From Malvern, with love
Some may perceive Morgan as a super-traditionalist brand – purveyors of cars from a bygone age, caught in aspic since the 1950s.
But the company’s enduring appeal has been as much down to the continuous development of its long-standing architectures as it has the retention of its products’ unashamedly mid-20th-century style.
So while the basic design and engineering principles of the first and last cars shown here – compact body, two seats, with an engine up front sending power to a single rear wheel – remain unchanged, 112 years of development has not only kept the 2022 Super 3 model compliant with stringent safety and emissions standards across the globe, but transformed it from, quite literally, a Runabout, into a desirable driver’s car.
And these bookending three-wheelers are joined here by a further 19 Morgan models, ordered chronologically, that chart the car maker’s incredible rate of progress.
1. 1910 Morgan Runabout
Developed from a 1909 prototype, the Runabout was one of the first vehicles produced by company founder HFS Morgan.
Despite its simplicity, the Runabout was advanced for its day, built around a tubular steel chassis and powered by an 8bhp V-twin JAP motorcycle engine – a powerplant that would become synonymous with most pre-WW2 Morgans.
A Runabout’s driver controlled the car with a hand-operated throttle and a tiller, rather than a steering wheel. Drive was delivered to the rear wheel via two forward ratios, but with no reverse gear.
2. 1914 Morgan Standard
A development of the earlier Runabout, the Standard appeared at a time when Morgan was making a name for itself in reliability trials and racing circles, with HFS Morgan breaking the One-hour Record at Brooklands at just over 60mph.
High demand for Morgan’s products necessitated a move to larger premises in Malvern Link, Worcestershire, at Pickersleigh Road, where the company is still based now.
Morgan’s Standard retained the Runabout’s JAP engine and gearbox, and despite its rudimentary cabin was one of the most successful light cars of its day. It was available in two colours: Harrods Green and Grey.
The car pictured is one of only five pre-WW1 Morgans that survive today.
3. 1926 Morgan Family
Strong demand continued for Morgan’s cyclecars after the Great War, meaning that engines needed to be sourced from a variety of different manufacturers, in addition to JAP.
The launch of the Austin Seven, in 1922, also prompted Morgan to introduce a four-seat model, known as the Family.
The Family pictured was fitted with an Anzani water-cooled V-twin engine, which was a £5 option when it was delivered to its first owner in 1926.
Its current keeper uses the car frequently, and praises its stability and 45mph cruising speed.
4. 1926 Morgan Aero-Sports
The sporty Morgan Aero was originally launched in 1920 and for the first four years was only built to special order.
By 1926, the Aero-Sports was available with a choice of V-twin engines from Anzani, Blackburne or JAP, and was a popular choice for racing and trialling. It cost £140.
Equipped with a 1096cc JAP engine, the Aero-Sports could achieve a top speed of 70mph.
5. 1933 Morgan Super Sports
Marking the final days of Morgan’s three-wheeler models in the last century, the Super Sports was still a favourite choice for impecunious enthusiasts, despite the increasing popularity of sporting Austin Seven variants.
This was the ultimate development of Morgan’s three-wheel platform, with a two-seat ‘barrel-back’ body over a tubular chassis, using front sliding-pillar suspension, and quarter-elliptic springs on either side of the single rear wheel.
By 1933, the long-serving JAP engine had been replaced by a less expensive, 990cc, Matchless V-twin, available as either a water- or air-cooled unit. Cost new was £136.
6. 1933 Morgan F-4
The F-4 represented a sea-change in Morgan’s approach to designing/engineering three-wheel cars.
Launched at London’s Olympia show in 1933, the F-4 was built around a new pressed-steel chassis, and was powered by a fully enclosed, four-cylinder, Ford sidevalve engine, providing more refinement and superior performance.
Initially available with a four-seat body, it was later joined by a two-seat F-2 (1935) and more sporting F Super (1937), all of which supplemented the existing V-twin models.
Production continued until 1952.
7. 1936 Morgan 4-4
For some years the writing had been on the wall for Morgan’s three-wheelers, with similarly priced, Austin Seven-class cars offering more space and ease of use – as well as four wheels.
So in 1936, Morgan introduced the 4-4 (later 4/4), its moniker representing four wheels and a four-cylinder engine.
