Showing posts with label Morgan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Morgan. Show all posts

Sunday, 13 September 2015

Monterey Brits

Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion

Tuesday, 4 October 2011

Spirit of the 60's - Dyrham Park

On Sunday I ambled through the back lanes of Gloucestershire with a couple of friends to visit Dyrham Park a Neo Classic country mansion, that was built for William III's Secretary at War William Blathwayt, set in a 274 acre deer park.

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The house was made over to the state in the late 1950's and the National Trust subsequently took over the running of the estate in 1961. That same year the Bristol Motor Cycle & Light Car Club organised a hillclimb on an 800 yard course that started at the Mansion house and went up the winding front drive towards the main gates of the estate.

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To celebrate the centenary of what is now known as the Bristol Motor Club a Spirit of the 60's demonstration was organised at Dyrham Park to mark the six events that were organised from 1961 - 1966. Not all the vehicles present on Sunday, like Tony Wallens 1971 Lotus 69 were strictly of the correct period but they all added to flavour on another Indian Summers day.

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Making his way through the hairpin to the start line is Chris Merrick in a Brabham BT18 / Buick V8 that once belonged to Bryan Eccles who set, probably for all time, the course record of 30.05 secs in 1966.

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Some of you may remember I stumbled across a Berkeley B105 earlier this year at the Silverstone Classic, this 1959 example heading for the assembly area belongs to Neil Barber.

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Steve Hillcox in the 302 cui Mustang Fastback can is seen above preparing to leave the assembly area for his run up the narrow 800 yard course.

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Following the Suzuki Pace Car heading for the sweeps on one of the demonstration runs are Jeffrey Allen in his 1967 Mini Cooper, Steve Dowling in his 1959 Austin A35 and David Valsler in his Turner which he found in Ohio.

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John Robbins above negotiates the hairpin in his 1967 VW Notchback ahead of Colin Gale in his 1966 Austin Healey Sprite.

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I believe this is Ron Clements in his 1933 Morgan Super Sport which bears a quote from two time Le Mans winner Sir Tim Birkin on the side "Better to die at full throttle than to live behind a desk." Sir Tim died from as a result of burns sustained while racing a Maserati in the 1933 Tripoli Grand Prix.

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One of the slower passes up the hill had they been timed would possibly have gone to former British Saloon car stalwart Vince Woodman on this Honda monkey bike,

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though without doubt had the event been timed he would have been in the running for top tin top with his 3.4 litre 1973 Cologne Capri seen here rounding Neptune before the finish straight.

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Somewhere between 4-5000 spectators are thought to have been entertained by over one hundred cars that each made several runs up the hill, apparently at one point the gates had to be closed because the A46 Bath Road had become blocked. At 4 pm the course car passed for the last time bringing an entertaining day to an end.

Thanks for joining me on this Dyrham Park edition of 'Gettin' a li'l psycho on tyres' I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don't for get to come back now !

Saturday, 27 August 2011

Suspension by Chris Lawrence - Morgan Aero 8

Up until 2000 the last time Morgan had introduced a new body style was 1964, only 26 glass fibre bodied +4+ cars were built over 4 years and since that time Morgan have successfully focused on improving a design that dates back to 1936.

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In 2000 Morgan launched a genuinely ground up new 'retro' design the Morgan Aero 8, a clear nod to Morgan's successful past with an eye on the future.

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The heart of the Aero 8 was a 325 hp 4.4 litre / 268.5 cui BMW V8, with fake Morgan cam covers, capable of accelerating the car from rest to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds and on to a top speed of over 170 mph.

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The all new aluminium chassis, completely unrelated to the steel ladder chassis of earlier models, was developed with the help of Morgan's best known racing exponent and tuner Chris Lawrence. Unusually for a vehicle with this kind of performance the chassis and suspension are so stiff that the suspension does not have anti roll / sway bars.

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The Aero 8 has since been offered as a limited edition coupé the Aero Max, of which just 100 have been built and the Targa topped Aero SuperSports. Production of these cars is coming to an end at the Morgan factory, in anticipation of a new Morgan 4 wheel model.

