RE: Charles Morgan: plot thickens

[Derek Smith]

This from LMES 03 at Le Mans, but could be otherwise as not, for some reason, catalogued.



Motor show, London, 06

An attempt at being arty:



Bare chassis was oddly intriguing:



The blue did not look that good under the lights, and the seats were uncomfortable, but I'd have had it.

[DonkeyApple]

Derek Smith said:

I was taken over the car and the chap was so enthusiastic about it that the whole period was fun. The press were a little thin on the ground so there was no rush. I walked around the rest of the show and have to say that I wandered back to Morgan.

Derek, I have to say that this reads a little 'Mills and Boon'.

[DonkeyApple]

Derek Smith said:

DonkeyApple said:

I believe that they say they have delayed it and tied it in to their EV deal but personally I think they pulled it as it would have cost a lot to bring to market at a time of great financial uncertainty.

I thought it was the most beautiful car made/shown in my lifetime. And as a 2+2 I could have used it.

The Aero was a brave move and one they did need to do. The AeroMax is in another league but sadly as a 2 seater it's of no use.

I don't think Morgan can crack the younger demographic without a 2+2 as we all have children and the even younger demographic is priced out.

I went to a press day at a motor show where they had a bare Aero chassis and a willing sales staff - not Chas. I was taken over the car and the chap was so enthusiastic about it that the whole period was fun. The press were a little thin on the ground so there was no rush. I walked around the rest of the show and have to say that I wandered back to Morgan.

There was an ITN cameraman there, whom I'd been chatting to before, and he said, as you did, that with a generous 2+2 he could justify buying one, but not just as a two-seater. He was then approached by someone from the stand and chatted up for a bit of footage. He said to the chap that he wanted two extra seats and the chap mentioned the +4, which the cameraman laughed at.

As an aside: my son is a journo at ITN and was reporting on the show. I asked him to cover the TVR stand, then somewhat uninspired, and they did so, putting in on prime time. Oxley was effusive in his thanks and was so generous with his gratitude. So much so that when I saw him in the underground car park he cut me dead, turning his back when I said hello. This in front of my son.

The problem with the +4 seems to be that the handling isn't up to what our age group have become accustomed to and have been spoilt with.

I think that anyone who loves TVRs will find a natural link to Morgans but they needed the Eva to seal the deal.

[Boshly]

asbojohn said:

slinky said:

For reference, StraightShooter has now left the building.

Let's carry on a civil conversation shall we.

Seems I found this too late but what a shame I was looking forward to point where he started posting Boshlys holiday snaps.

You don't want to frighten the punters away do you

[Boshly]

DonkeyApple said:

The problem with the +4 seems to be that the handling isn't up to what our age group have become accustomed to and have been spoilt with.

I think that anyone who loves TVRs will find a natural link to Morgans but they needed the Eva to seal the deal.

The plus 8 is a pretty good TVR type car. Muscle, power and handling but lacking the latter TVR zany design elements.

Actually I think Morgan missed a trick by not picking up TVR sales which they may well have done with a bare more basic Aero of sorts?

[Jon39]

Derek Smith said:

I went to a press day at a motor show where they had a bare Aero chassis and a willing sales staff - not Chas. I was taken over the car and the chap was so enthusiastic about it that the whole period was fun.

As much as I like the shape of the (over £100,000) Aero, the visual quality of construction does not really match the rivals.




The chassis shown below, is for another beautiful sports car. It costs less than an Aero. The chassis is a complex bonded design, of immense rigidity and with sophisticated crash structures. The finished car's front/rear weight distribution is a perfect 50:50. Don't slam the doors, they close with a satisfyingly quiet whoosh. Used examples can now be purchased for just £30,000.

Coincidentally, Superform are the suppliers of body panels for both cars.





Unfortunately for Morgan, life cannot be easy now in the over £100,000 sports car market. At a recent factory visit, I did not see many Aeros being built.

Edited by Jon39 on Tuesday 29th October 21:20

[DJRC]

Gentlemen the EVA is dead. Its is kaput. The parrot has left the building. It isn't delayed. It isn't postponed. It is no more. It is deceased, etc, etc, etc. And has been since before Geneva 2012.

[The Vambo]

Jon39 said:

This chassis below is for another beautiful sports car. It costs less than an Aero. The chassis is a complex bonded design, of immense rigidity and with sophisticated crash structures. The finished car's front/rear weight distribution is a perfect 50:50. Don't slam the doors, they close with a satisfyingly quiet whoosh. Used examples can now be purchased for just £30,000.

Coincidentally, Superform are the suppliers of body panels for both cars.

V8V?

[Jon39]

The Vambo said:

V8V?

You are correct.

It surprised me to discover today, that the basic list price of an Aero, is £15,000 more than a V8V.

[stain]

I was at the factory today helping to build my own 3 wheeler and everyone was understandably tight lipped about the CM saga. However, MMC remains a unique proposition and offers an ownership experience like few others, and I hope it continues unscathed.

