Morgan Plus Four
News by Mark Slack
I wonder if HFS (Henry Frederick Stanley Morgan), when he founded the Morgan Motor Company in 1909, would ever have thought over 110 years later his company would still be here and have outlasted much bigger car makers. It would have also, I suspect, have amazed him at the latest high tech EV future in which his company is investing.
Indeed until 2019 the Morgan family still owned and controlled the company. I’m sure he would have liked that to have continued but realistically the small company needed outside investment to fund the new generation of cars that are now emerging.
The Plus Four has been an iconic model for the company, which is located in Malvern, and to the uninitiated looks largely unchanged from when it was launched back in 1950. However, under that aluminium body and ash frame lies some very modern mechanicals.
Morgan has used a variety of engines over the years but are largely known for their Ford and Rover power plants, and have also used Fiat engines too. In the Plus Four it is a BMW 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbocharged unit developing 255 bhp and completing the 0 to 62 mph sprint in a whisker over 5 seconds. Priced from £69,995 a slice of traditional British sporting craftsmanship is not cheap. However, you’re buying into something more than just a
means of transport.
Few cars have more power to engender smiles and admiration than a Morgan, and few marques are as readily identifiable to even the most non-car people. It’s a fine line between matching modern safety, reliability and comfort standards while maintaining such an obvious harking back to a bygone and arguably more romantic motoring time, when driving was for pleasure and adventure rather than a necessity.
On the road the Plus Four doesn’t lack for power and performance with handling to match, it’s fair to say that the ride is on the firm side of firm so may not suit those looking for the ultimate in comfort and cossetting motoring.
On a nice sunny day, the Plus Four is a delight with the roof down, and you can leave the side screens in place, if the low-cut doors cause too much of a draught, without losing the open-air feel. Putting the roof back up is not the simple task of more modern machinery. It’s not as bad as you might imagine but definitely old fashioned and takes a few minutes.
The Plus Four is always going to be a high days and holidays car, even though you could quite easily use it on a daily basis. Its idiosyncrasies are part of its appeal and they not such that they would necessarily dissuade you from using the car.
I can think of lots a machinery costing more than the Morgan’s £70k price tag that doesn’t come within a continent’s reach of the enjoyment and sense of occasion the Morgan gives you every time you get behind the wheel. It’s a true delight!