An insight into some of the work of Chris Lawrence, who passed away on August 13th, can be found on this link.

Thanks for joining me on this edition of 'Gettin' a lil' psycho on tyres, I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don't forget to come back now !

Wednesday, 24 August 2011

Simple Joys - Morgan 3 Wheeler

Last November when I visited the Morgan factory there was much debate about a rumoured revival by Morgan of their fabled 3 wheel concept, which was abandoned when the last Morgan F-4 left the factory in 1953, with an updated design powered by a Harley Davidson motor.

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The truth that emerged was a little more complex, when earlier this year Morgan launched their 3 Wheeler at the Geneva motor show, with this particular vehicle on their stand.

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Self taught engineer, Pete Larsen from Seattle is the man responsible for putting the Morgan name back on three wheel vehicles. A couple of years ago Pete developed a Harley Davidson powered space frame Morgan tribute 3 wheeler which was marketed under the Liberty Ace brand.

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After reading a UK newspaper report on this vehicle Morgan executives visited Pete's workshop and ended up buying the business. Pete now makes the HD powered Liberty Ace under license from Morgan while Morgan have re engineered Pete's design to take a 115hp S&S 'X-Wedge' V twin manufactured in Wisconsin.

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The reengineered Morgan comes with a detachable steering wheel, to ease access, that is connected to a Quaife steering rack, in place of the Mustang modified rack used in the original Liberty Ace, the transmission on both vehicles is a Mazda 5 speed which drives the rear wheel.

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The Matt Humphries designed aluminium bodywork is manufactured by Premier Sheet Metal in Coventry.

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After the initial production run a special Superdry Edition has already been planned complete with bespoke Superdry branded tyres !

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High profile car enthusiast, owner and fan of old Morgan 3 wheelers Jay Leno was one of the first 500 customers to order one of the cycle cars which tip the scales at just over 1000 lbs / 500 kgs and can reach 60 mph in under 5 seconds.

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I have never driven a Morgan or 3 Wheeler of any description but watching Jay drive the car I have to believe that 'there is nothing quite like driving a 3 wheeler, it just makes you smile', rather like reading my favourite 'Simple Joys' blog written by another Morgan 3 wheeler fan Chief 187, who's birthday happens to be today.

Happy Birthday Chief 187, this one is just for you !

Thanks for joining me on today's three wheel edition of 'Gettin' a lil' psycho on tyres', I hope you will join me again tomorrow ! Don't forget to come back now !

Saturday, 6 August 2011

Sprinzel Lawrence Racing - Morgan And Triumph SLR

Towards the end of 1963 former British Rally Champion and Racing Driver John Sprinzel joined forces with noted engineer and Morgan racer Chris Lawrence, under the Sprintzel Lawrence Racing (SLR) banner, to design and build a sports car based on a Triumph TR4 powered ladder frame Morgan +4, with a similar chassis to the one that Chris had co driven with Richard Shepherd - Barron to a class victory at Le Mans in 1962.

Triumph TR4 SLR

(Triumph TR4 SLR, Photo Courtesy David Lawson)

From what I can gather Triumph racer John Hurrell managed to secure some funding for the SLR team and after seeing Chris Spenders drawings for the proposed Williams and Pritchard built bodywork for the Morgan & Triumph SLR car John asked if a similar SLR body could be fitted to his Triumph TR4 that he had been racing since 1960.

As things worked out the Triumph with a slightly shorter chassis was the first to be taken to Williams and Pritchard to have an aluminium SLR body built around it. Neil Dangerfield is known to have been winning races in this car as late as 1967 and the Triumph SLR went down in the record books as being the last to leave the start line at Goodwood as the scratch entry in the last, handicap, race held at the Circuit before it closed in 1966.

Neil drove the Triumph SLR 31 years later at the request of Lord March on a 3 lap demonstration when the Goodwood circuit was reopened in 2006.

