Making Morgan Motor cars

[Peter Sefton]

A short video showing the great range of skills involved in making these iconic cars by a fantastic British company!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4c9i250pc4

Enjoy Peter

 

[Baldhead]

Brilliant, thanks for that Peter.
I remember years ago (when I was a mechanic) I went to a vintage car rally in the borders, there was a display of Morgan's, one had the non standard rover V8 fitted, I said to the girlfriend, you'll know which one has the rover engine, how she asked, the majority of the cars drove in powered by ford cross flow motors and when the rover fitted Morgan purred in she said, now I know!
Now I've got to see when I can visit the factory!

Stew

 

[Eric The Viking]

Thanks Peter.

I have an aunt who recently moved to Malvern... I really don't see enough of her

 

[Peter Sefton]

I haven't been around the factory since I was 8 when we went on a school trip, my school was less than 1/4 mile from the works. I noticed a few of my old school mates within the team working there now, including Steve Morris who started at 16 as an apprentice and is now the MD. Great company to work for.

If you manage to make a trip to the factory Stew come and see us we are only 8 miles down the road.

Cheers Peter

 

[Peter Sefton]

Thanks Peter.

I have an aunt who recently moved to Malvern... I really don't see enough of her

I do think you should try to visit her.

Cheers Peter

 

[Woodchips2]

The factory tour is well worth a visit http://www.morgan-motor.co.uk/factorytour . It was only £10 when I went but i would go again.

Regards Keith

 

[dickm]

Wonder if Morgan would still exist if they had done what they were told to by John Harvey Jones (ex-ICI, became TV business guru) back in the ?1970s?? From what I remember, he basically told them to stop being silly traditionalists and adopt a modern production line system. They apparently told him very politely to go and do the other thing!

 

[A.Tryer]

Thanks for the link Peter.

Great cars made by great craftsmen and women.

Just wish I could afford one............

Carl

 

[RogerP]

Many years ago I had a service/petrol station out in the sticks in Gloucestershire. One day a lady walked in and said she'd broken down just up the road and could we help her. Sent out the breakdown wagon and brought the car in - a Morgan. She then asked to use the phone (long time before mobiles were dreamt of) to ring her son to come and get her and the car. Anyway to cut long story short turns out she was a Mrs Morgan and it was Morgan themselves who came to the collect her and the car.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Wonder if Morgan would still exist if they had done what they were told to by John Harvey Jones (ex-ICI, became TV business guru) back in the ?1970s?? From what I remember, he basically told them to stop being silly traditionalists and adopt a modern production line system. They apparently told him very politely to go and do the other thing!

I bet they adopted some ideas, though. Many of their working practices were downright daft.
It was 1990. I've spoken to people who've driven them, and the verdict is interesting, antiquated and overpriced and rather dire in today's world. I'm not a car geek, so they're not something I would buy even if I won the lottery - I might stretch to ten grand for a car if I won £150million.
Roger - they probably didn't want to admit it broke down.

 

[TFrench]

I've been on the factory tour, its fantastic. All the patterns are hanging up on the walls for the entire back catalogue! Well worth it if you're even slightly interested in woodworking, engineering or cars. There's something for everyone!

We couldn't afford a real one so we built a kit car replica 3 wheeler:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1RLJakM ... sp=sharing

Endless hours of fun in the garage. And a few headaches with wiring diagrams!

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Why? Why?? Why??? I ask myself ... but I don't doubt for a moment I do things that others think mad.

 

[Baldhead]

If you manage to make a trip to the factory Stew come and see us we are only 8 miles down the road.

Cheers Peter

I may just do that Peter, on one condition, you refuse to accept my credit cards, I've visited your website, I would spend a fortune!

Take care

Stew

Edit. If the wife's with me and she is in a benevolent mood (she does have her occasions) and she says, "the price doesn't matter, just get it" then you must do the right thing and AGREE with her. :wink:

 

[Benchwayze]

Wonder if Morgan would still exist if they had done what they were told to by John Harvey Jones (ex-ICI, became TV business guru) back in the ?1970s?? From what I remember, he basically told them to stop being silly traditionalists and adopt a modern production line system. They apparently told him very politely to go and do the other thing!

=D> =D> =D>


And thanks for the link Peter.
We can dream can't we?

 

[Peter Sefton]

Wonder if Morgan would still exist if they had done what they were told to by John Harvey Jones (ex-ICI, became TV business guru) back in the ?1970s?? From what I remember, he basically told them to stop being silly traditionalists and adopt a modern production line system. They apparently told him very politely to go and do the other thing!

This is the infamous tv programme from 1990, although the Morgans family were not happy with John Harvey Jones advice, when he returned 10 years later they had taken a fair amount onboard.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtDA714SdgQ

In this program from 2000 both Morgans and a UK toy company are featured, the shocking news was the toy company are moving all manufacturing to China, how times have changed!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBu5ewmEP2E

Cheers Peter

 

[Peter Sefton]

Many years ago I had a service/petrol station out in the sticks in Gloucestershire. One day a lady walked in and said she'd broken down just up the road and could we help her. Sent out the breakdown wagon and brought the car in - a Morgan. She then asked to use the phone (long time before mobiles were dreamt of) to ring her son to come and get her and the car. Anyway to cut long story short turns out she was a Mrs Morgan and it was Morgan themselves who came to the collect her and the car.

As a young teenager I live just along from the Morgan factory on Pickersleigh Rd, my dad was very proud on his new VW Scirocco until one evening we heard a very loud crash outside. Peter Morgan wrote it and his Morgan off driving home from the pub. Dad was fined for parking his car facing the traffic, Peter who was known for liking a drink or two wasn't charged, I don't think anyone thought much was wrong about drinking and driving back then.

Cheers Peter

 

[dickm]

Hadn't seen the follow-up to the original programme. From vague memories of it, Morgan certainly had some very odd ways of working, but J. H-J seemed to miss the point that the quirkiness of the cars was probably their strength.
Interestingly, in the village where we once lived, there was a Morgan agent (Allon White) who specialised in re-building their older cars. Sometimes used to wonder if their completion rate wasn't almost as good as the factory. But I see they have now taken on a Lotus agency - bit of a contrast/complement?

 

[DTR]

Interestingly, in the village where we once lived, there was a Morgan agent (Allon White) who specialised in re-building their older cars. Sometimes used to wonder if their completion rate wasn't almost as good as the factory. But I see they have now taken on a Lotus agency - bit of a contrast/complement?

There's a chap up the road from us who makes replacement parts for the three-wheelers, right down to making his own patterns and casting them himself. He claims to have built more Morgans than Morgan!

 

[RogerS]

I'm embarrassed to admit that I regularly drive past the factory and have yet to go on the tour! It's one of those 'I'll do it one day'. Like walking the Malvern Hills!

 

[woodenstx]

Didnt quite have the official tour, but I have been there a couple of time for meetings when I used to work in the low volume automotive industry

"sadly" the new cars arent wood anymore, but they are still daft which is half the point of it all.
I recall one car I was taken out in had a modern Ford Mondeo ST220 V6 engine in it, the rear diff would knock on the chassis if you hooned about like an idiot..... yeah where your hips were :lol: still love them all the same.
Soul is something many cars lack thesedays, Morgans thankfully dont lack one.