Wales
by Joske Vermeule, September 1
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Forums39
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Jun 14th, 2026
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Joined: May 2014
Posts: 5,442 Likes: 133
Black Rat Charter Member
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Black Rat Charter Member
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 5,442 Likes: 133 |
Chris, I don't want to hog the post or come across as one upmanship but I thought I would tell you this little ditty:
One day I pulled into the Studios car park and the security guard told me that Barry wanted me to take the Morgan and park in front of our executive offices (such an honour). I dutifully did, our offices used to be where the Stars had their apartments during the Studio ownership days, my office was part of Burt Lancaster's apartment, the Morgan was parked outside what used to be Marilyn Monroe's apartment. Anyway, Barry wanted to show a famous friend of his the +8 which he thought was a crazy car. I was in meetings and eventually got told that I could remove the +8 back to the garage, when the meeting finished I went down to drive it back as I was getting in Clint Eastwood came out of his production offices that were opposite to where I was parked. The WB Lot is very big and we used electric golf carts to get around the complex, Clint was going to get in his cart but saw me and shouted across would I take him to the costume department, I of course said yes. In climbs Clint and we start off but he says don't go directly let's have some fun, so off we go on a tour of the Lot, as we drive past the Shed (Studio) where Friends was being shot Jennifer Aniston and Lisa Kudrow were sitting by their Wagons talking. Clint tells me to pull over and he says to them something to the effect of (I can't quite remember) "Hey there you two I would take you for a ride but there isn't room", they burst out laughing and say "Later Darling". We drive all around the Studio Lot with Clint waving and cheering at everyone, at one point we passed a Lot Tour cart full of public on the WB Studio Tour, we stop and he tells the driver they can take photos. He had his photo taken in the +8 with all the people so there must be 20 or so photos out there somewhere. I eventually got him to the costume department and I was very late for my next meeting!!!!!!! Name dropper 
Keith
2013 narrow bodied + 4 Ruby.
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 3,825 Likes: 69
Talk Morgan Addict
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Talk Morgan Addict
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 3,825 Likes: 69 |
My story is rather more plebian....
I pulled up at the pile of one of my more wealthy clients to work on their piano. I'm in the Morgan.
His wife (who is not English) came out with him (and I'm not going to name him!) and said:
What a lovely thing; an English piano tuner turns up on a sunny English day in a handmade English car to work on our handmade English piano...what could be nicer?
He then offered to take me for a ride in his helicopter if I would take him out in the Morgan.
Actually, the helicopter bit is another story. Before I knew about the helicopter....We went into his office which had blinds on the window. He showed me his latest toy which was a miniature helicopter, remote controlled, which he was able to land on my palm. I had a go and said what fun it was and he replied: don't get too involved or you will end up having to buy one of ...these...at which point he opened the blinds to reveal a black proper helicopter on his lawn at the rear!
Nick
Last edited by nick w; 12/09/22 11:53 AM.
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Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 809 Likes: 30
Talk Morgan Regular
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Talk Morgan Regular
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 809 Likes: 30 |
That's exactly how I feel about the Morgan. Whilst I'm not scared to use it I prefer to keep it in reserve as a special car. I also dislike driving with the hood up, which is inevitable if you use the car daily. Yes the trad hood looks very cool when it's up, but it's like driving with a tent on top of the car. I don't know if it's my imagination, but the car handles less well with the hood up and feels less nimble. It's also nosier - the engine, exhaust and any squeaks and rattles are amplified by the hood.
I'm envious that you're getting a Frontline. They do gorgeous work to MG's, totally transforming them.
I am having the stow away roof that sits in the boot, less practical for a daily driver as it takes longer to put on but looks neater and when not being used will be nicer having space behind the seats. So I am also not planning on driving the car with the roof on that often and getting heated seats to ty extend the number of days the roof car be off. Thanks - Mine is being done in Australia by a partner company but the workmanship is fantastic. I am really looking forward to having the car finished.
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Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 6,672 Likes: 439
Talk Morgan Sage
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Talk Morgan Sage
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 6,672 Likes: 439 |
Mine's not a daily driver, but she does get used all year round, rain or shine. Parked outside all the time as I have no garage. There's a massive lime tree outside the house so when she's uncovered she gets covered in sticky stuff, and full of leaves and seed pods. I'm forever having to pull them out of all the nooks and crannies. I do clean her a couple of times a year, but I'm a great believer that life is too short for cleaning cars.
