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

The questions are pretty standard in my experience......

How old?
How much is it worth?
Is it a kit car?
Does it have a wooden chassis?


Very rarely do they ask about the engine.

It seems that the same old questions never die.

My answer to the "does it have a wooden chassis?" is "No, but a Marcos does, this one is glued aluminium".
My answer to "How much is it worth?" is '"More than I am..."

If it is an Aero with sidepipes please add "what will it do (mph)"

About 20 mpg and 85dB?

I tell them that the car, like the VW Beetle, the Austin Mini and the Citroen 2CV, was built by the same manufacturer almost unchanged for decades. In the case of the Morgan 4/4 since 1936. So it's an original, not a reproduction.

I made up a notebook with pictures of the factory. Lots of wooden chassis in a row. Someone putting on the aluminum, etc. etc.

I carry it with me and when they don't believe it's wood underneath I let them leaf through the notebook.

I've got one made up for the + 8 and the 3 Wheeler.

It's a lot easier than trying to explain the cars every time.

I ran into a guy with a Model T at a filling station. He had a good quote about these type of cars. He said " Every stop is a car show and every drive is a parade"

I do not blame people for not knowing and asking peculiar questions, it is a rare animal anyway. I just try to explain and inform in a friendly way, rather flattered by all the positive interest. Once I stood parked by the pavement a few minutes, making a phone call from my car. A young lady of perhaps 15 comes up to me and exclaims "I really dig your car!" before she happily strolls on. After five minutes an elderly gentleman possibly her age + 70 come s over and says "Wonderful vehicle of yours" with a smile, then walks off. That's Morgan charm for you. Made my day!

The majority of Joe public gets confused between what the difference is between a chassis and a frame.

Jess and I had our +8 parked in a village street and Jess had gone shopping. She overheard two lassies talking.
Lassie 1: "Look at that bloke in that car"
Lassie 2: "He's old!"
Lassie 1: "But he'll be rich!"

I also get the wooden chassis question a lot and most are confused between the difference of a chassis and a frame (as per other comments above) and are very surprised by the bonded aluminium chassis and aluminium panels on the Aero.