Morgan Plus 4 Plus ●-Auction Lot, 1965
Morgan Plus 4
Morgan Plus 4•
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Chassis No.: 1PD24512J
Engine No.: TS11538
Not Sold
- Transmission: Manual
- Body Colour: British Racing Green
This rare Plus 4 Plus is effectively number 27 out of 26 being privately built, post-production, around an unused original bodyshell and a new chassis provided by Morgan. Very well built and sensibly guided taking into account its unusual provenance. Morgan's new model, the Plus 4 Plus (or +4+) was built on the standard Morgan tube-framed roadster chassis but was clothed in a fibreglass two-seat coupé body with a very period bubble top, rather than the traditional Morgan construction utilising an ash frame with an open body clad with steel panels.
The tall, rounded roof was shaped, as Morgan lore would have it, to accommodate the 6'4 frame of Peter Morgan who sensibly insisted that he be able to enter, exit and drive the car comfortably. There were proper bucket seats, a full complement of instruments, a wood-rimmed steering wheel, and some space for luggage. The Plus 4 Plus was launched at the 1963 Earls Court Motor Show to a somewhat frosty reception by Morgan aficionados.
The new design was a slap in the face to tradition, and to the company's dismay, Morgan lovers wanted nothing to do with it obviously preferring the primitive inflatable bladder seats and archaic leaf-spring suspension setup of their beloved, wind-in-your-hair Plus-Four roadster. They were having none of it and consequently production of the model ceased at just 26 examples over three years, just over half of the anticipated production run of 50 cars, with two additional bodies from EB Ware of Birmingham being retained for spare parts.
Ironically, Morgan's apparent misfortune turned out to be completely the opposite as, fearful that the new model signalled the end of what they had worshipped for decades, prospective Morgan buyers hurriedly jumped on the waiting list for a new Plus-Four roadster with deposits pouring in and boosting the company's ailing cash flow. The late owner of Number 27 of 26 was a British National with a property in Henley-on-Thames but was resident in South Africa.
He was a Morgan enthusiast, well known in the racing/classic car community and it appears that he was considering a Morgan project and through his UK contacts was aware of the existence of the only remaining spare Plus 4 Plus bodyshell after EB Ware had burnt down. With the assistance of Morgan guru, Melvyn Rutter, the bodyshell was purchased for £20,000 with no engine/gearbox/running gear, crated and shipped to South Africa along with a £6,500 catalogue of parts. At the same time a 1965 Morgan +4 was purchased in South Africa to use as a donor car to provide the engine, gearbox, steering, instruments and suspension.
The donor car's details are also confirmed by the Morgan Sports Car Club South Africa in 2013 including photos. To assist the car's registration, the MSCC Historic Register provided the data on chassis numbers, engine numbers and body numbers. A new chassis was also sourced from Melvyn Rutter, along with a front scuttle, inner wings and a fuel tank. Within this batch of parts was a new back bumper and over-riders, both made from brass, a sympathetic upgrade as the originals were chromed fibreglass and additionally a full engine rebuild was undertaken along with refurbished gearbox, suspension and other essential parts.
There is a good amount of correspondence between the late vendor and various Morgan clubs and owners to ensure maximum accuracy was achieved with the new Plus 4 Plus. One of the only, if not the only deliberate variation from the original Plus 4 Plus was the replacement of the period bucket seats with more deeply upholstered, semi-bench items from a later car in order to maximise comfort. There is a significant history file accompanying this handsome Morgan with invoices comfortably clearing £20,000 in parts and machine work, excluding the initial outlay of £26,500 for the bodyshell and first batch of parts.
Built to an exceptionally high standard, our vendor was a true Morgan enthusiast with a meticulous eye for detail, and clearly spent an enormous amount of time ensuring the car is as true to the original as was possible. It was featured on the front cover of the. Morgan Sports Car Club Magazine. in November 2018 and. Classic Car South Africa. in May 2018. Having spent most of its life upon completion in South Africa, the cosmetic condition of the car is very good, the British Racing Green paintwork presents well and the tan leather interior appears fresh with green carpets and a Moto-Lita wood-rim wheel. Sitting on silver-painted wire wheels it’s a good looking car, a loveable oddball.
It’s believed that only eight of the original 26 remain in the UK and, when they do change hands, it’s often privately so establishing a price point is difficult. Those cars that do appear on the market are comfortably above six figures, however, they were factory built unlike the example here which was the result of one man’s passion and is all the better for it. Number 27 of 26 is a unique example of a very rare model and we feel is sensibly guided - there will not be another one.
Please note that the car comes with a South African RC1, is on temporary bond, and unregistered in the UK so there is a £150 fee to take it off temporary bond, and if it is to stay in the UK import duty is payable at 5% of the hammer price including premium, and £50 registration fee.