[edo]

Update from Charles Morgan
October 31 2013 -

I have been informed that Morgan has rejected my appeal and, as a result, I have been removed from Morgan Technologies

It is incredibly disappointing news for my family and myself. We remain very grateful for the expressions of support received from Morgan fans, workers and the public since this process began.

I have been dismissed on what I believe are very contentious grounds. Over the last 12 months, it was made increasingly clear that my philosophy to modernise Morgan did not fit with the philosophy of the current management.

My view is that Morgan’s future cannot rely on its heritage alone. As such, I endeavoured to introduce our unique brand to new markets such as China; to take Morgan racing again; and to engage the passion of a new generation using social media, and by doing interesting things such as the Gumball Rally in a 3 Wheeler.

My aim has been to give Morgan a bright future as an independent company.

My record in business is something I look upon with pride – volumes doubled during my tenure and profits for the first six months of the year had increased dramatically to £1.2 million.

I remain a major shareholder in the Morgan Motor Co and am concerned for its future. I will take time to consider my next actions and potentially explore other opportunities available to me.

Where possible I will respond to media enquiries, but please contact my representation in the first instance: Will Powell - [e-mail]

- Charles Morgan

@charlesmorganuk

http://charlesmorganuk.wordpress.com/2013/10/31/up...

[Jon39]

edo said:

Update from Charles Morgan
October 31 2013 -

I have been informed that Morgan has rejected my appeal and, as a result, I have been removed from Morgan Technologies

.... My view is that Morgan’s future cannot rely on its heritage alone. As such, I endeavoured to introduce our unique brand to new markets such as China; to take Morgan racing again; and to engage the passion of a new generation using social media, and by doing interesting things such as the Gumball Rally in a 3 Wheeler.

My aim has been to give Morgan a bright future as an independent company....

- Charles Morgan

My observation is that Mr. Charles Morgan clearly has ideas for the future of the company, but the board of directors might have been horrified at the cost of implementation.

'Cannot rely on heritage alone'
- Yes, that is obvious. There is clearly little interest amongst younger age groups, and the existing demographic won't live forever.

'New markets such as China'
- Some export markets might work, perhaps it is a case of try and see.

'to take Morgan racing again'
- Usually an extremely expensive activity, where motor manufacturers do not recover the cost through extra car sales. I know there has been some racing success for Morgan, but when people think Morgan, they probably do not associate the brand with motor racing.

There are sometimes questions, about whether Aston Martin should be spending so much on motor racing, but their situation is different. There is a very strong brand association with motor racing. That company has been racing since 1915, including Brooklands and an outright win at Le Mans.

'to engage the passion of a new generation using social media'
- Has now become an essential part of marketing, and with low costs.

Edited by Jon39 on Thursday 31st October 20:03

[DonkeyApple]

Re China, I'm not convinced that new money wants to buy old looking toys in general.

Re racing, I just can't see the real benefit to a brand like Morgan. It was nice to see them at Le Mans but I never saw the point of them being there.

[CambsBill]

DJRC said:

Gentlemen the EVA is dead. Its is kaput. The parrot has left the building. It isn't delayed. It isn't postponed. It is no more. It is deceased, etc, etc, etc. And has been since before Geneva 2012.

Which is a great shame as it was (imo) one of the best-looking cars I've ever seen, to the extent that I was one of those with a deposit paid having never thought of owning a Morgan previously. One day it may become clearer but I suspect the reality of engineering the EVA was just too much for such a small company.

Thanks for the tip at the time though DJRC, got the money back and spent it at an even smaller car company

[CambsBill]

DJRC said:

Gentlemen the EVA is dead. Its is kaput. The parrot has left the building. It isn't delayed. It isn't postponed. It is no more. It is deceased, etc, etc, etc. And has been since before Geneva 2012.

Which is a great shame as it was (imo) one of the best-looking cars I've ever seen, to the extent that I was one of those with a deposit paid having never thought of owning a Morgan previously. One day it may become clearer but I suspect the reality of engineering the EVA was just too much for such a small company.

Thanks for the tip at the time though DJRC, got the money back and spent it at an even smaller car company

[CambsBill]

DJRC said:

Gentlemen the EVA is dead. Its is kaput. The parrot has left the building. It isn't delayed. It isn't postponed. It is no more. It is deceased, etc, etc, etc. And has been since before Geneva 2012.

Which is a great shame as it was (imo) one of the best-looking cars I've ever seen, to the extent that I was one of those with a deposit paid having never thought of owning a Morgan previously. One day it may become clearer but I suspect the reality of engineering the EVA was just too much for such a small company.

Thanks for the tip at the time though DJRC, got the money back and spent it at an even smaller car company

[Bazandmaz]

All I'm saying is, you have to turn up for a disciplinary hearing, and then the appeal if you want your side of the story heard ;-)

[Zingari]

Cant find that DVD for sale anywhere involving him and his Mrs across USA in the three wheeler?

[Boshly]

Bazandmaz said:

All I'm saying is, you have to turn up for a disciplinary hearing, and then the appeal if you want your side of the story heard ;-)

[SkepticSteve]

I'd be interested to know if they are going to undertake an employee survey now?