Talk Morgan Forums Community Vehicle Talk (non-Morgan) classic/specialist car market

Morgan did a good job in designing a sports car in the mid 1930s. Very low center of gravity (underslung frame), independent front suspension, low weight. They added to that a dazzling appearance and an affordable price to appeal to buyers.

The car then competed four times at Le Mans, so with a 4/4 (4-4) or Plus 4, you basically have a Le Mans racer in your garage. In addition, Morgan cars successfully participated in countless rallies and club races.



So a Trad is clearly a sports car, albeit a very old-fashioned one.

The CX still has to earn its sporting merits, so let's see if anything comes of it.

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For me the MX5 is the modern re-incarnation of the old style sports car. There are others - the FIAT equivalent for example. But not many.

I will again test a Morgan to see if it fits the bill as a replacement sport car. I really liked the latest 4 cylinder except for the BMW interior bits, but the price is simply silly.

With its brilliant idea in 1989 to launch a roadster that looked like a modernized and only slightly enlarged Lotus Elan, Mazda definitely deserves a place of honor in automotive history. This is also because Mazda resisted the trend of allowing the car to become bloated over the years.

Agreed. It was right concept at the right time and the right price. A friend has had three and loves them. I've looked and pondered at MX5s, but for me, a bit too modern and soft. But I get it.

Only guessing but I suspect in the 50`s & 60`s it may have been mostly young men who bought Morgans and I have seen it typed that sales dropped off in the UK perhaps in the late sixties and into the seventies where it seems the US and other markets kept the factory going with orders long enough for the baby boomers tastes to mature and begin to think Morgan. As a baby boomer myself I ever liked the look of Morgans and found them interesting but was more into the likes of Lotus and their Grand Prix successes, but in my fifties it seemed faux vintage vehicle or not it fitted the bill perfectly, and still does as a vintage sports car minus the complications and expense of running a true vintage sports car with possible 100mph + performance.

As for demographics and club gatherings it seems most of that which Adam`s A.I. masters picked up, could easily apply to Porsche and it`s "sports" cars, though the iconic status that Porsche created may be likely to attract more of a young age group than Morgan seems likely to manage... Which is a pity, as the MMC employs quite a few folk which no doubt feeds into the local economy and long may that last.

I have taken a couple of school age relatives out on an interesting road and likewise a local 24 year old who is ever in or under machinery of all types, one of the kids found it to be an "interesting" experience, the other found it all rather exciting and the 24 year old was impressed, though I suspect that the trad is perhaps a tad too raw and vintage, for the young who really need a tad more bling and comfort that I hope the CX can provide, as opposed to being occasionally airborne followed by that which some might describe as a crash landing, requiring a degree of anticipation and steering input from the pilot relative to staying approximately on course once landed.. There seem to be some out there who just thrive on all that kinda stuff..? (-:

As ever, each to their own.. (-:

Great approach

If apply that criteria to the classic Morgan you would just have a seat fixed to the running chassis.no body whatsoever

“ This is the kind of EV that we would have expected Lotus to make….”

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Some 40 years ago, in my younger foolish days I may have got close to that. There was an ugly rumour that I might just have driven my +8 to and from a mates garage for a respray, minus everything we could take off it. Wings, doors, bonnet, cowl, windscreen and the exhausts. Apparently it sounded awesome and fully complied with Colin Chapman's ideal of added lightness so was quicker than a quick thing.

Not sure what you mean by "soft", but yes it is relatively modern. But what impressed me on my test drive was the obvious care that had gone in to refining it, by which I mean that the gear shift was a delight and by far the best I have ever experienced, the engine was remarkably smooth but still revvy, the handling was full of chuckability and the ride was good. In many ways the car is still a development of the original but unlike with cars such as say the MGB or TR, there actually has been serious development over time..

If what you are looking for is a modern version of say an MGB, then the MX5 is it beyond doubt.. As far as I can see the only significant issue is corrosion risk and my only personal issue is the seat comfort, though the latter is down to my accident damage as much as anything.

I was almost as impressed by my test of the latest Morgan 4 cylinder which is a hugely better car that the crude old trad. It handles, it rides, it accelerates and its more comfortable than the MX5. But build quality? Styling? And above all a silly price for what it is.

However we are looking at a dying market for small cheap 2 seater sports cars and the MX5 seems to me to be the only game in town.

When Lotus had a big anniversary shindig ( I think it was sometime round 2008 ) I went to Hethel, saw round the assembly line etc but also their special car division. There they were driving an electric Lotus Elise with body made from resin impregnated jute of all things. Lots of high tec in it including an engine exhaust noise simulator which was startlingly realistic.

I am sure you are aware that Lotus designed and manufactured the original Tesla roadster