Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Classic Morgans (pre-CX) Charles Morgan and Sliding Pillar

Thanks Graham - I'll check it out. I suspect that might account for the stiffness when I first took over the Roadster - it was 5 months old with 250 miles on the clock. I've suspected that the suspension wasn't working as it should - first drive was up to Dartmoor: lost the horn push half a dozen times, (and loosened a few fillings I shouldn't wonder )

It seems a lot better now - or I've just got used to it.

250 miles? Had the previous owner actually driven it or just pushed it in and out of the garage?
Like any motor - it needs using...

Cheers,

Nah - sad tale I'm afraid - sale due to a marriage/relationship break-up: acrimonious I believe. Their loss - my gain (the cheque was to be made out to the lady of the partnership). So I guess the Roadster hardly turned a wheel after the initial flush of enthusiasm was over. I hope it wasn't the cause of the split . I'd better watch my step !!

I've managed to multiply the mileage by a factor of ten in my 3 months-odd of ownership.

On which subject - how is it that so many Mogs one sees for sale have only done a few thousand in several years ? I haven't been away yet, and I'm close to so-called "average" for a tin-top?

Yes that is noticeable. Probably there are "drivers", enthusiasts, like many of us here, and there are people as well who just enjoy owning and watching their "accessories".

Yep you do see some owners who do daft mileage. One mechanic told me 100 -200 miles pa was not unusual.
I was told that your really need to get over 10k as then the car loosens up and handles better.

I don't know if mine at 35k handles better it does seem to flow round bends and fits like a well loved slipper

A lot of Mogs are weekend cars, and if management doesn't like it, then that severely limits options. And if management doesn't buy into it, being retired won't help. I suspect in many cases that's what's going on.

Nick - the ladder chassis can twist, and flex. You can test this by jacking up either the rear or one side and you'll see that the doors get sticky. The wing beading stops the joined panels from chafing. There's nothing wrong with a live axle and leaf springs in the context of their era. But if you can visualise a bare chassis with the rear axle fitted looking from the rear, the only possible movement is vertically up & down, and the chassis can roll over the centrepoint of the diff. So on a dead smooth road the tyres stay vertical. When one wheel hits a bump or hole though, both rears will then be at an angle to the horizontal which reduces grip.
The front frame stays in alignment with the chassis at that end, so as the case for the rear, on a smooth road the wheels stay 'vertical' (with a bit of designed negative camber). On small bumps, they will remain vertical and act independantly, but the minute you get a big deflection, the cross tubes & chassis will twist and the wheels stray from vertical. In truth the front is a lot more complicated because the negative camber may mean that one wheel becomes more vertical while the other becomes less vertical, and it's even more complicated when cornering. It's amazing that this design feels so good on most roads.
Fitting an independant front end - (and by that I really mean wishbones)works best with a stiff monocoque or tub, because wishbone set ups vary the camber under bump & rebound. To fit this set up to the front of a trad without altering anything else will need a lot of work to make it worthwhile IMO.
And the limited suspension travel will compromise the design.

I hope MMC try this, and it will be interesting to feel the difference if it happens. But really I would prefer to see a new aluminium tub with a complete makeover - under the trad shape, no bigger than a Plus4. Would I buy one? Not today, or this year. But in the future as a grumpier old fart I might just prefer a bit more comfort.

Mine has currently made 16k km. It´s just good driven into. Same I must say about the engine. Especially the V6 needs at least 12K before it really loosens up. I have made this experience three times until now.

I agree to your thoughts about new technologies and about the size of the car. So MMC could address two target groups with such a more modern technical design - young new buyers because of the ease to drive fast as well as pensioners who wants a smoother ride.

A new tub would more likely than not be longer and wider, people are taller and broader than when the current +4 first saw the light of day, even the current 'wide frame' Roadster is tiny by today's standards, I parked mine in Coventry this week in a public car park and when I returned I was struck by how small it looked in a line of ordinary modern tin tops

I was parked by a Ford Ranger at the Classic Show on Sunday......I was sitting there feeling very small