Morgan Plus 4 Roadster, 1954
Morgan Roadster
Morgan Roadster•
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Chassis No.: P3069
Auction: Monterey 2018
Auction date: August 25, 2018
Lot No.: S54
$51,700 | Sold
- Exterior: White
- Interior: Black
- 1 of only a few transition models produced by Morgan in 1954
- The first cowl radiator type
- Twin upright spare wheels
- Headlamps shaped into front fender and mus guards
- Original wire wheels
- Luggage rack
- English Walnut dash
- Matching steering wheel
- Restored Smiths gauges
The British are proud self-proclaimed die-hard traditionalists, and Morgan automobiles are the quintessential manifestation of this ethos. This 1954 Morgan Plus 4 Roadster represents a very narrow and significant chapter in the history of the marque—it is one of the preciously rare “interim cowl” models built for the 1954 model. The Plus 4 moniker means this Morgan is powered by a 1991cc inline 4-cylinder engine from the Triumph TR2. The powerplant helps deliver a quantum leap in power over the previous Standard Vanguard engine.
Morgan introduced the new waterfall curved grille that replaced the traditional flat-radiator for 1954, and then went a step further by integrating the headlights into the front fenders as opposed to being mounted on a horizontal spreader bar. Not wanting to progress too quickly, Morgan retained the dual spare tires placed upright at the tail end of the vehicle. Originally constructors of three-wheeled motorcycles with coach-built bodies, Morgan started crafting four-wheel automobiles in 1936, and its subsequent lineage of cars have remained largely unchanged from their grass-roots origins.
Morgans have always been built using old-world methods and technology, featuring an upper cowl super-structure of wooden construction placed on top of a steel ladder chassis and fitted with drivetrains sourced from various manufacturers such as Triumph, Ford and Coventry Climax. According to John Worrall and Liz Turner—authors of the reference book “Original Morgan”—there were only 19 “interim cowl” models built before a new revised and finalized design was implemented that featured front headlights raised approximately 3-inches higher with a single spare tire positioned on an angle to match the sloping rear of the car.
Presented in Old English White with a black leather interior and a hand-hewn English Walnut wooden dashboard and steering wheel, this rare “interim-cowl” Plus 4 Roadster played an important role in history by bridging the gap between the old-school flat-radiator model and the updated waterfall Morgan.
https://www.mecum.com/lots/336658/1954-morgan-plus-4-roadster/
