Just in... A car we sold 30 years ago, happy customer, now back
to us.
My first Morgan was a 1959 +4 and for years, went through a
succession of similar 50s and 60s Triumph powered +4s. The big,
heavy, torquey TR3/4 engine, 1,850 pound curb weight, and the
ancient Moss gearbox. Precise but heavy and with slow synchromesh.
But very classic and a fun car to drive. In the 'classic
sense.'
One day, I 'discovered' the Plus 4's baby brother....the light
weight, low, sleek 4/4. Although, at first, the 4/4 of 1955 defines
the term 'anemic' with its 36hp Ford 100E engine and 3 speed
transmission. 0-60 in 26 seconds. BUT by the mid and late 60s, the
4/4 blossomed.....this car, being over 400 pounds lighter and with
a modified 115hp (probably 135hp with twin Webers) Ford 1600cc
crossflow engine, is literally half Morgan and half Lotus Super 7.
Quick, softer ride (due to softer springs), better steering,
quicker shifting, a fabulous car.
Only around 1250 4/4s were built from 1955 to 1968.....639 Series
Vs, clearly a lot less Series V 'Competitions,' .
Our car has an excellent body and chassis, wood framing looks fine
throughout, the rare leather competition seats (much more
comfortable than the usual Morgan bench seats AND they are
adjustable!!!!), wire wheels (painted or chrome, depending on
price), wonderful classic patina (original Morgan cellulose paint,
original leather and chrome), even very good original top, side
curtains, and tonneau. Best of all, this car is one of the VERY
RARE ALUMINUM BODIED CARS.....can't rust, very lightweight, in many
ways, the best of the best. Dunno production figures but with (as I
have read) 639 Series V 4/4s built, I suspect very few had both the
'competition' accessories and aluminum body. Either way, this is
one very very rare car.
Engine: 155-165 psi compression in every cylinder, 35-40 psi oil
pressure when warm, zero smoke cold or hot, all of the original
gauges work, all original switches (other than a starter button
which has been added), enlarged competition oil sump, high lift
camshaft, tubular racing headers, Weber carb. Car is quick....feels
like an early Lotus Elan...not surprising as they have similar
power to weight ratios.
Has inertia reel seat belts, luggage rack, wind wings, leather
bonnet strap (of course), things we can see: brakes redone, new
shocks, new brake flex lines,, new voltage regulator, new fuse box,
new generator, thermostaticlly controlled electric radiator cooling
fan, spin on oil filter, even ORIGINAL Lucas headlights. Just had
the cooling system flushed, new 160 degree thermostat, new oil,
complete lubrication, and the paint lightly wet sanded and buffed.
Other than the few additions, this car defines the term 'survivor'
and is incredibly original.
Doors open and close precisely and don't sag even a quarter inch,
shut like a 'real' car, chrome is very good, exhaust sounds good
('authoritative' as some 1960s magazine would, no doubt, write),
steering is very good and car has excellent directional stability,
in every way, car is an absolute joy.
But more than anything is the utter feeling of lightness. Morgan's
manual shows a dry weight of 1390 pounds for this model and, with
its aluminum body, perhaps 1350? That is VERY light for a car, less
than a Bug Eye, not all that much more than a period Lotus Super 7.
Making this, in some ways, the best of the best of classic
performance Morgans.
Have driven it around 400 trouble free miles, so far. Went for a
nice 120 mile trip through Connecticut, shore line, never missed a
beat. Ran cool, and as a combination of highway, back roads, stop
and go....got 32.5 miles per gallon. EVEN economical. Hence,
currently fitted with the single drowndraft Weber.
HUGE improvements we have just done to this car: freshly rebuilt 5 speed close ratio transmission, dual circuit brake master cylinder, new $1100 aluminum, racing radiator, new replica of original heater,
And, for the purposes of clarity....the original paint DOES look
great (especially in the evening) but the exterior is covered with
small scratches, touched up spots, yet I couldn't see repainting
the car. As it is, no damage, no bondo, no old repairs, just a
wonderful old Morgan with awesome performance.
