Talk Morgan Forums Community The Malvern Arms How do you explain a Morgan

On Saturday I was parked in my Roadster outside Chesham tube station waiting for my wife to do some shopping.

The station master was attracted to my Trad and came over for a pleasant chat about it. He asked me how old it was. I explained it was only two years old. Predictably, he said - "oh, is it one of those kit car reproductions then"? No, I explained, Morgan have been making basically the same car since 1936 but obviously updated with modern power but still using traditional coach building methods in the same style. He looked a little dubious. I don't think he believed me.

I have had this response many times before. I wondered what tactics others use to explain just what a Morgan is. The fact that someone thought my car some kind of Panther Kallista left me feeling pretty desperate.

Last summer while re-fuelling, a friendly lady of a certain age passed some positive comments on my Roadster. Her bloke said "Did you build it yourself ?". I thought all chaps know about Morgans, but I was slightly impressed by his assessment of my mechanical skills.....

That's better than the other standard response though, the one about the waiting list being 80 years long.

I just let them tell me all about Morgan's and smile and leave when they have burnt themselves out when they are Clarkson types.

The people that do know the cars I will have a good old chat with though when they have a genuine interest and have met some nice folks that way.

Wooden chassis always get me going.

I tend to go with Richards approach

On this side of the pond, we often face the "Izzat an old MG or something?" question. In my experience, it's about a 3:1 ratio to the kit car question.

Sometimes, someone with a little bit of passing knowledge will follow up the MG or kit car question by asking if I take the car to a mechanic or an exterminator. Those comedians get a nice compliment on their Porsche (or Corvette/Mustang/Camaro), and I happily go about my business.

Living less than 30 miles as the crow flies from the factory, I find most people who are interested know what it is. Years ago I did have one guy tell me I was completely wrong when I said it didn't have a wooden chassis, and more recently someone insisted that they all had V8s in them so mine must be a kit.

Most folk here in Norfolk seem happy to except and admire once we've got the "how old is it" question answered, although there was some scepticism when I gave the answer in months early on

I had the "how old is it" question the day after I picked it up new from BHM. After stringing the chap along for a while I did admit I'd only picked it up the day before.