1965 Morgan Plus 4 Convertible Roadster
Owners: Bernie and Janice Taulborg Collection
Original cost: In the $2,947 to $3,210 price range.
Number made: 4,584, Plus 4, 1950 – 1969; only 1,523 with the 2128cc engine
Engine, etc.: 2128cc engine, 116 horsepower; 96 in. wheelbase; 1,848 lbs.
Only 440 Morgan +4 Dropheads (convertibles) were built from 1950 through 1967 offering a standard of elegance and luxury not found on any other model of Morgan. They were assembled by skilled craftsmen in Malvern, Worcestershire, England.
The Morgan Car Company was founded in 1909 in England and built their first car in 1910 using one of the first forms of independent suspension. This ‘sliding pillar’ suspension has been used on all Morgans since that time. The company has been in continuous production since 1910 (other than during the two World Wars) and is one of the oldest manufacturers of automobiles still in production.
Like all traditional Morgans, this car was built using a lightweight steel chassis, Belgian Ash wood body frame, and hand formed sheet metal panels. No two Dropheads are identical as each was specifically built for its new owner. The car appealed to people willing to give up a comfortable ride and luxuries for superior handling.
One of the interesting quirks of the Plus 4 is that the engine cowling fitted so closely to the engine that there was no room for an air filter. Owners some times stretched cheesecloth over the carburetor as a “fix”.
This particular model is equipped with the 4-cylinder Triumph TR4 series engine, which has a displacement 2138cc and rated at 116 horsepower. The company says top speeds of 115 mph were easily attained.
This car was a concours winner. Wayne Carini of Chasing Classic Cars on Velocity channel owns one. The character Dr. Mallard (David McCallum) on NCIS drove one in a recent episode.
Sources:
Standard Catalog of Imported Cars, 1946 – 2002. Mike Corvello, ed. Krause Publications, 2nd ed., 2002.
http://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/z10478/Morgan-Plus-Four.aspx
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morgan_%2B4
http://uniquecarsandparts.com/heritage_morgan.htm (History)
