2010 Morgan 100 Edition Roadster

It is likely that this example of the Centenary Roadster 100 rolled out of Pickersleigh Road as one of the last dozen or so examples. The firewall plate lists it as number 54 but number 54 of what remains a subject of some conjecture. Let’s say number 54 of “less than 70” for the sake of argument.

This car would have left Malvern in the early summer of 2010. To date it has been cherished and enjoyed by a mere two lucky owners. The first owner kept the car for a healthy 11 years and racked up approximately 7,000 miles in that time. The very definition of “light use.” The current owner acquired the car in November 2021 and has added approximately 5,000 miles to that total.

As is the way with Morgans, the car has been improved and refined during its life. Today the car benefits from a host of popular upgrades including a sports exhaust, aluminium radiator, slimline sump and battery isolator switch. Whilst some love the “classic” Morgans for their decidedly retro suspension set up, others prefer to enhance it for a more modern and “pothole friendly” configuration. That is the case with this car that now has upgraded kingpins, steering bearings and uprated SSL RS suspension front and rear.

Not to mention all of these additional extras:

• A Matching Green Mohair Easy Up Soft Top.
• A Matching Green Tonneau Hood Cover.
• (Spare Wheel Cover and Side Screen Bags were offered as optional extras).
• Stainless Steel Wire Wheels with Morgan Spinners.
• A Motolita Wood Rim Steering Wheel.
• A Burr Walnut Dashboard.
• Reclining Sports Seats with Perforated Leather.
• Stainless Steel Chassis Cover with Morgan Badges.
• The Morgan Centenary Car Badge on the Dashboard.
• The Edition Number Plate on the Firewall.
• The Body Colour of Mercedes Amazon Green, a metallic paint, was chosen as the editions only Colour available.
• The Interior Trim Leather Colour chosen was Biscuit. A second Option of Black was the only leather colour variable.
• Contrast Green Piping was an option for the interior leatherwork.
• The Styling included Traditional Over Riders, but some Owners chose to change these to Bumper Bars.

Morgan’s unique selling point has long been providing a “modern” and engaging car with the looks and character of a sporty little number hailing from the early 1930’s or thereabouts. Before the advent of the current CX cars that “modern” really meant 1930’s on the outside, late 1950’s underneath.

The looks of the car have always been its successful shop window with many falling in love with this totem of gentler, more chivalrous days past long before they climb behind the wheel. The Centenary Roadster 100 ticks all those boxes with its Amazon Green metallic paintwork working particularly well with the swoops and curves of the Morgan.

On first acquaintance the long, generously louvred bonnet seems almost impossibly long and narrow seeming to relegate the cabin of the car to its rearmost extremities. On our example the signature rearward leaning, chromed grill is fronted by a bar full of enamel club badges. The simple overrider bumpers and big headlights with elongated, teardrop casings will be instantly recognisable by anyone with an automotive penchant.

The running boards feature rubber topped, chrome rubbing strips and the round wing mirrors, knurled side screen locators and T shaped door handles seem delightfully eccentric on the outside of a car built in 2010. The sloped rear panel is topped with a full-sized spare wire wheel and tyre and a very useful chromed luggage rack. The car sits on a set of chromed, cross spoked wire wheels complete with Morgan twin eared, central spinners. These are fitted with a matching set of Avon ZV5 tyres in a 205/55 R15 configuration.

The condition appears to be excellent throughout with a deep, lustrous shine eminating from all panels and chrome work. The owner does note around half a dozen pinprick sized stone chips on the bottom of the front wings, but confirms no scratches, dents or scuffs are present.

The car is fitted with its original green mohair hood and matching tonneau cover. These are in an excellent condition. Side screens and side screen bag are also included.

The cabin contrasts beautifully with the external livery finished, as it is, in Centenary specification Biscuit hued leather. The seats are deeply bolstered at the waist and stitched into vertical, padded box pleats. Headrests are fitted, compete with bespoke neck rolls for optimum touring comfort.

The dashboard wears its Centenary specification burr walnut veneer dashboard with pride. This features a gloss varnished finish, and a Centenary Morgan badge is present and correct. The centre section of the dashboard contains the main instrument binnacle with various switches surrounding the twin gauges. The tachometer sits directly ahead of the driver and behind a non-standard, three-spoke alloy and leather steering wheel. The original Mota-Lita wooden rimmed wheel is also included and pictured.

The dashboard is topped with a leather finished top roll which extends around to meet a similar feature in the top of the door cards. These contain expanding, leather storage pockets. The woollen carpets are finished in green, and edge bound in leather. This extends to the luggage shelf situated behind the seats.

For obvious imperatives associated with a low-volume sports car maker, Morgan have always relied on engines produced by others for their motive power. In this case the Roadster is fitted with a 3.0L V6 Ford engine. This is an all-aluminium DOHC unit with cylinders lined with cast iron. It uses sequential fuel injection, has 4 valves per cylinder and features fracture-split forged powder metal connecting rods. In this configuration it produced around 205bhp which gives the, roughly, 1,000 kg car a thrilling turn of speed, accompanied by a glorious soundtrack.

It becomes obvious, when reviewing the accompanying paperwork, that this car has been impeccably cared for despite its amazingly modest mileage. The car has just received nearly £1,000 worth of service and maintenance at official Morgan dealers and comes with an advisory free MOT for additional reassurance.

The sides of the centre hinged bonnet lift to reveal a clean and original engine bay. The aluminium firewall features the number 54 edition Centenary plate and just above this is one of two areas where you can glimpse the famous Morgan ash frame. The retrofitted aluminium, upgraded radiator is noted, compete with its welded “M” monogram.

There is plenty of provenance providing paperwork included with the Roadster. First and foremost is the current V5 registration document in the name of the current owner. The current, advisory free MoT is also present in hard copy. This is valid until July 2023.

Numerous invoices are on hand totalling over £7,000 of expenditure, with the majority of these dating from 2022 and 2023 and attesting to the fastidious maintenance this Morgan has enjoyed. A Certificate of Conformity is also included.

Morgans must be admired for the way in which they singlehandedly keep historic manufacturing techniques alive and even promote them as a central plank of their unique appeal. It wasn’t until the appearance of the Super 3 in 2022 that the traditional ash frame was dropped for the first time. The Roadster model, which forms the foundation of this Centenary 100 special edition, is much favoured by purists. It is unique in melding a modern and powerful Ford V6 engine with the attributes of a “classic” Morgan – namely the ladder chassis and sliding pillar suspension.

With volume limited, special edition cars always that bit more sought after, this example must be catnip to the Moggie purist. It is number 54 of……….less than 70 and presents in a low mileage, pristine condition. Just two fastidiously owners have diligently stewarded the car to date, and it is now ready to enjoy the summer in accompanied by its lucky third owner.

We estimate for this Morgan to reach anywhere between £40,000 - £45,000.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with the vendor in Sandwich, UK; to arrange an appointment please use the ‘Contact Seller’ button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.