The Morgan Motorcar -it has been crafted with a wooden frame for 100 years

[Frank Pellow]

(part 1 of 2)

This is craftsmanship and entrpenureship that I really admire!  
 [thumbs up]

The Morgan Motor Company located in Britain doesn’t change in a changing world. Not only is it still independent, but it also makes each car by hand.  A base model is about $44,000, with some cars costing up to $300,000.  People wait for over a year to get their exclusive hand-built cars with the shell made out of metal and much of the vehicle made out of wood.  

Working on the wood interior, workers use metal shears to individually shape a hood because each car has to be different.  Every year Morgan produces about 600 cars.  The company will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2011.  It has a long and interesting history, and is still run by the same family: the Morgans.  Founded by Henry Frederick Stanley Morgan known as “HFS”, it was then run by his son Peter, and is now run by Charles, the son of Peter Morgan.

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[Frank Pellow]

(part 2 of 2)

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There are craftsmen……and there are Craftsmen !!

The Morgan Motor Company doesn’t change in a changing world. Not only is it still independent, but it also makes each car by hand.  A base model is about $44,000, with some cars costing up to $300,000.  People wait for over a year to get their exclusive hand-built cars with the shell made out of metal and much of the vehicle made out of wood.  Working on the wood interior, workers use metal shears to individually shape a hood because each car has to be different.  Every year Morgan produces about 600 cars.  The company will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2011.  It has a long and interesting history, and is still run by the same family: the Morgans.  Founded by Henry Frederick Stanley Morgan known as “HFS”, it was then run by his son Peter, and is now run by Charles, the son of Peter Morgan.

 

[ajones]

I remember when my father told me that the morgan factory had phoned and told him that they were ready to start work on his car.
he had ordered it  seven years before.He had not mentioned it to me before, so it came as a suprise.

he went ahead and had the car built and visited the factory several times during its manufacture and the car was collected when finished.

when I saw it for the first time I was totaly underwhelmed, I think production should have stoped/evlolved years ago. it just shouts kit car...

 

[Frank Pellow]

I remember when my father told me that the morgan factory had phoned and told him that they were ready to start work on his car.
he had ordered it  seven years before.He had not mentioned it to me before, so it came as a suprise.

he went ahead and had the car built and visited the factory several times during its manufacture and the car was collected when finished.

when I saw it for the first time I was totaly underwhelmed, I think production should have stoped/evlolved years ago. it just shouts kit car...

I guess that some folks feel that way, but I sure don't.

When we lived in Chafont St Peter in the early 1970s our neighbour had a Morgan and he let me drive it a few times.  I have never enjoyed any car drive more than in rural Buckinghampshire on a Sunday afternoon in a Morgan Roadster.

 

[ajones]

I can see the appeal of a drive then a large sunday roast and a pint at the end of the drive would be great.

I dont think my expectations were too high it was a mid price model and I think the engine was a honda and the gearbox was bmw there was a adapter plate between the gearbox/engine everything was extra including door handles rear view mirror.

I am guessing these photos are a good few years old In your picture no,16 the car nearest the camera has a high level brake light cut out above the wheel carrier where as the car further away does not have this cut out.

these were a few issues of my father had as the laws had changed during production.

 

[Deansocial]

cant they read, that last photo clearly has a sign saying no parking [tongue]

 

[joiner1970]

I remember when my father told me that the morgan factory had phoned and told him that they were ready to start work on his car.
he had ordered it  seven years before.He had not mentioned it to me before, so it came as a suprise.

he went ahead and had the car built and visited the factory several times during its manufacture and the car was collected when finished.

when I saw it for the first time I was totaly underwhelmed, I think production should have stoped/evlolved years ago. it just shouts kit car...

I guess that some folks feel that way, but I sure don't.

When we lived in Chafont St Peter in the early 1970s our neighbour had a Morgan and he let me drive it a few times.  I have never enjoyed any car drive more than in rural Buckinghampshire on a Sunday afternoon in a Morgan Roadster.

Were you born here Frank, thats a nice area Chalfont st Peter not too far from me our witnesses when we got married in Bermuda were from around chalfont.

 

[Frank Pellow]

Were you born here Frank, thats a nice area Chalfont st Peter not too far from me our witnesses when we got married in Bermuda were from around chalfont.

No, was born in Canada.  But, my family and I were fortunate enough to live and work in England for approximately four years during the 1970s.

 

[RonMiller]

If you own a Morgan, you're allowed to ignore the no parking signs!

 

[bruegf]

I spent a couple of evenings in Chafont St Peter in a small pub, can't remember the name though.    I worked in nearby Beaconsfield for nearly 3 months as part of a project for my company back in 1999.  The project was brutal, but I really enjoyed my free weekends in the area.  I'd really like to get back there again, but this time for vacation instead of work.

Fred

 

[Frank Pellow]

I spent a couple of evenings in Chafont St Peter in a small pub, can't remember the name though.    I worked in nearby Beaconsfield for nearly 3 months as part of a project for my company back in 1999.   The project was brutal, but I really enjoyed my free weekends in the area.   I'd really like to get back there again, but this time for vacation instead of work.

Fred

It was probably 'The George'.  That's the first pub that I ever visited in Britian (in 1968) -and it remains one of my favourites.

 

[RONWEN]

What a great posting Frank!  Thank you very much. 
I can't tell about the quality or the craftsmanship but I'm guessing they don't have a very large turn-over of employees so they are probably very good at their jobs.

 

[Frank Pellow]

I can see the appeal of a drive then a large sunday roast and a pint at the end of the drive would be great.

...

Right you are, except I seem to recall a pint (or two) with scampi and chips rather than with a roast.  [smile]

 

[bruegf]

I spent a couple of evenings in Chafont St Peter in a small pub, can't remember the name though.    I worked in nearby Beaconsfield for nearly 3 months as part of a project for my company back in 1999.   The project was brutal, but I really enjoyed my free weekends in the area.   I'd really like to get back there again, but this time for vacation instead of work.

Fred

It was probably 'The George'.  That's the first pub that I ever visited in Britian (in 1968) -and it remains one of my favourites.

Might be, although I stayed at a hotel in Beaconsfield for a week that was named George, so I might be confusing it with that.  I do remember sitting in an outdoor patio at the back of the pub and spending a pleasant summer evening with some new friends I was working with on the project.

Fred

 

[richard.selwyn]

Before I earned my living as a wood butcher I could afford a Morgan [wink]
My first taste was my fathers's 4 seater circa 1972. I used to have t hand off the hood frame for him to be able to fit the hood in the cold - it was some sort of plastic coated cloth.
My first Morgan was a 1985 4/4 with a 1600cc ford escort engine. I then had a 3,500cc +8 with an aluminium body. My last one ((which I sold in 2005 for what it cost me new in 1995) was a 3,900cc +8 with fuel injection. Yes all 4 Morgans that I have known well had separate chassis, ash frame, 1930's looks and sliding pill at front suspension, but they have come a long way with their traditional models in those 30 years.  A sort of gradual evolution. What they have done with their new models is much more interesting - fairly high tech bonded aluminium structure combine with traditional wood - and fantastic crash test results.
To see a Morgan fighting off a Viper or a Ferrari in GT 3 racing shows that they are not really stuck in a time warp at all.
I still miss having a Morgan - my Citroen diesel van just doesn't do it for me !  I am dreaming of an Aeromax (370 bhp with a 6 speed sequential box and an exhaust note to die for)

Time to stop dreaming and get in the shop
Richard