Old Coot

Old fashioned craftmanship


https://youtu.be/p4c9i250pc4

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Wow!!!
--Bob

nervous2 Loc: Provo, Utah

Wow! Got some sniffles yesterday. Daughter on her way to visit. Asked wife and me to take Covid test--which we did. I watched this video while I waited for my test to cook. Great video. BTW Covid test negative. Only downside to all this is now I want to buy a Morgan. Going now to check bank account.

Robg

Having been a Morgan aficionado, owner (2 roadsters, a 4 seater and a drophead), Morgan Plus Four Club member, and having visited Morgan Works (and meeting Peter Morgan) in Malvern many decades ago, this brought back some great memories.

Thanks!

My recollection from the works visit in 1972 is that it took longer than the 3 weeks mentioned in the video to make a Morgan. Again, a recollection from years ago, is that it took around 7 weeks. There were 7 buildings comprising the works, each building corresponding to a stage in the production and each building housing up to 10 or so cars in that stage of production. Each car would spend a week in its current building and then all cars would be moved over the weekend to the next building (and production stage). And, 10 cars would be ready for delivery every week.

I was particularly struck by how they formed the rear fender frame. Essentially identical to how a cooper bends a barrel stave, but with a more radical curve, the wood for the fender was heated with steam to bend it to shape.

Morgans have been made the same way since the 1910's and 20's. Originally, Morgans were three wheelers, with two wheels in front. At the time of its introduction, Great Britain had a hefty tax on automobiles, defined in the law as having 4 wheels. By building three wheelers, the tax was avoided.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Thank you for posting this. Morgans are wonderful automobiles and not at all slow - very competitive in several classes in SCCA. The last +4 I drove (>40 years ago) had an inflatable drivers seat cushion so you could adjust the seat height.

NMGal Loc: NE NM

Fascinating!

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

Fantastic!!!!
I was amazed that they used what looks like pine for the body frame.
And All of this work for a measly $$ well way beyond my income!!

joehel2 Loc: Cherry Hill, NJ

Thanks for posting this. As a boy, I remember someone telling me Morgans had a wooden frame; now I see what he was talking about.

joehel2 Loc: Cherry Hill, NJ

I looked up the price of the Morgan Plus 4, $67,000 base price in 2020.

Robg

I believe the wood is ash. I know it used to be. I partially restored a '57 model and had to find ash to rebuild the door.

Canonuser Loc: UK and South Africa

The wood used is Ash. When I visited the factory a couple of years ago, they were concerned about supplies being maintained due to the spread of ‘Ash dyeback’ across the UK. They were experimenting at the time with other woods and although they indicated they had identified one if needed, they were reluctant to disclose at the time what it was.

Tdearing Loc: Rockport, TX

Thanks for posting, enjoyed it.

Bob Smith Loc: Banjarmasin

A visit to the factory is an eye opener. Just wonderful.

markngolf Loc: Bridgewater, NJ

Amazing craftmanship!!
Mark

PhotogHobbyist Loc: Bradford, PA

What an interesting and beautifully crafted automobile. Watching the video makes me want one but I think my Finance Manager (AKA wife) would balk at the idea. I guess I'll have to settle for re-watching the video and hoping to get to see a Morgan someday.