Friday 8th July 2011

3 Wheeler Keeps Morgan Busy In Malvern

The darned phone keeps ringing. What Ho! Scramble...

---

Morgan started life building three wheelers, and given the interest in the 'new' car you might wonder why it ever stopped.

Reviving the 3 Wheeler might yet prove to be the best thing Morgan has ever done, the incredible enthusiasm and nostalgia for this modern interpretation of Morgan's earliest cars proving an unexpected sales smash before it's even hit dealers.

What started as a bit of fun at the Geneva Salon saw 500 orders being placed before anyone had seen it away from the show stand. And following its appearance at the Goodwood Festival of Speed last week - including the unexpected endorsement of Dizzee Rascal (Whom..? Ed.) and the arrival of the first batch of demo cars at dealers, Morgan is expecting a further rush of orders.

Is the Malvern factory ready though, given that speedy delivery has traditionally never been a Morgan strong point? "People won't wait," reckoned Morgan designer Matt Humphries when we visited earlier in the week. "If they want it they want it and they're certainly not going to accept hanging on for more than a year. We'll have to up production."

The factory, which employs around 175 people, currently builds around 750 cars annually, but the 200 or so 3 Wheelers it expects to make this year will take that comfortably into four figures. The simplified, back to basics 1.6-litre Ford-engined 4/4 has freed up some production capacity and, our man explains, there are only another 20 or cars to build before the run of Aero Supersports is complete.

The 3 Wheeler's ability to duck under the radar of crash regulations and other legislation means Americans will also be able to enjoy this slice of Brit nostalgia. Jay Leno has already ordered his, to accompany an original Matchless engined example, and his public support will no doubt help Stateside sales.

Shameless nostalgia perhaps but it's what Morgan has always done well at and, well, best of British to 'em!

[slarnge]

I would love one of these in my collection

[rev-erend]

Rather strangely - the Morgan 3 wheeler club meets in a pub near me..

Great to see these on the road.

A true motoring icon.

[Justayellowbadge]

Article said:

including the unexpected endorsement of Dizzee Rascal (Whom..? Ed.)

I can see Paxman now "And what do you think of the Morgan, Mr Rascal?.."

[McAndy]

Excellent to see a small British sports car company having good fortunes! Good on 'em!

[The Hypno-Toad]

At a time when everyone is worried about the state of car industry and British manufacturing, good for them. This is excellent news. As mentioned people were all over it at the Festival.














Hello, Mr Morgan, Toad here. Errrr.... any jobs going?

[king arthur]

Excellent, top hole!

[hornetrider]

Jay Leno has already ordered his eh! What a guy.

[Clivey]

Best of luck to them - I think it's fantastic!

[300bhp/ton]

Want!!

[greeneggsnsam]

I'm so obsessed with this car at the moment, I love it!

[cragswinter]

i actually rang up to place my order & find out how long it would take-there is a possablity of later this year with one dealer.

unfortunatly there's no heater on the car, & after spending all last weekend at the festival of speed persuading SWMBO that it would be a great idea this last point proved to be a deal breaker.

it has to be above 90 degrees before the aircon can be switched on in a car!

[bob1179]

It's a cracking looking machine, I really do wish Morgan all the best with it.

I would love one too!

[Eviltad]

I was initially quite excited about this vehicle. I'd even done the Man Maths and justified it to the gf. However, when I actually saw it in the flesh at Donington Historic I was a little bit underwhelmed.

I don't think the bored looking tweed wearing salesmen helped matters.

Great news for a small manufacturer though.

[asbojohn]

cragswinter said:

unfortunatly there's no heater on the car, & after spending all last weekend at the festival of speed persuading SWMBO that it would be a great idea this last point proved to be a deal breaker.

I had the same problem with my missus but now I've recovered from the black eye after suggesting a mistress as an alternative I've now got one on order.

[Auburn852]

I too saw this at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, and, apart from things like the Napier Railton which was just awesome, it was one of the best sounding cars all weekend. My favourite sounding car was the 458 Italia, which knocked the McLaren into the long grass when judging on sound alone, but the Morgan was perhaps even better than the Ferrari. Even at low speed around the paddock, it sounded just like you'd want a car like this to sound.
Well done Morgan. Wish you all the best of luck with this one. And I want one so much it aches... Wonder if my wife would notice that the new bathtub I've promised her has an engine and three wheels?

[IainF]

asbojohn said:

I had the same problem with my missus but now I've recovered from the black eye after suggesting a mistress as an alternative I've now got one on order.

Where do you get your mistresses from...

[PaulK]

love it just love it good luck to them all

[cragswinter]

The Crack Fox said:

There's no roof either, so you won't be using it on the M25 in the sleet, get yourself a flying jacket and get it ordered.

I expected more stick!
To be fair it would be our toy but time is precious these days & taking it out for a blast on indian summer nights or fresh spring mornings would mean having one grumpy female sat next to me constantly twining about the cold.
Shame really as it really is a stunning bit of kit.

[Justayellowbadge]

cragswinter said:

would mean having one grumpy female sat next to me constantly twining about the cold.
Shame really as it really is a stunning bit of kit.

That's as maybe, but if she can't take the cold it doesn't matter how good she looks.

[Johnpidge]

Brilliant

Want one