Vehicle Description
In 1963, Morgan Motors unveiled a very un-Morgan-like sports car at
the annual Earls Court Motor Show. Sitting alongside its
traditional, 30s-styled machines was a glassfiber-bodied coupe
unlike anything produced by the company before. The Morgan Motor
Company was founded in 1909 by H.F.S. Morgan, who produced a series
of 3-wheeled cyclecars for the first twenty-seven years of the
firm. Four wheeled vehicles didn't arrive until 1936 with the aptly
named 4-4 (four wheels, four cylinders), a car which would form the
basis for virtually every Morgan produced through to today. It
seemed that once Morgan found a formula that worked, they stuck
with it doggedly. The early cars, known colloquially as "flat-rad"
were subtly restyled in the late 1950s to feature a more rounded
radiator shroud and grille that remains a trademark to this day; a
look that enthusiasts have come to expect from a Morgan. And much
like Morgan the company, Morgan buyers have certain expectations
about what a Morgan should be, how it should look and how it should
be built. "Quirky and staunchly traditional" are terms that can be
used to describe both Morgan sports cars and their loyal
enthusiasts. With that background, it is perhaps easier to
understand why Peter Morgan's Plus 4 Plus was not widely accepted
or understood when it made its appearance at Earls Court. The Plus
4 Plus was a dramatic departure for the company - while it utilized
a fairly standard Plus 4 chassis and Triumph TR4 engine, it was
wrapped in a svelte, stylish and fully enveloped body that only
hinted at its Morgan roots via the familiar radiator grille.
Eschewing the traditional separate fenders and pre-war looks, the
Plus 4 Plus looked completely modern - and yet it still retained
the traditional chassis with its sliding pillar front suspension
and cart-sprung rear axle. Instead of steel, the new car was bodied
in fiberglass (produced by E.B. Plastics Ltd) that was reinforced
with steel tubing and structural plywood. The new Morgan was
considerably lighter than the Triumph TR4 that shared its running
gear, so performance was quite brisk. Given the fact that it rode
on a standard Plus 4 chassis, the Plus 4 Plus shared its sibling's
excellent handling and braking - cornering flat, with direct and
precise unassisted steering. Despite its strengths, the car was a
bit of an anomaly, one that inadvertently alienated traditional
Morgan buyers with its modern style, yet didn't appeal to new
customers because of its quirky, seemingly outdated underpinnings.
As a result, the Plus 4 Plus was a commercial failure, with just 26
examples produced in total over four years. Of course, modern
opinions have changed and the Plus 4 Plus is a now a serious and
highly desirable collector car, a holy grail of sorts among cars
from the famous Malvern-based marque. While any Morgan Plus 4 Plus
is a very special machine, our featured car stands above the others
in the fact that it was the very first production example that was
exhibited at the Earls Court Motor Show in 1963. In addition, there
are photos of this car being used by Peter Morgan himself. It
retains its original registration number of DUY997B as well as its
tax disc from December of 1963. The exceptional history is backed
by an exquisite restoration performed by the British car experts at
Safety Fast Restoration of Mansfield, Ohio to concours standards.
This rare Plus 4 Plus presents in lovely condition, wearing
attractive maroon paintwork over the excellent composite body. The
restoration was done to a very high standard of quality, but was
also carefully judged as to not erase the character of Morgan's
first fiberglass car. The paint and detailing are to a very high
level, which is reflected in the car's award-winning appearances at
world-class events such as the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance in
2015 and the Ault Park Concours d'Elegance. The body, which retains
factory-appropriate gaps and panel fit, is nicely detailed with an
original luggage rack, Lucas fog lamps and chrome wire wheels shod
with correct type Michelin XAS radial tires. Morgan continued the
modern experience with its cozy, two-passenger fixed-head cockpit.
The traditional plank dash was ditched in favor of a stylish and
modern molded piece that was fitted with an array of standard
Morgan instrumentation in an aircraft style layout. In our car, the
instruments back a Brooklands four-spoke banjo-type steering wheel
and lovely gray leather upholstery covers the seats and door cards,
while wind-up windows kept occupants dry in all weather conditions
- a far cry from the fussy and rudimentary weather equipment of its
sibling models. The leather seats, carpets and interior fittings
have been restored to show-quality standards in keeping with the
rest of this fine automobile. Triumph's gutsy and eager 110
horsepower engine is essentially unchanged as lifted from the TR4A.
It is backed with a four-speed manual gearbox that features
synchronizers on the top three cogs. The unit is detailed to
factory-correct standards and presents in excellent order in the
engine bay. Fully restored by British sports car specialists, it
runs and drives beautifully, with that signature Morgan nimbleness
and darty precision, as well as the addicting torque and rasp from
the Triumph four-cylinder. This exceptionally rare and desirable
Morgan not only wears a fabulous restoration, but it is the very
first production example and perhaps the most famous of all 26 Plus
4 Pluses constructed, having first appearing for the world to see
at the Earls Court Motor Show. Since the restoration was completed,
it remains in outstanding show-quality condition and is ready for
action on the road or concours circuit.