Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Classic Morgans (pre-CX) Malvern Roadster

Really?

Are you American? Everyone here seems to be telling them how they should react.

I can tell you that in the US, the right old Morgan is far more popular than a new one. Yanks are a very hands on group. Some of their "old" Morgans are things to envy. Priceless.

Yet right now, my friends there tell me the USA market is very bad for old and new Morgans. And the last thing that market needs is more supply with an obscure provenance. Did you think that the MMC was doing this to make Americans happy?

There is nothing sadder to a US auto nut than the US gray market. The Malvern is a gray market car on a level in the US with a glass fiber Ferraris on a Beetle chassis and running gear. I do not agree with Lance. I believe that the Malvern will lower the perception and prices of pre-owned Morgans in that country, if not others.

If you are wrong, we are all in trouble. If I am wrong, nothing changes about the value of our Morgans. If I am right, and it can be stopped, we preserve their value without any risks for the future.

I don't think there is anything easy about US regulations.
I believe the Morgan roadsters came in legally until the supply of approved airbags was exhausted and when Morgan did not certify a new one, that was the end.
I am not sure what has changed since the, but it is not likely to be cheap or easy.The Introduction of the three wheeler with it's ability to come in to the US as a motorcycle
was brilliant!

Well I guess you must be American and therefore have a vested interest?

I would have thought that it would maintain the value as there will also be a distinct age difference between any new cars that may not carry the Morgan name and the Morgans already in the country.

And may I add what a ridulous analogy you make with the fibregalass Ferrari on a Beetle body. Its nothing like that and I'm sure you know it?

Its just a shame that people are happier depriving others when a potential solution to allow them to 'play' is poo poo'ed; just because it may affect the value of their car "that they will never sell" to use Lances quote (I know that doesnt apply to you Lance, from what you have posted to date and said).

And anyway, its all conjecture until .....

Well said Boshly.

I bought my Morgan to enjoy not to worry about what the market price was doing and how much it had depreciated. Perhaps these people would take more enjoyment from putting their vehicle money into a high yield investment fund?

No. I am not an American. Are you? You have been telling Lance for days how Americans should be feeling about this! But Lance is echoing what other Americans, good friends and besotted moggers, are saying to me as well.

Let's be honest. The car world has always had two minds about Morgans. Are they potential classics or are they kit cars simply assembled in England? With this move, the MMC is answering that question. I am told it will also have ramifications for the importation of any Morgan car to the US in the future. Beware the wrath of any bureaucrat who has been end-run after a refusal for non-compliancy.

I will assume you meant "ridiculous". A Q plate is a Q plate. If you feel it means nothing, then take your Morgan, pull off the insignia and register it as a Q car. Then you will have my apologies. Please keep us updated on that.

People buy and sell Morgans every day. One of the biggest attractions of a classic Morgan is that they don't go down in price, so who cares what you pay for them, you can't lose over time. This is why Peter Morgan refused to consider anything like this for 50 years. He always felt that it would threaten the value of all classic Morgans.

You don't really believe it is "conjecture", do you? I admire your loyalty to your mates at the Factory and your co-moderator feels he has the information from the "horse's mouth". Lance differs and makes it clear that he feels that it came from the other end of the animal.

The problem is, once you sit at the Factory table, break their bread and benefit from special discounts, you abandon the peer group perception of having an objective opinion on anything concerning them. The difference from the rest of us is that our very first loyalty is to other owners, not the Factory.

I tend to agree with a lot of your thoughts on this whilst appreciating some of the other viewpoints. Are we in danger here of taking all the fun of ownership away here by debasing everything to a monetary value as opposed to the almost unique value of the pleasure derived from driving one of these handcrafted machines. Lighten up a little and enjoy it for it's unpretentiousness maybe. Just the sight of the new 3W makes you want to smile !!

Enjoy your miles.

Are we talking mogs or masons? As far as I am aware no one on TM swears an oath of allegiance to MMC or other owners for that matter.

Special discounts?

What I was getting at is that the handbuilt, craftsman element of a trad Morgan must surely be the body/suspension and the interior/hood etc. They buy in drivetrains and install them which is just what is proposed in the US.

Or if you just mean buying a car that is not called a Morgan but a Malvern...I'd just stick a Morgan badge on it!

I agree! What is wrong with an American assembled Morgan. If the car is essentially built in the Morgan factory and the engine etc. fitted in the US of A what is the problem. It is still a Morgan, indistinguishable from one completely built at Malvern, and should have a Morgan badge.

Wow! What an angry uptight person you are. Where have you been and why are you so frustrated with your life?

Lance and I have disagreed and may continue to do so, on certain items whilst agreeing on others, but at least he hasn't resorted to such venom. He asked for comments and got them. it would appear he even has a sense of humour

I suggest you chill out, have a drink, go for a drive in your Morgan and contemplate the good things in life

Oh, and Jays and Jambalunga, nail hit on head

Right I'm off to see if I can apply that discount thing retrospectively