Note the registration SAH 137 was originally issued to a Triumph TR3A owned by Jim Hurrell who transferred the number to the Triumph TR4 that was fitted with the SLR body and later sold it to Neil.

Morgan & Triumph SLR I

(Morgan & Triumph SLR I, Photo Courtesy Bob Bull)

The first of the Morgan SLR's powered by a Triumph TR4 engine and featuring beefed up hubs along with the benefits of other lessons learned from Chris Lawrence's Le Mans experience appears to have been built around a 1961 chassis for Gordon Spice a well known figure in British racing circles who eventually built and ran his own Spice Group C cars in the late 1980's.

After just 3 laps of Goodwood Gordon crashed his new car in 1964, necessitating a complete rebuild making this red car both the first and last of the Morgan chassied SLR's built. In 1975 then owner Sir Aubery Brocklebank suffered burns after a fuel leak in this car caught fire at Silverstone. The car was subsequently painted fire engine red.

Morgan & Triumph SLR II, Silverstone Classic

(Morgan & Triumph SLR II)

The second Morgan and Triumph SLR was built for Pip Arnold, legend has it that this car was never painted because soon after delivery it was due to be raced at Spa and so the aluminium bodywork was merely polished. In the early seventies this car was caught in a severe garage fire and rebuilt by well known fabricator of racing cars Maurice Gnomm.

Morgan & Triumph SLR III,

(Morgan & Triumph SLR III, Photo Courtesy Bob Bull)

The third car was built for Chris Lawrence himself and set an all time class lap record at the very last race meeting held at Goodwood in 1966. Chris Lawrences old car also won a race during the Goodwood Revival in 2006.

Morgan & Triumph SLR II, III & I, Silverstone Classic

(L-R John Emberson, SLR II, Bill Wykeham, Billy Bellinger, SLR III, Jack Bellinger, Simon Orebi Gann, SLR I, Rick Bourne, Photo Courtesy Richard Gilbert)

All three of the Morgan And Triumph SLR's were united possibly for the first time ever at the 2010 Silverstone Classic. As John Sprinzel rhetorically asked after seeing these photo's "They were good looking cars weren't they?"

From The Nostalgia Forum I'd like to thank David Lawson and Bob 'Bauble' Bull for the use of their photographs, Pete Stowe, Kurt O and Sharman for responding to my TNF Triumph SLR thread garyfrogeye for contacting John Sprinzel and Tim of the Willliams and Pritchard website for their kind replies.
Thanks also to Andy Downes and in particular Neil Dangerfield of the tr- register forum for his post on the order in which the cars were built to Richard 'redmorgan' Gilbert for the use of his photo, John "sprinty" and Steve N22MOG L and everyone at Talk Morgan who responded to my post.

Thanks for joining me on this SLR edition of 'Gettin' a lil' psycho on tyres' I hope you will join me again tomorrow for a look at an exotic Italian that needs a cool pagoda airbox to cover a big block V8. Don't forget to come back now !

11 11 11 Post Script John Sprinzel has kindly in formed me that the three Morgan SLR's first had a reunion at Goodwood several years ago.

Tuesday, 28 December 2010

4 Wheels & 4 Cylinders - Morgan 4-4



Morgan launched the 4-4 series in 1936 with a 2 seat body the first Morgan model to feature a 4 cylinder engine on a 4 wheel chassis.



The original 34 hp Coventry Climax engine was superseded by a 38.8 Standard overhead valve engine in 1939.



Four seat versions such as this are rarities introduced in 1937 just 99 were made until 1939 and 140 were produced from 1946 to 1950. I am not sure if this is one of the pre war or post war models.



Though it has undergone many changes the 4-4 series rebranded 4/4 in 1955 lays claim to being the motor car model with the oldest production run from 1936 to the present day only interrupted by WW2 from 1939 to 1946.

Hope you have enjoyed another ash framed edition of 'Gettin' a lil' psycho on tyres' and that you will join me tomorrow for a mix of French and Australian humour, don't forget to come back now !

