Talk Morgan Forums Community The Malvern Arms Bring A Trailer - Morgans & Interesting vehicles

As I typed I was tempted by the V8, wishing to roar around the country roads, however although not part of the plan, when later touring through Southern Europe the old V8 took it in it`s stride for hour after our at 70 mph and circa 2K RPM when on the Autostrada etc.

I suspect few folk will spend much time at speeds over 70MPH in their Trads, thus modifying 4/4`s to make them more performant may be more of an enjoyable pastime or challenge, than a real need to go a great deal faster.

At the time I was looking for a Morgan I thought that the 4/4 was perhaps the best balanced all round Morgan relative to its vintage underpinnings but the attraction of the V8 won me over in terms of the fabled hairy chested sports car... I was so much younger then...

They are great fun. - about 60 less horses than the +8, but almost 100kg lighter. Sky's the limit with performance, but it's fairly easy to squeeze out another 30bhp with a stage 2 head and a cam swap getting you nearer the +8 territory. I'm fairly standard but have got a few bolt on mods (large bore exhaust. lighter flywheel, electric fan etc), so still managing around 35-38mpg (very important with current prices!) while being quite lively.

You can pick one up for sub £20K and all the egineering and electrics are 'first prinicple' stuff.

Lively one here for £15K

All the above 🙂 .....

**The following is entirely subjective and based on my own experiences and priorities.**

For me the Crossflow is an ideal engine for the Morgan ..... home brewed in Dagenham ... the 711m block versions are reliable and easily tuned with huge amounts of motorsport time ... simple, robust and appropriate.

The '70s cars had a basic and definitely 'vintage' feel ... rubber mats and leathercloth rather than Wilton and hand-stitched hide .... the engine complements this being at a fine crossover point of an 'old' feeling simple engine but reliable and fast enough not to have to fear modern traffic or steep hills. With spares and expertise readily available.

As what I seek is that hard to define 'vintage driving experience' with decent performance, then the only true pre-war cars that offer that are stratospheric money (there are financially accessible pre-war cars but you're talking 50 mph flat out with a following wind ... modern traffic contenders are in the Bentley, Bugatti etc class) .... so, for me and my not so deep pockets, a '70s crossflow engined Morgan presses all the buttons ... distinct and obvious '30s heritage and decent performance .... the miles I've managed to do in my recently finished resto have only served to confirm I made the right choice ..... For Me! *

K


* Other opinions are available

Some thing for the kids.....
2009-american-retro-red-racer-pedal-car

An old Classic....
1938-bentley-4-25-litre-saloon-by-gurney-nutting

Looks reasonable.....
1973-mg-mgb

SOLD US$ 5,000.00

Some Italian style...
1970-fiat-dino

Not sure why you would buy one but this a Jolly big price ....
1959-fiat-600 Jolly