1971 Morgan 4/4

This lovely Moggie originally resided near Piccadilly Circus, having been supplied to its first lady owner by a central London Morgan dealer. In the late 1980s it ended up in Yorkshire where it underwent extensive restoration of wood, metal and mechanical components. “It’s all well documented in the car’s history file,” says the vendor and British sports car collector of over 50 years..

“I have a huge log of receipts and other data. At the time, the restorers stated that an identical new engine could be bought from the Ford factory for £250, which was better value than a refresh, so this was done, and the odometer reset to 0 to show this. The current mileage on the new engine - number 711M6015BA - is shown as less than 13,000 miles in total”.

Also present in the history file are invoices for the work that the vendor himself has had carried out on the car over the last three years. These new, modernised parts include:

• An electronic ignition, SU pump, starter solenoid and wiring loom
• Stainless steel fuel tank, fuel lines front to rear, Weber 32-36 carburettor, Stage 2 unleaded cylinderhead
• Front kingpins (both sides), re-bushed brake and clutch pedal shaft, re-bushed steering shaft, brake master cylinder, shoes and hose lines
• Handbrake warning rachet and light, reversing lights, main headlights for Europe and England, turn signal switch, steering column ignition switch and lock
• Driver’s door hinge, door mounted mirrors, 1 new rebuilt front brake caliper
• New tyres all round
• Black mohair top with zip-down rear window and Vinal side screens
• Leather cinnamon interior

“This is a great car, and worth all the attention I have given it. I don’t really want to sell it,” states the vendor. “I had planned to keep it at my house in Spain but what happened was that, after getting it to a state of dependable carefree operation in England I had it shipped back to the continent two months before Brexit. The idea was to get it under Spanish registration then Covid hit, and I myself couldn’t get back. Now I am, the Spanish authorities won’t let me do so at pre-Brexit tax and import rates. It's going to cost thousands and I just won’t pay exorbitant fees”.

The vendor's Brexit-related woes mean that he’s no longer able to enjoy this Mog, but luckily, he has some Spanish-registered MGs to keep his attention.

It does of course mean that this finely fettled 4/4 is ready for a new home, and adventures.

This is a delectable looking Seventies 4/4; slim-hipped and delicately presented in Cream paint. As mentioned above, it received new rear metal body parts and underlying wooden structural parts during the late Eighties, during which the wings were repainted in the original Chocolate colour.

New metal front wings were added to the mix six years ago, with the car gaining its current colour scheme. It remains in very smart condition, aided and abetted by gleaming chrome work, including the slim bumpers and subtle steel wheels with chrome centre caps.

The hood frame looks to be in excellent nick, even if putting it up remains a multi-stage process. The rear-mounted spare wheel sports a cover, and there’s a handy luggage rack fitted above it – perfect for long-distance touring. Finally, there’s a very nice Cinnamon coloured tonneau cover, again good for those long trips (continental or otherwise).

It’s one sultry Mog.

If you thought the exterior was good, then the interior takes matters up a notch as the vendor had a new leather interior in Cinnamon, alongside a new mohair hood (with zip-down rear window) and new side screens all fitted by a former Morgan factory trimmer. As our Photo Gallery and Videos both show below, the result is one very sharp interior.

It's still bedding in, so remains in superb condition. It should be a pleasure to help this environment develop a patina over the next few decades and tens of thousands of miles.

Up front, the dashboard wood retains an excellent appearance. The car is fitted with a red key battery isolation switch mounted between the seats, which gives some added security and is also useful for when it’s stored (i.e., over winter).

“The gear-knob needs replacing and the handbrake needs adjusting, which is a bit of a fiddle. There is a new handbrake cable from front to back supplied with the car”.

“The Morgan runs and drives superbly, with no shake or shimmy as sometimes happens to this age example. Once I got lost and ended up on the M6 and I could easily keep up with modern traffic and even pass cars using the fast lane.

“I haven’t used it much. I drove it much more in England than in Spain, where it remains taxed and insured. I think I have put around 1000 miles on it during my ownership. It does become a bit stubborn to start when left sitting for an extended time. However, use it regularly and it starts perfectly. I added an SU pump in the rear to assist getting fuel up to the Weber carburettor, which I did when I the car rewired front to back and replaced the fuel lines”.

Morgans of this vintage only have the VIN (serial) number stamped under the driver’s seat on the steel frame, which necessitates removal of the seat cushion to view. Knowing this could be an issue for the Spanish authorities, the vendor had the Malvern factory issue an original Morgan VIN plate with the car’s serial number stamped on that is attached to the bulkhead under the bonnet.

You can tell how passionate about this car, and British sports cars in general, he is by the amount of information he’s keen to impart: “The engine can use an oil change (20-50 vintage engine oil is used) and replacement of coolant. There is a new water pump in the tool compartment along with various other accessories. The current water pump is fine, however it’s a good idea to replace it at the same time as the coolant. With the addition of the rear SU pump, it may be advisable to connect the fuel line direct to the Weber carb bypassing the mechanical pump; this should create quicker starts when sitting for prolonged times. There is a blanking plate for the mechanical pump located in the toolbox under the bonnet”.

There is much to see in our Photo Gallery, the vendor prividing a huge amount of huge amount of information related to the car. Many bills are present, including for the 1980s restoration, plus various MoT certificates going back to 1979. There is also a photocopy of the V5 document and a clear HPI report.

The vendor also has some more paperwork that he would be keen to provide,including a bill from Morgan for the VIN plate that they attached.

This is a finely fettled and gently modernised version of a Seventies Ford-engined Morgan 4/4, and it’s quite lovely. The colour scheme oozes class, and the cabin has been re-trimmed gloriously by a former Morgan craftsman, making it somewhere that will be a pleasure to inhabit.

The vendor is sad to sell but Brexit woes, resulting in a likely big bill with the Spanish authorities, mean that it’s time for him to part with his Malvern marvel.

We think the price of securing the car should be somewhere between £17,000 and £22,000. As magician Paul Daniels used to say (although I may be paraphrasing), ‘that’s surely not a lot’ for the driving pleasure to be had.

Top Moggin awaits.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this car is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ in Oxfordshire; 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’.