Sunday, 14 November 2010

The Mighty F-Series - Morgan F-4.

This edition is dedicated to my number one fan Chief 187, with thanks for her help getting last weeks incredibly successful 'Petit Pataud' blogs together.

Keeping it short and sweet today as I am sure you all have plenty of thing you would rather be doing than having another history lecture from yours truly. Today I am featuring this wonderful nugget the Morgan F-4.



Built from 1932 - 1952 the F4 featured a pressed steel chassis and used a Ford side valve engine sourced from the Model Y. The F4 could allegedly carry four people, unlike its smaller siblings the F-2 and F-Super.

With rumours of a three wheel Morgan making a return to the market place it is perhaps surprising this did not happen a long time ago such vehicles are amazingly cheap and efficient to run.



Morgan do have one three wheeler on the books of course the £5000 / $ 8000 pedal car !

Thanks to every one from the Talk Morgan Sports Cars Forum who popped over during the last couple of days, for those who are into Morgans and have not visited there are some fabulous pictures of these quintessentially British vehicles in the Morgan Photo Gallery.

Wishing everyone a relaxing Sunday, thanks for stopping by, don't forget to come back now !

Saturday, 13 November 2010

Global Scoop - Morgan GC



With recent Internet reports on the eminent return of a Harley Davidson powered three wheeler being according to a Morgan factory spokesman unsubstantiated and merely an internet rumour, I take great pleasure in revealing the new Morgan model the aforementioned spokesman suggested 'we save or Christmas money for' - the environmentally friendly Morgan GC.



With the market place for £100,000 / $ 160,000 vehicles shrinking Morgan is striking out into a new and untapped market of the performance electric cart, which will appeal not only to four time Sprint Cup Champions like Jimmy 'I fell off a golf cart' Johnson, but also to Britain's booming ageing population as they downsize from sitting in 12 mph traffic jams to 12 mph shopping trolleys.



With styling cues taken from the Classic Roadster and 4/4 models, as one might expect from a Morgan 'Perfection' is key as can be seen by this magnificent steering wheel and sumptuous wood panelled dash.



Among the optional extras will be these £ 2,000 / $ 3,600 electric fold away electric mirrors which have a quick release facility perfect to give hideous hoodies and moody teenagers a good old fashioned 'clip round the ear 'ole' at will.



With leaf springs all round, the standard Union Jack interior and room to carry shopping and a pair of green wellies on the back this should be an attractive package for it's intended market.

How much will the Morgan GC cost you may well be asking ? Probably no more than the priceless look on your face when your local Morgan dealer tells you, 'you've been had !'

Hope you enjoyed today's comedy edition of 'Gettin' a little psycho on tyres' , tomorrow back to a real Morgan the little 3 wheel nugget known as the F4.

Thanks for dropping by don't forget to come back now !

Friday, 12 November 2010

Made with a heart - Morgan 4/4 & Roadster.



Today I'll be going through the Morgan Factory again looking at the production of the classic 4/4 and Roadster models, which share the same galvanised steel ladder chassis as the old +8.



the Roadster and 4/4 still have a solid rear axle.



Framework for the body of a roadster.



Super formed aluminium panels are bonded with the ash frame.



First stage of a Roadsters body awaiting painting by hand.



After painting has been completed a 4/4 has its interior trim fitted.



Roadster nearing completion just over two weeks since it's chassis was laid.



Roadster awaiting final signing off from the factory floor, powered by a 220 hp US version of the Ford V6 Mondeo engine the car gets to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds and is capable of 134 mph.



A 4/4 powered by a Ford Duratec engine awaiting collection by it's new owner. As it says on the employees sweat shirts 'Morgan - Made with a heart'

Hope you enjoyed these factory tours, well worth a visit in person if you get the opportunity.

Tomorrow I'll be revealing a Morgan scoop made very much with the discerning Jimmy 'Golf Cart' Johnson four time Sprint Cup Champion in mind, Don't forget to come back now !