Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Maintenance & Servicing Bubble on paint

I am looking at a 4/4 which is in excellent condition with the only thing I can find is a slight bubbling on the paintwork on the joint on the body below the door. I think it is the joint between the rear quarter panel and the fishtail panel ?

The paint is intact but has some minor bubbling so assume some corrosion? Other than cosmetic is this something to worry about does it indicate an issue with the ash frame

It’s a 2001 model

Any thoughts would be useful

Pretty normal. It isn't structural.


If the treated frame has rotted the door will not close easily. These days the wood is pressure treated.

Any bubbling of paint needs to be treated a.s.a.p. as it will only spread. Sill treads are a common place for it to start where damaged paint within the oversize fixing holes has allowed penetration of trapped water corroding aluminium surface and so lifting paint.

Thanks Richard

The only place I can find this is the vertical joint in the middle of the door where two panels meet. I am not sure how big a job that is to fix

Thanks John for comment on frame

The only place I can find this is the vertical joint in the middle of the door where two panels meet. I am not sure how big a job that is to fix

The annoying bubbling under the doors seems to be quite a common thing. I suspect/guess that the bubbling might be anodic corrosion rather than a surface issue. Caused by the steel running board fixing screws piercing the return skin of the aluminum bodywork. Water could quite easily enter the running board joint and kick this process off.

I've taken some preemptive work on mine to better seal the joint and have replaced the steel screws under the door with aluminum screws.



Who knows if it will do the trick or not but a couple of hours investment may well be worth it long term. So far so good.......

Not sure if it helps but I had a warranty repair on the offside front wing at just 18 months from new. Bubbling of paint had occured around the rear most fixing by bonnet line and where water collects. The wing was stripped in its entirety and removed. Corrosion attended to then local re-paint with two pack colour followed by full re-spray of lacquer. Dread to think what it cost but still fine five years on.

I saw a couple of cars like this when I was looking. For some reason it was often on the passenger side. I was told by a well known dealer it could indicate issues with the ash behind the panel holding water, which would result in severe structural issues if not treated. Needless to say I did not buy a car with this issue, not did I buy from that dealer. He might have been giving me a line of course, but in 40 years of mucking about with old cars I have never known bubbling paint to signify anything other than trouble.

I would be very wary of it especially on the passenger side as it takes all the puddles and any salt residues so the frame could have got very wet and or some galvanic action going on - as there are a plethora of cars on the market right now I'd pass this one by imho. If you are smitten remove the leather padding and check the frame, paint costs nothing but frames ....

Good luck.

p.s. I have noticed that the water based painted cars (recentish) suffer far more than the cellulose one's.

My new 4/4 Sport suffered with this at 2 years old but my 1999 Plus 8 has none of it ooo and I use it all year other than known salt conditions.

You guys with two exhausts are fortunate as the heat may help to dry out the moisture after a wet run. On a single exhaust cars it may be more of a problem on the other side?