Using a new steel Z-frame chassis, it retained the three-wheelers’ sliding-pillar front suspension, but complemented it with a leaf-sprung live axle at the rear.
Available as either a two- or four-seater, its body was built around the ash frame with which Morgan is now synonymous.
Initially powered by a 34bhp Coventry Climax ‘four’, it was given a much-needed performance boost in 1939 with the fitment of a 1267cc Standard Special engine.
8. 1950 Morgan Plus 4 (series 1)
In response to some criticism of the 4-4’s lacklustre performance, Morgan addressed concerns at the 1950 Earls Court show with the launch of the Plus 4.
With a wider Z-frame chassis and a 4in-longer wheelbase, versus the 4-4, the Plus 4 was a better-handling car, and also benefited from Morgan’s first stab at a hydraulically operated braking system.
But fitted with a 2088cc Standard Vanguard ‘four’, it was also faster and more in keeping with Morgan’s sporting tradition.
The Standard engine was dropped in 1953, and from then until 1969 the Plus 4 was powered by successive Triumph engines from the TR2, TR3 and TR4A.
9. 1963 Morgan Plus 4 Plus
The Plus 4 Plus was a new Morgan model to capture the zeitgeist of the 1960s, and to regenerate interest in the brand.
With its glassfibre body designed by Peter Morgan, the Plus 4 Plus was the company’s only model to be fitted with a hardtop roof and proper boot for many years.
Its distinctive ‘bubble’ roof was reputedly created so that Mr Morgan could comfortably wear a hat while driving.
Despite a 110mph top speed, thanks to ample power from its 2.2-litre, four-cylinder, Triumph TR4 engine, the Plus 4 Plus was not a commercial success and during its four-year life only found 26 buyers.
10. 1965 Morgan Plus 4 Competition
Such was Morgan owners’ zest to compete in their Plus 4s, by the early 1960s LawrenceTune had been approved by the factory to upgrade models for competition, using aluminium body panels, different wheels, and a stripped and balanced engine with a high-lift cam, Weber carburettors and a four-branch manifold.
Between 1965 and ’69, Morgan produced 42 Plus 4 Competition models, with a specification sitting between a stock Plus 4 and LawrenceTune’s modified cars.
In reality, the Plus 4 Competition was a standard production car with a hotter 2.2-litre Triumph TR4A engine, using either twin Weber or Stromberg carburettors.
That was enough for 0-60mph acceleration of 10 secs and a top speed of 100mph.
11. 1968 Morgan Plus 8
In 1968, Morgan became the first external manufacturer to employ Rover’s Buick-derived V8 engine to power one of its cars – the new Plus 8.
Based around the existing Plus 4’s architecture, with the 3.5-litre V8 prised into its narrow engine bay, a new cooling system, uprated electrical system and even a collapsible steering column were introduced with the Plus 8.
Over the years, the model gained more power, thanks to successive increases in engine displacement, all the way to 4.6 litres.
During this time, the Plus 8 became the fastest-accelerating production car from 20-80mph due to its impressive power-to-weight ratio.
12. 2001 Morgan Aero 8
Unveiled in 2000, the Aero 8 was Morgan’s first all-new design since the 1964 Plus 4 Plus, and – so the company claimed – its first ever supercar.
Powered by BMW’s M6 V8, initially in 4.4-litre form, but growing during its life to 4.6 and then 4.8 litres, performance was prodigious, and in later guises the car had a 170mph capability, with 0-62mph acceleration of 4.5 secs. Power was delivered to the rear axle via a six-speed Getrag gearbox.
The Morgan Aero 8’s chassis and frame were radical departures from tradition, too, being made from aluminium, although the body’s substructure was still formed from ash.
13. 2004 Morgan Roadster
As supply of Rover’s venerable V8 started to dry up, Morgan sought an alternative drivetrain for the Plus 8’s replacement, the Roadster.
First-series models relied on Ford’s relatively new and sophisticated Duratec V6, which powered up-spec versions of the Mondeo.
However, later Roadsters used the larger 3.7-litre Duratec Cyclone unit, producing a healthy 280bhp – around four times that of the original Plus 4, with which it still shared its basic chassis and suspension.
With near-supercar acceleration of 60mph in 5.5 secs, and a top speed of 140mph, the Roadster was a thrilling drive – in a straight line.
