1953 Plus 4 and 1974 Plus 8 - Auction

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Phil Egginton
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1953 Plus 4 and 1974 Plus 8 - Auction

Post by Phil Egginton »

I thought you all could be interested in a couple of cars going for Auction on 25th October at Brightwells. Listed here:

https://www.brightwells.com/classic-mot ... h-october/

Both cars were owned by a chap who was one of my wife's clients in her previous Homecare business. I know they should go to a good home...

Cheers

Phil
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Leigh Sebba
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Re: 1953 Plus 4 and 1974 Plus 8 - Auction

Post by Leigh Sebba »

Some entertaining cars ( and other vehicles) there. Lucky I don't live near Bicester.

Also a Mog 3 wheeler JAP engine
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Mark Shears
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Re: 1953 Plus 4 and 1974 Plus 8 - Auction

Post by Mark Shears »

The Plus 4 is very interesting Philip and Leigh. Thanks for flagging it up.

One of only 19 interim cowl Plus Fours thought to have been made.

Only two are known to survive - the ex: Pat Kennett 4 seater (now owned by Guy Loveridge) and the ivory white 2 seater owned by John Smith (still?).

So this is the third. Will it survive?

Cheers

Mark
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Mary Lindsay
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Re: 1953 Plus 4 and 1974 Plus 8 - Auction

Post by Mary Lindsay »

Only two are known to survive - the ex: Pat Kennett 4 seater (now owned by Guy Loveridge) and the ivory white 2 seater owned by John Smith (still?).
Yes, my brother John Smith does indeed still have the interim cowl car, chassis number 3000, the first cowled in Morgan made by the factory and originally fitted with an experimental TR engine.
It was exported to Rhodesia when new and it returned to the UK in 1955 when it was first registered here.
John bought it in 1971 and has owned it since then.
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Mark Shears
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Re: 1953 Plus 4 and 1974 Plus 8 - Auction

Post by Mark Shears »

Thanks for confirming Mary. Good news!

This car is chassis number P.3019 although I understand the chassis numbers were allocated at random so it doesn't mean it was the last interim cowl Plus 4 made...

However they were all supposed to have been fitted with Vanguard engines (the engine number is V 671ME ) so it is interesting that John's was fitted with a TR engine.

However my own 1952 Flat rad that we know was a development car (with the other two) for Standard Triumph was fitted with engine number VT 01ME.

Now what does that mean...?!

Cheers

Mark
Phil Egginton
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Re: 1953 Plus 4 and 1974 Plus 8 - Auction

Post by Phil Egginton »

There's some engine number info here:

https://www.morgan-spares.com/plusfour/car_numbers.html

The V engines are Vanguard and so the car for sale has a Vanguard engine. Later TR engines were TS so, and I'm purely speculating that your own VT spec could be Vanguard development towards a TR engine?? Does that make sense??
Phil Egginton
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Mary Lindsay
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Re: 1953 Plus 4 and 1974 Plus 8 - Auction

Post by Mary Lindsay »

According to the Morgan Motor Company chassis record for the car the engine number was X540 and in the remarks it says:
"This car is recorded as an experimental model although there are no surviving details of the nature of the development or testing done on this car."
We were informed quite a few years ago by a person who had collected a lot of information about earlier cars that the experimental engine was a TR2.
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Mary Lindsay
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Re: 1953 Plus 4 and 1974 Plus 8 - Auction

Post by Mary Lindsay »

The Plus 8 sold for £22,000 and the Plus 4 for £3,800 - don't know who the lucky new owners are...!
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Mark Shears
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Re: 1953 Plus 4 and 1974 Plus 8 - Auction

Post by Mark Shears »

I saw that Mary. but it doesn't say if that was the hammer price or whether 10% commission plus VAT at 20% has to be added...

I note Matthew Parkin ex: Morgan Motor Company is one of the classic car consultants.

I suspect that is why both Morgans had good catalogue write ups.

Cheers

Mark
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Bob Bull
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Re: 1953 Plus 4 and 1974 Plus 8 - Auction

Post by Bob Bull »

I have an R reg Vauxhall Astra available at a very reasonable price, It only needs brake pads, clutch, lower suspension ball joint, windscreen wipers, and good clean to provide a inexpensive, reliable means of transport once it has passed the MOT test.

Might consider part exchange for a decent tennis racket.

Reply to Bpb's Motors, Luton.
Ace Photograp…… you know!
Regards
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Mary Lindsay
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Re: 1953 Plus 4 and 1974 Plus 8 - Auction

Post by Mary Lindsay »

it doesn't say if that was the hammer price or whether 10% commission plus VAT at 20% has to be added...
I watched it online - that was the hammer price.
I have an R reg Vauxhall Astra available at a very reasonable price,
That's almost historic - dos it have a competition history?
peter rafter
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Re: 1953 Plus 4 and 1974 Plus 8 - Auction

Post by peter rafter »

Sir Bob,
I have a Dunlop Maxply Fort Racquet,
All it needs is a new wooden frame and handle.
Oh, and a complete restring with the finest catgut to the correct tension.
Oh, and a new towel grip.
The original press exhibits signs of excessive woodworm.
Oh, the press is also missing three press corner pressure screws.
A mould infested Dunlop racquet cover may be available if i can evict the mice currently residing therein.
Swop?
peter
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Bob Bull
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Re: 1953 Plus 4 and 1974 Plus 8 - Auction

Post by Bob Bull »

peter rafter wrote:Sir Bob,
I have a Dunlop Maxply Fort Racquet,
All it needs is a new wooden frame and handle.
Oh, and a complete restring with the finest catgut to the correct tension.
Oh, and a new towel grip.
The original press exhibits signs of excessive woodworm.
Oh, the press is also missing three press corner pressure screws.
A mould infested Dunlop racquet cover may be available if i can evict the mice currently residing therein.
Swop?
If it the one you used to win the 1908 Veterans Wimbledon title it is a possibility.
Ace Photograp…… you know!
Regards
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Andy Downes
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Re: 1953 Plus 4 and 1974 Plus 8 - Auction

Post by Andy Downes »

Mark Shears wrote: One of only 19 interim cowl Plus Fours thought to have been made.
Only two are known to survive - the ex: Pat Kennett 4 seater (now owned by Guy Loveridge) and the ivory white 2 seater owned by John Smith (still?).
From some discussions with my colleagues in the Morgan Historic Register together with some other information it is thought that there were/are :-

46 made with the cowl and a Flat grille and of course the low level 'bean can' headlight tubes.

A further 19 made with the cowl and the later Rounded 'waterfall' grille, again with the low level 'bean can' headlight tubes.

A point to note is that some went back to the Factory later to have the Rounded grille fitted.

There are more than 3 around.

A beauty For Sale here - https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/de ... 3795..html

And a well known Morgan owner has just bought a 'basket case' or 'bucket case' (not the Auction car mentioned above) -
http://www.talkmorgan.com/ubbthreads.ph ... Post483819

All very interesting and an important part of our Morgan heritage.

Have Fun 8-)
Andy
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Mary Lindsay
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Re: 1953 Plus 4 and 1974 Plus 8 - Auction

Post by Mary Lindsay »

Was the car for sale in the USA originally on wire wheels?
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