So sorry to hear this news, I've had no reason to use them directly in the past, but they have been helpful when seeking out an auto-electrician, and I would certainly have used them in the future. The stock will probably go cheaply; if Richard couldn't make it work I doubt the overall business is a going concern for anyone else.
It really is a sign of the times........ From being the leading dealer not that many years ago, developing the race cars with MMC, being totally immersed with Morgan to 'parting company' with the factory and now..............🤯
I doubt they'll be the last looking at the prices that Morgans are being advertised for............... there are some incredible bargains out there for anyone who's in the market........... unfortunately.......... there doesn't seem to be anyone in the market........!!😁
You wouldn't want to be a Morgan dealer at the moment. The factory selling new cars 'ex works' is a real kick in the teeth for loyal (legacy) dealers.
I'd imagine.... and I'd hope, that the few remaining big names survive (Allon White, Brands Hatch, Melvyn Rutter, Berrybrook, Williams) but who knows...... 🤷🏻♂️
If they don't find a buyer as a Going Concern, there will be a big(er) geograhical spread of the few others that remain here in the South: Berrybrook, Williams, Bell & Colvill. Prospecive customers may just figure that buying factory-direct is the way to go.
Peter 2009 3-litre Roadster "Ivor", royal ivory / green
I don't know how reliable these sales numbers are https://www.goodcarbadcar.net/morgan-europe-sales-figures/ and in future 335 units are heading to the USA it doesn't leave a lot of spare capacity/ sales for the rest of the world, especially the UK, to support an extensive UK dealer network after Morgan Works has taken it share of the sales market. I know there are plans to build upto 1000 units a year, but I doubt, that's going to happen overnight. When I was there in December, 17 units was the weekly target (annualised about 850 units) and you couldn't move easily about the place for cars/chassis and most of the cars where LHD heading to the US..
When it comes to the UK dealerships, it would be interesting to understand how much of the dealerships profits are derived from new car sales and how important that is to their business model in order to survive. With the growing cost of demonstrators and the shortening of lead times from order, it must be harder for the dealerships to fund their demonstrator fleet, knowing that cars can be delivered to customer specific orders quite quickly, reducing the desirability (unless major price reductions) of their demonstrators to potential customers. Generally long lead times help demonstrators to hold their value and increase saleability.
Always interesting to try and understand why there are fundamental changes at dealerships, they are not always due to market conditions, other issues like upcoming ownership retirement etc. can influence changes
22 Plus Four KIMI 12 Plus 4 Sport OZZY 08 Roadster FELIX 06 4/4 70th LOKI 77 4/4 SEAMUS 85 4/4 MOLLY
. Prospective customers may just figure that buying factory-direct is the way to go.
Not only that, also having the factory maintain your car, is a rather nice experience dealing directly with the people that built the car. I intend where ever possible to have my CX maintained by the factory, even though it may involve a 6 hour round trip and overnight stay and make it more of an event and more enjoyable experience eg factory tour, experience centre, maybe hire a car for the day.
22 Plus Four KIMI 12 Plus 4 Sport OZZY 08 Roadster FELIX 06 4/4 70th LOKI 77 4/4 SEAMUS 85 4/4 MOLLY
In the UK Porsche market here is a bit of a tale of quite a few folk sustaining losses relative to Sale or Return contracts (SOR) at one particular dealership which seems to have gone rogue. The scale of it seems quite amazing, and the likely outcome for all those involved seems rather bleak, as the only folk who seem likely to profit may be the legal and financial teams involved in the processes. There were a lot of in`s and out`s, twists and turns discussed, and it springs to mind that at least one chap had insured himself against any issues arising relative to the SOR contract...?
It seems SOR issues are none too uncommon, perhaps best to read and understand whatever contract you sign on to CAREFULLY...?
Although I was promised a Sales/Commission Agreement via email, and despite regular requests, I never received one. The best I got was an email stating - 'We will do our best to achieve the full asking price for your car but should we receive an offer below the asking price from potential buyer this offer will be submitted to you for your consideration and approval before a sale is agreed. We will review the pricing and marketing every 6 weeks if not sold. Title to the car remains with you until the balance is settled in full. Your car is fully and comprehensively insured with us whilst it is for sale and for test drives so you can cancel your own insurance if you wish.