14. 2009 Morgan AeroMax
Unveiled at the 2005 Geneva motor show, the AeroMax (Charles Morgan naming it after his son, Max) was initially presented as a bespoke car for a valued customer.
Designed by Matt Humphries, a 21-year-old Coventry Design graduate working at the Morgan factory, the AeroMax was based on the Aero 8’s platform and drivetrain.
Due to the level of interest shown at Geneva, a limited production of 100 cars was proposed, each to sell for £110,000, making it the first Morgan with a retail price exceeding £100,000.
15. 2009 Morgan Aero Supersports
Celebrating the company’s centenary, Morgan revealed the Aero Supersports.
Essentially a targa-roofed derivative of the AeroMax, the Supersports employed the engine, transmission and chassis of the fourth-series Aero 8.
Like the AeroMax, the Supersports used tail-lights from the Lancia Thesis, and while the targa roof allowed occupants the joys of open-air motoring, the panels could not be stored in the car.
16. 2012 Morgan 3 Wheeler
After a 60-year hiatus, the three-wheel Morgan was back.
Unveiled at the 2011 Geneva motor show, the diminutive two-seat roadster even employed an exposed V-twin engine, this time courtesy of S&S.
It displaced 1998cc and produced 82bhp – enough to propel the 3 Wheeler from 0-62mph in 6 secs and on to a top speed of 115mph.
Drive was transmitted to the car’s single rear wheel via a Mazda-supplied, five-speed manual gearbox.
Production of the 3 Wheeler commenced in 2012 and ran until 2021.
17. 2012 Morgan Aero Coupé
The Morgan Aero Coupé was a sibling model to the Supersports, the key difference being its fixed roof replacing the targa, although each car’s profile remained the same.
Otherwise, the chassis was identical, as was the 4.8-litre BMW V8 which powered the car, producing 362bhp and 370lb ft of torque.
18. 2014 Morgan SP1
Inspired by the design of Morgan’s LIFEcar concept – a fuel-cell-powered electric sports car – the SP1 was the first model created by the company’s new Special Projects division.
A one-off production, the SP1 used the same 3.7-litre Ford Duratec Cyclone engine as in the Roadster.
The SP1’s wooden frame is made of ash and African Bubinga hardwood.
19. 2019 Morgan Plus Six
Replacing the latter day Plus 8, the Plus Six was the first Morgan to employ the company’s all-new, bonded-aluminium, ‘CX’ platform, which improved torsional rigidity by 100%, while also reducing weight by 100kg (220lb).
As well as consigning Morgan’s traditional steel ladder-frame chassis to the history books, the Plus Six also replaced the long-lived, sliding-pillar suspension with an all-independent set-up, using front double wishbones and a multi-link system at the rear.
The Plus Six’s 3-litre BMW straight-six was also the first turbocharged unit to have powered a Morgan production car.
With an output of 335bhp, it delivered 0-60mph acceleration of 4.2 secs and a claimed top speed of 166mph.
20. 2020 Morgan Plus Four (series 3)
After being produced on and off for 70 years, the original Plus 4 – which had evolved, but still retained its fundamental design, construction and engineering from the 1950s – was at long last replaced by a model that represented a technological revolution for Morgan, yet remained faithful to its design roots.
Based on the Plus Six’s bonded-aluminium CX platform, with a wooden ash frame, the new Plus Four was powered by BMW’s turbocharged, all-aluminium, double-overhead camshaft, 1998cc ‘four’, producing 255bhp and 295lb ft of torque.
Power was sent to the rear wheels through either a six-speed manual, or a ZF eight-speed automatic gearbox.
21. 2022 Morgan Super 3
Not unlike the pre-war transition from exposed V-twin to the F-4’s concealed Ford mechanicals, the Super 3 was Morgan’s second 21st-century three-wheeler, replacing the previous 3 Wheeler model’s S&S ‘twin’ with a 1.5-litre, naturally aspirated ‘triple’ from the Blue Oval hidden beneath its bodywork.
The new model also shared an adapted CX platform with the Plus Six and Plus Four.
Weighing just 635kg (1400lb), it was not only stiffer and stronger than the 3 Wheeler, but also more stable, with a more capacious cabin.
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