Tend to put the hood up around November time and leave it up until Feb. I do occasionally miss some lovely sunny days, but the four seater hood is such a faff to put up and store that I'm happy to get my fill during the summer. Having the hood on stops the rain pooling on the rear and stretching the tonneau cover. I do not like getting wet, too many years of all weather biking. She is a bit boomy with the lid on, but I just turn the stereo up a bit louder. I've fitted heated seats and a decent heater so she's nice and warm, and this year I'll also remove the aero screens over winter (the aeros mean you get three surfaces to demist with a rag!) and wire in the 'classic' electric demister element to see if it's any good. My new windscreen wiper mods mean I have 'modern' control over them which makes driving easier. Wish I had modern control over the drips. I do stick some rubber door seals over the windscreen sides which helps, and have fitted some thumb screws into the side screens so I can lock the windows shut (they used to rattle open on a journey).
On the subject of MG's, I'll have finally paid off the Mog early next year, and my 2002 Corsa is coming to the end of it's natural life (and is a bit boring) so I'm going to replace it with an MGB GT. You can pick one up for about £4K and although the economy is not so good, I'll save £300+ on no tax and cheaper insurance. I also have all the kit to keep her maintained easily and parts are readily available (and a fraction of Mog prices). Being the GT it'll be better for winter driving and still have some carrying space in the back for bike parts and tip runs!
"Y mae dafad ddu ym mhob praidd"
1972 4/4, 1981 MGBGT, 1984 FLHT1340, 1980 XLH1000, 1990 ZX10
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Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 809 Likes: 30
Talk Morgan Regular
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Talk Morgan Regular
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 809 Likes: 30 |
Seed pods are a pain, I get them everywhere.
I hired a 4 seater from the factory in 2006, about 16 years ago. They showed me how to put the roof on if it rained, I forgot the first step by the time he had finished.
A MGB GT would be a nice car for winter, you can easily fit heating pads to the seats. The cheaper insurance is the main reason I went for a Frontline style MGB, I get to keep the wreck if the worst happens to it. Unlike my Nissan Silvia that I wanted to keep but was two years off being old enough to qualify for the Historic Insurance meaning it got taken away..
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Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 108 Likes: 24
L - Learner Plates On
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L - Learner Plates On
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 108 Likes: 24 |
Quicksilver, I use my Plus six nearly everyday, this week I’ve banged 600 miles on her, through sunshine, heavy rain, dusty roads and and a few mornings of heavy dew, as I can’t be bothered putting her under cover every night. Thing is, when using everyday , you get very familiar and used to the car, the handling, the bumps, how hard you can put power down in the dry or wet, the roaring noise and drafts with the hood up, knowing the right heater, aircon settings early in the September mornings . The whole car becomes very familiar. I could say it’s like a Rolex watch or a pair of Purdy shot guns, (I don’t have either by the way but know people that do) they don’t use the guns because they don’t want to damage them, and the watch stays in the case forever apart from weddings and funerals. If I’ve got something that’s cool, expensive and rather special and gives me a lot of fun, I want to use it. I’ve said it before , but I think my Morgan looks cool when it’s dirty.
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 5,466 Likes: 171
Charter Member
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Charter Member
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 5,466 Likes: 171 |
I’ve said it before , but I think my Morgan looks cool when it’s dirty.   Respect.
Paul
Costock, UK
Plus Four 75th - Furka Rouge - Pip
Disco 5
Teddy - 17h1 Irish Draught cross
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Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 5,450 Likes: 471
Charter Member
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Charter Member
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 5,450 Likes: 471 |
Originally posted by Quicksilver :- That's exactly how I feel about the Morgan. Whilst I'm not scared to use it I prefer to keep it in reserve as a special car. I also dislike driving with the hood up, which is inevitable if you use the car daily. Yes the trad hood looks very cool when it's up, but it's like driving with a tent on top of the car. I don't know if it's my imagination, but the car handles less well with the hood up and feels less nimble. It's also nosier - the engine, exhaust and any squeaks and rattles are amplified by the hood. The description above works perfectly for me too. TBM best to educate yourself well before buying a GT given the way MG`s can corrode here in the UK...been there done that... https://www.tm-img.com/image/t9flvhttps://www.tm-img.com/image/t91ZS
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Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 12,263 Likes: 320
Scruffy Oik Member of the Inner Circle
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Scruffy Oik Member of the Inner Circle
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 12,263 Likes: 320 |
I'm going to replace it with an MGB GT. Good choice, I had an MB GT for 10 years or so before I got the Morgan. I still like them very much and a Frontline LE50 is pretty near the top of my 'What would I buy if I won the lottery' cars.
Tim H.
1986 4/4 VVTi Sport, 2002 LR Defender, 2022 Mini Cooper SE
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Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 6,672 Likes: 439
Talk Morgan Sage
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Talk Morgan Sage
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 6,672 Likes: 439 |
TBM best to educate yourself well before buying a GT given the way MG`s can corrode here in the UK...been there done that... I've got a couple of substantial buyers guide so will go in with eyes open! Thankfully everything is replacable and available on a GT.
"Y mae dafad ddu ym mhob praidd"
1972 4/4, 1981 MGBGT, 1984 FLHT1340, 1980 XLH1000, 1990 ZX10
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