenge in itself.
BUT after a few 100 meters and the first corners I was sure THIS IS IT. It took a few extra years.
And it is thanks to the wife that it did not last any longer, she was fed up with my doubts about color price etc..
The two tone was good Value for money but I had reservations about the color. She said we buy this one.
Still have it.
So If I had never driven a Morgan I would never have bought one.

I prefer Dr. Hook.

The Eyes of Lucy Jordan.

My parents home, for the last 20 years of their life, was in Ledbury.
So during my visits to them, I kept seeing Morgans from the factory.
In 2005 I decided to make a visit to my local dealer (Berrybrook)
Within 15 minutes, I was driving Stanley. (Then 18 months old)
I put down a deposit, sold a mk1 Audi TT 225 and that was it.

Since then, I have driven +4, Roadster 3 ltr and a +8, all lovely, but none tempted me away from my trusty 4/4.

Bud
4/4 - Stanley

Did he ever drove an open sports car?