RE: Charles Morgan: game over
Discussion
GranCab said:
He should sell his shareholding and buy a villa on the edge of Lake Como and then buy a Riva Aquarama ...
...if he can find a buyer to support such a lifestyle! That may be difficult but not impossible. Someone wealthy from the Middle East or Asia could be tempted, I suppose. It would not be the first time such buyers have bought into well known UK brands, but past experience suggests it is not an assured route to success for the business taken over. toppstuff said:
You may well have to eat these words if Morgan ends up being sold to a private equity company and turned into a leather clothing brand with cars on the side...
Its not out of the question.
When we revisit this thread in 7 years time I am pretty certain this will be what is left of them, because this is where the value lies for the next generation of customers. Its not out of the question.
A "Morgan Evoque" would need too much money for too small a market niche.
toppstuff said:
The Vambo said:
Oh dry your f
king eyes.
THE most arrogant, self pitying, limp wristed post I have ever read.
In the CM years, Morgan lost more 'tradition' than ever before.
Morgan is the family, not one hooray Henry.
You may well have to eat these words if Morgan ends up being sold to a private equity company and turned into a leather clothing brand with cars on the side... king eyes.THE most arrogant, self pitying, limp wristed post I have ever read.
In the CM years, Morgan lost more 'tradition' than ever before.
Morgan is the family, not one hooray Henry.
Its not out of the question.
To suggest that CM is the last bastion of gentlemanly conduct and that only he can blend traditional Morgan values with hardheaded business acumen is ludicrous.
CM being fired would make no difference to wether the company was sold or not.
I bought my first Plus Eight in 1978 when I was in my early twenties,
...and my last Morgan a few years ago.....(imo) Morgan will survive as mainstream cars nearly all look like euroboxes and there will always be a demand for something traditional, made by craftsmen and different.
When I was down at the factory earlier this year it was busier than ever, the place was buzzing,...OK, orders might be a small percentage down on a couple of years ago, but times are hard for many people.....but in the long term I think (hope) they will be OK.
Don't know enough about CM to pass any judgement, but obviously this publicity will not have been helpful.
...and my last Morgan a few years ago.....(imo) Morgan will survive as mainstream cars nearly all look like euroboxes and there will always be a demand for something traditional, made by craftsmen and different.
When I was down at the factory earlier this year it was busier than ever, the place was buzzing,...OK, orders might be a small percentage down on a couple of years ago, but times are hard for many people.....but in the long term I think (hope) they will be OK.
Don't know enough about CM to pass any judgement, but obviously this publicity will not have been helpful.
Is it a case of in 2014 Morgan is swallowed up by VW, GM, Honda, Toyota or BMW and then the name just being put upon a new box 'A la mini' or Bentley? Maybe Charles Morgan should now buy back the company with the backing of a car company or financial partners who can return the 'brand' to something essentially English, somewhat quirky and very sporting!! Le Mans is vital for Asian exposure and the heritage is why I would buy such a car over a German sportscar or something American or Italian.
Vocal Minority said:
I have heard so many conflicting stories about Charles Morgan and how he goes about running the show that I cannot tell who is right and who is wrong.
On the basis that the majority of people have exactly the same sources as me (namely the press and a bit of hearsay from people claiming to be in the know), fk knows how people can justify comments that Morgan is now officially dead, or that the owners of 66% of the shares are 'parasites'.
The board have stayed tight lipped throughout all this, and it has been Charles Morgan flapping around and kicking up a fuss (frankly he would probably have stood a better chance staying equally tight lipped, rather than garnering (in a rather theatrical and bombastic fashion) the support of a people a).without influence or b). a fking clue about what is ACTUALLY going on.)
But there we are. IMHO I don't know if it is a good thing or a bad thing. However, it has happened, and that is all there is to it. I am sure Morgan will survive, and stories about its demise is just so much hysteria from people getting misty eyed over a rose tinted idea of a lovely cosy family industry.
Excellent post. Totally agreeOn the basis that the majority of people have exactly the same sources as me (namely the press and a bit of hearsay from people claiming to be in the know), f
k knows how people can justify comments that Morgan is now officially dead, or that the owners of 66% of the shares are 'parasites'. The board have stayed tight lipped throughout all this, and it has been Charles Morgan flapping around and kicking up a fuss (frankly he would probably have stood a better chance staying equally tight lipped, rather than garnering (in a rather theatrical and bombastic fashion) the support of a people a).without influence or b). a f
king clue about what is ACTUALLY going on.)But there we are. IMHO I don't know if it is a good thing or a bad thing. However, it has happened, and that is all there is to it. I am sure Morgan will survive, and stories about its demise is just so much hysteria from people getting misty eyed over a rose tinted idea of a lovely cosy family industry.
toppstuff said:
A205GTI said:
He deserves to go just on the basis of the line below.
