1955 Morgan PLUS 4

No Ford, Fiat or Rover engines in this lovely early example of Plus 4 life. It’s a 1955 example, built in July of that year according to the confirmatory letter from Morgan that’s part of the history file. However, it wasn’t actually registered until April of 1956; a little while to hang around, given how long waiting lists would eventually become for any Morgan delivery.

While there’s a packed history file, most of it dates from the early 1990s onwards. That’s when it starts to get really interesting, for the last owner before the current vendor had the car painstakingly restored during 1991, at considerable cost. This included replacement of the ash frame - for however nice a Morgan looks on the outside, it’s this inner structure that is vital. Then, during the 21st century, there was extensive engine work by a company noted for its expertise with Morgans. With not a great deal of use since then, the Morgan both looks gorgeous and has superb road manners. “It drives really well,” says the vendor Matthew. “It’s such a torquey engine - it really takes off. Lovely noise too; it’s absolutely fantastic. It drives like a Morgan should, it’s definitely not a slow car.” Sounds like he’s definitely enjoyed it then.

One reason for the Morgan being “definitely not a slow car” is that it may well have had a larger Triumph TR engine fitted at some point, although this can’t be 100 per cent verified. As a 1955 car, a 1991cc engine of 90bhp would have been fitted when new, and the Morgan letter confirms its number as TS 5596. However, the current V5 document indicates that a 2138cc unit is installed, numbered TS63600E. That would tie in with a later 2138cc engine as used in the Triumph TR3A, with an output of around 100bhp. And while that may not sound like too heady an increase, in such a lightweight machine as a 1950s’ Morgan, it’s a very usable amount of extra horses. No wonder there’s evidence of the car being used for a few local events such as hillclimbs in recent years.

It’s difficult to believe that this Morgan was restored almost 30 years ago - its cream paintwork still looks fresh, vibrant and largely free from any flaws. It’s a very pretty machine, almost delicate in appearance with its skinny tyres, prominent grille and peek-a-boo headlamps. Later Morgans, although broadly the same in appearance, lost some of this elegant purity of these older machines.

Although the paintwork is very good, it’s inevitable that some marks have been picked up over the last three decades, so you will find out the occasional blemish here and there. There’s nothing of any significance - indeed, you really need to look close to find anything amiss. The vendor, Matthew did point out some minor cracking in the paint at the rear, where the spare wheels sit but, “other than that, it’s all in very good shape.”

And yes, we did mean ‘wheels’ in the plural there, as this early car eschews boot space in favour of two tyres stacked in its back, secured by a Morgan-branded clip. Not only does this help with giving the car a fantastic balance - engine up front, spares at the rear, passengers right in the centre - but you’d have to be pretty unlucky to suffer any incident that calls for more than two tyres to be changed at any one time.

Speaking of wheels, it’s nice to see that the temptation to fit wires has been resisted, and the Morgan is still on original spec painted steels with hubcaps. The rims are in good condition, with just occasional marks to indicate they’ve seen any real use. Avon 175/70 R15 radial tyres envelop the wheels.

All the chrome is in very good nick, although there’s only a minimal amount - for example, no front bumper or rear overriders are fitted on this Plus 4. But the grille and hubcaps are as shiny as anybody could want them to be.

A roll-bar is fitted - a tip of the hat to the Morgan’s recent adventures - but the hood frame neatly fits over the top of it. The hood is as well-preserved as the rest of the car, but there are no sidescreens. A small aero-screen is installed in front of the driver’s position, but there’s also the full-length screen, which will come with the sale. As will the tonneau cover, because assembling the hood isn’t a quick affair and may well take even an experienced constructor longer than any sudden shower might last.

Open the tiny, almost dinky doors and ease your way into what is quite a tight cockpit. It is very snug, but in a pleasant way, as if the Morgan is enveloping you like a much-loved old jumper. The bucket seats are black and the carpets are in the same shade; both show few signs of any wear. The driver’s seat sports a Willans racing harness, but inertia reel seatbelts are also fitted.

The wood still has the appearance of being original; it has a few scratches and worn patches here and there, but not in an unsightly way; it’s more a warm and friendly patina. The brown-on-white gauges, however, are close to immaculate, although the clock (inset in the 110mph speedometer) doesn’t appear to be operational. The large metal-barred steering wheel dominates everything; it looks very stylish and has no issues.

A nice touch is the period chrome fire extinguisher tucked in the passenger footwell. It’s an endearing feature, almost an industrial work of art, although we probably wouldn’t recommend trying to use it for fighting any fires now. It may be a little past its ‘best before’ date these days. There’s also a sticker over on the right of the dashboard relating to scrutineering during a June 2018 hillclimb. Please don’t try to scrape it off. It will eventually become as much part of this car’s history as the fire extinguisher.

Our galley contains a lot of images of the engine bay and underneath the car, plus a video of the Morgan starting up, so you can see for yourself that it starts easily, runs smoothly and revs without any hesitation or missing. In fact every time we have moved it, the engine starts instantly with a wonderfully purposeful, hard-edged note. A delight.

Aside from the engine (probably) now being a 2138cc Triumph unit instead of the original 1991cc unit, a lightweight flywheel has been fitted, and there’s also a high-torque starter motor and side exit exhaust. One thing you won’t find, however, is air filters on the carburettors; because the TR engine was such a tight squeeze under the Morgan’s centrally-hinged bonnet, there was no room for air filters to be fitted. So this is exactly as it should be.

The engine bay is clean and very presentable, with the engine bay topped off by a ribbed chrome rocker cover. There are a few departures from standard; the spark plug leads are a somewhat 21st century mid-blue, and there’s a black plastic storage box with red catch attached to the bulkhead, alongside a rack for emergency spark plugs.

Underneath, there are obviously a few areas of surface corrosion, but everything appears very sound and undersealed in the important places. Front disc brakes are installed - Plus 4s from the factory wouldn’t get these more effective anchors as an option until 1959, becoming standard in 1961. So while they’re not original to this car, they are a welcome, safety-conscious upgrade.

A healthy box of spares will also come with the car - reassuring to know, although such is the general condition of this car that you may never need a lot of them.

From the 1990s, the history file is very comprehensive - and seeing as the car was restored in 1991 and subsequently had its engine rebuilt, this is one of the most crucial eras of the Morgan’s life. There’s also the Plus 4 Instruction Book - that’s Malvern-speak for the owner’s manual - plus a February 2016 issue of Miscellany, the magazine of the Morgan Sports Car Club, that contains an article on this particular car.

There are also notes on how to own and operate a Morgan Plus 4 of this vintage, detailing aspects such as priming the carburettors, starting from cold with choke, and making sure the suspension king-pins are greased every 1000 to 1500 miles. It’s a sign of conscientious past ownership, especially the advice on suspension lubrication, as this is something often overlooked. And if greasing isn’t regularly carried out, deterioration will soon follow.  

With this car situated with us at The Market’s HQ in Abingdon, we’ve had the opportunity to check it out thoroughly. And, frankly, it’s a very lovely Morgan Plus 4; it’ll almost be a shame to see it go. Just 344 examples were built of this derivative, so it’s rare and desirable too. The body and chassis are impressively tight, and the engine feels strong, lively and responsive. It starts instantly, and drives extremely well. For anyone who slips behind the big steering wheel and takes this 65-year-old back-to-basics open sports car for a blast, the experience is immensely fun and hugely rewarding. This is wind-in-your-hair motoring at its most exhilarating.

Our estimate of £25,000 to £35,000 reflects a Morgan that is an early, sought-after model, has had a lot of work done, and hasn’t done many miles since then. It’s not just good to go, it’s great to go.

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