Roadster 3.7 Plus 4 110 Anniversary Plus 4 Fiat TC
In the UK Porsche market here is a bit of a tale of quite a few folk sustaining losses relative to Sale or Return contracts (SOR) at one particular dealership which seems to have gone rogue. The scale of it seems quite amazing, and the likely outcome for all those involved seems rather bleak, as the only folk who seem likely to profit may be the legal and financial teams involved in the processes. There were a lot of in`s and out`s, twists and turns discussed, and it springs to mind that at least one chap had insured himself against any issues arising relative to the SOR contract...?
It seems SOR issues are none too uncommon, perhaps best to read and understand whatever contract you sign on to CAREFULLY...?
Although I was promised a Sales/Commission Agreement via email, and despite regular requests, I never received one. The best I got was an email stating - 'We will do our best to achieve the full asking price for your car but should we receive an offer below the asking price from potential buyer this offer will be submitted to you for your consideration and approval before a sale is agreed. We will review the pricing and marketing every 6 weeks if not sold. Title to the car remains with you until the balance is settled in full. Your car is fully and comprehensively insured with us whilst it is for sale and for test drives so you can cancel your own insurance if you wish.
If interested in the SOR issues I refer to, you could perhaps try a search
Specialist cars of Malton, Gmund cars, Andrew Mearns...All related.
I lost a Mercedes whilst in storage, the storage company went into liquidation. Mine had been sold overseas and 12 other Mercedes had previously been sold, to a connected UK party without the knowledge of their owners. THe DVLA had not been notified, so the V5 were not updated and the vehicle owners were not therefore made aware of the sales. Mine was permanently exported so DVLA should have been notified.
The Police were involved, but because the storage contracts also had conditions allowing the company to act as Brokers and sell the cars on commission basis and to enter into sale agreements for vehicles, the company claimed they were authorised to sell the vehicles, but didn't pay the owners and so they became unsecured creditors and got nothing. The Police therefore decline to act, as they considered it a commercial matter..The company could prove it had in the past stored and then sold cars on a commission basis, obviously giving the net proceeds to the owners.
All the cars were on the owners Road Traffic Act (RTA) insurance with the except of mine which was on a storage policy (also covering theft) and I had added a Romalpa clause to the contract ( retention of title) having heard of similar events happening in the past.
All the cars under RTA unfortunately got nothing, the insurers refused to pay , as the owners had given the keys of the cars to the company (for maintenance and moving cars in storage. But because I had a Romalpa clause so the car always remained my property and a specific storage policy which covered theft from storage, I was paid out in full as the car was considered stolen not sold..
During the creditors meeting, I tried to prove at least Wrongful or Fraudulent Trading by the DIrector, with clear acts by the Director to not notify DVLA was IMHO fraudulent intent etc. hoping they would become personally responsible and be made to contribute from their personal assets towards any unsecured creditors. Whilst the Director was found to have wrongfully traded, he had no assets of substance that weren't already financed to the hilt, so no funds, but he was banned for 12 years and was quite lucky to have dodged a prison sentence had fraudulent trading been proven. Eventually only 7 cars of the 13 cars were found to have been sold without the owner's consent by the liquidator's.
So if as a creditor in an insolvency do your utmost ( if evidence to support fraudulent intent) at the Creditors Meeting etc. to draw the acts of the DIrectors to the Liquidator's attention, so hopefully wrongful or fraudulent trading is pursued and Directors ( as appropriate) may become personally liable to contribute from their personal assets to the liquidation to help creditors and possibly face prison for fraud...
Last edited by JohnHarris; 08/01/2609:22 PM.
22 Plus Four KIMI 12 Plus 4 Sport OZZY 08 Roadster FELIX 06 4/4 70th LOKI 77 4/4 SEAMUS 85 4/4 MOLLY
