Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Classic Morgans (pre-CX) Monty - The Evolution

Thanks for all the kind comments chaps

Keep an eye on this post as there's more to come

Dave.

Monty gets tunes....

The latest tech, but tastefully wrapped in a Morgan sympathetic retro aesthetic.




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Small form factor.


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Super strong magnetic feet added to keep it secure while driving, yet easily removable when required.



Fits neatly on the transmission tunnel and gets in the way of nothing, while still being easy to reach to control.



Fantastic sound quality too

Additional benefits:

* Powered and charged from Monty's ciggy socket
* 10 hour battery life away from the car
* Everything controlled from my phone
* Simple manual piano key controls when you don't want to fiddle with your phone while driving
* Plays any song or album you could ever want using the Spotify app
* Plays any radio station in the world using TunedIn and BBC Sounds apps
* Operates as a very effective handsfree speaker
* Easily removable in seconds, ideal for using at home or sounds for the tent when I'm camping in Le Mans
* No need to fit a modern head unit and cut speakers into the car
* Less invasive, and significantly cheaper than a traditional in car entertainment installation


All that for just £75.00

Ok, I have a conventional radio in my 4/4 and two good JBL speakers in the footwell. But I have often thought about it in the same way that your solution is very smart and fantastic. BTW I think the sound is more natural in the interior than through speakers radiating against the knees. I have hifi at home, in the car I want a natural sound with appreciation of the mids in the first place. Just like in the old days. In our 1968 Mercedes 230 Sedan there is a single speaker in the dashboard that sounds completely satisfying and similar to yours. Sometimes less is more.

Music in a Morgan ?????????? The exhaust is the only music I want to hear. My radio is redundant.

Thanks for your comments Heinz

"1968 Mercedes 230".... Made when 'Mercedes Build Quality' really mean something

These Bluetooth speakers have definitely come on leaps and bounds, the sound quality of my Edifier MP230 is outstanding, especially given its price and small size.

Monty was clearly ordered in 'Poverty Spec', no sun visors, no courtesy lights, no elasticated door pockets and no stereo... so plenty for me to do as I continue to enhance and bond with the car. I looked at a traditional car stereo installation (head unit & speakers) which was going to be £300 to £500 for average quality audio equipment, an investment that also goes with the car if I ever sell Monty.

When I realised I was only going to be using my audio setup for Bluetooth streaming I started to look at the alternative option of a portable Bluetooth speaker, the Edifier MP230 was small enough and has the right retro look, so when I found a new ex-display unit for just £75.00 I thought I'd give it a try, if it didn't work out for the Morgan it would always get used at home so I saw it as a no-risk purchase..

I was skeptical at first, but now having used it I can confirm it really is a genuinely credible alternative to a traditional in-car entertainment installation that also comes with the added benefits listed above. Way easier and faster to install at a third of the cost of fitting traditional speakers and a head unit, the Bluetooth speaker option is something anyone looking to put sounds in their Morgan should seriously consider as an alternative to how we traditionally approached a car audio installation.

I have to say most of the time I just want to drive Monty without the distractions of music, however, to my surprise the car has proved itself to be surprisingly good at covering ground on the motorway where the driving is super mundane so some entertainment is often very welcome. Yesterday I was steaming Ella Fitzgerald and Nina Samone as I looked out over Monty's British racing green louvered bonnet, brown leather bonnet strap and very 1950's headlight pods.

I concluded.... just like a good movie it's often a positive enhancement to have a soundtrack that matches the visuals

The queens of Jazz and Swing + Monty




What could be a more perfect fit?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ua2k52n_Bvw

Monty has definitely put a spell on me

In that case, next time you're having a bad day, have a look at https://youtu.be/7kGPhpvqtOc (ignore any ads)
Mind you it might make things even worse .....

Monty gets a wiper upgrade.

At least you are not frightened to take it out in the rain

Of course not, in my opinion the whole appeal of a modern Morgan is it's a usable classic car capable of being enjoyed on modern roads, and in all conditions.

I did seriously consider a Triumph TR3, and even won one (below reserve) at auction, but the final negotiations fell apart and I'm glad now as despite the car being beautifully restored I feel sure I would have ended up spending a small fortune on improvements only to end up with half the car of my 2012 Duratec Plus 4.

To be fair the original wipers were better than they had any right to be, but a few Morgan owners had indicated to me the above wiper upgrade would deliver a big improvement so given they were only £30 for a set of three, I figured they were a no-brainer.

Brakes, Headlights, Suspension and Wipers... these are the big four when improving any classic car, and in this order.

Monty's brakes are fine and I sorted the suspension with new (anti-tramp) rear springs, Bilstein dampers, a Panhard rod and a full setup by Techniques Morgan. The old design Lucas style wiper motor actually works very well, way better than the somilar set up my 1996 TVR Chimaera for example, so a set of these improved wiper blades should take the setup to the next level with an application of Rainex to finish the job nicely.

That just leaves the headlights and I'm already in the middle of improving all my forward lighting, after which Monty really will be surprisingly usable for what is essentially an improved 1950's car in the vintage style.

Morgan, a deeply charismatic classic car with all the serious downsides of classic motoring removed