"and by doing interesting things such as the Gumball Rally in a 3-Wheeler.”
I would agree this was not CM's finest moment. "and by doing interesting things such as the Gumball Rally in a 3-Wheeler.”
He woefully misjudged the perception of Gumball there.. it is not cool. Not cool at all.
My observations:
1) Clearly the business is at a crossroads and some pretty challenging strategy decisions lie ahead that could make or break the business. Cash cow the traditional cars but potentially see a gradual decline, take a huge risk similar to the Aero to take the company forward into a new viable niche.
2) The whole episode has been very badly handled by all involved and it has damaged CM and Morgan.
3) Is the brand really as valuable as we might think outside of the UK? It was clearly fairly special to have a 'traditional' three generation family business / cottage industry but does that scale / extend?
Whatever happens I wish all parties well.
1) Clearly the business is at a crossroads and some pretty challenging strategy decisions lie ahead that could make or break the business. Cash cow the traditional cars but potentially see a gradual decline, take a huge risk similar to the Aero to take the company forward into a new viable niche.
2) The whole episode has been very badly handled by all involved and it has damaged CM and Morgan.
3) Is the brand really as valuable as we might think outside of the UK? It was clearly fairly special to have a 'traditional' three generation family business / cottage industry but does that scale / extend?
Whatever happens I wish all parties well.
XTR2Turbo said:
My observations:
1) Clearly the business is at a crossroads and some pretty challenging strategy decisions lie ahead that could make or break the business. Cash cow the traditional cars but potentially see a gradual decline, take a huge risk similar to the Aero to take the company forward into a new viable niche.
2) The whole episode has been very badly handled by all involved and it has damaged CM and Morgan.
3) Is the brand really as valuable as we might think outside of the UK? It was clearly fairly special to have a 'traditional' three generation family business / cottage industry but does that scale / extend?
Whatever happens I wish all parties well.
Living in America, I'd say the answer to that is yes. I'd imagine Morgan sell more cars here than the UK. There is a huge following for them here, even with the traditional two year waiting list and high prices. As far as I can tell, the three-wheeler has been a huge hit, too. There are several just in my area and every owner I've talked to absolutely love them.1) Clearly the business is at a crossroads and some pretty challenging strategy decisions lie ahead that could make or break the business. Cash cow the traditional cars but potentially see a gradual decline, take a huge risk similar to the Aero to take the company forward into a new viable niche.
2) The whole episode has been very badly handled by all involved and it has damaged CM and Morgan.
3) Is the brand really as valuable as we might think outside of the UK? It was clearly fairly special to have a 'traditional' three generation family business / cottage industry but does that scale / extend?
Whatever happens I wish all parties well.
That said, I can't speak for China, but don't they have a love for anything perceived as Olde-English? If so, maybe Morgan could make it work, but I think it would be a huge risk that could break the company if it fails.
I think it's strange that people on here are talking about imminent acquisitions, doom, and gloom, as if we're talking about a company going through bankruptcy! I thought Morgan are pretty profitable right now? The firing of one employee isn't going to change that.
rubystone said:
toppstuff said:
I would agree this was not CM's finest moment.
He woefully misjudged the perception of Gumball there.. it is not cool. Not cool at all.
Sorry, Gumball is not, and never will be, 'cool'He woefully misjudged the perception of Gumball there.. it is not cool. Not cool at all.
What he should do is establish a business restoring them.
I am curious as on who it was who gave the nod for the tie up with BMW, the use of aluminium and the lovely thing that is the Aeromax. These were master strokes; they immediately bridged traditional with modern. They enabled the company to shift the pricepoint of their entire range and reduced the average age of buyers by at least 20 years.
Does anyone know which people made those decisions? If the current regime were responsible for them, the company won't miss Charles Morgan.
I am curious as on who it was who gave the nod for the tie up with BMW, the use of aluminium and the lovely thing that is the Aeromax. These were master strokes; they immediately bridged traditional with modern. They enabled the company to shift the pricepoint of their entire range and reduced the average age of buyers by at least 20 years.
Does anyone know which people made those decisions? If the current regime were responsible for them, the company won't miss Charles Morgan.
toppstuff said:
You misunderstand me, I am saying that Gumball is most definitely NOT cool. I detest the absurd, ego driven exhibition. It represents everything that is bad about sports cars and some of the people who use them.
Honestly, I carried on reading the thread and realised that we are on the same page I couldn't agree more with you!!!!!
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