Bringing It All Back Home 

Finally I was forced to act! After another autumn of ‘hood wars’ with my husband who refuses to put up the hood in his Morgan, come rain, or cold. I knew that if I were to have any fun in this Classic Car game, I would have to buy my own – so that I could be the boss! 

He helped me work through my list of desired cars and finally we, (I) settled on an MGB Roadster. I short listed a number of Cars in the UK, I read Internet pages and learnt quite a lot quite quickly, and then I started the phone calls… 

It did not take long for me to find a car and a seller that interested me and we planned our trip. It was late November but there can still be a few nice days in November. My potential car was in Cumbria and we looked at some photos of the locale on the internet – it looked really pretty. This was, as the add says, ‘going to be great!’ I even tried to see if my son , who is studying near Nottingham could get to Liverpool so that we could spend the day with him, It is really dificult to move across England; north south travel is fine, but not east west,   so a little disappointed by my first set back I booked a flight to John Lennon for two with car hire to travel up to Cumbria and a ferry home from Hollyhead. If the car was right we would have a great little weekend bring it back home. 

The plan was sound, but not so the weekend. As we travelled to Dublin, at 3.00am, the fog thickened around us. Our flight was slightly delayed, but we did take off…. Only to find we could not land! Liverpool was shrouded in fog and the airport also had severe frost. We circled Wales about 10 times, until it was decided we would be landing at East Midlands , near Nottingham. (I guess it could have been further away and if we had known, we could have met my son!). There was a planeload of disappointed Christmas shoppers, but we were assured a bus would collect us and take us to Liverpool.  … Then we realised we were with Ryanair! As we landed we raced to the car hire section, with half the plane in tow, only to find the firm we had booked with for Liverpool had no cars at all available. We rushed to the counter next door, and signed up for the only car they had, rang our man in Cumbria to explain we would be later than anticipated, then took off, with an additional passenger in the back seat, to drop off on route, as he was also stuck. We left the shoppers still waiting for their bus, and ventured into the fog. 

An hour or so later, having seen nothing of our surroundings, we dropped our passenger off on the outskirts of Liverpool, and made haste for Cumbria. Again we made contact with our man, who gave directions, and announced that he would have soup and sandwiches waiting for us when we arrived. Another couple of hours brought us to this picture perfect part of England…. Only to find we could still not see three feet in front of our faces. We found our man, enjoyed his hospitality, could see enough to realise the car was indeed everything we hoped for, then eventually set off to return the rented car, luckily to a base in Morecombe Bay, then hightail it to Hollyhead for the late night ferry. 

Gone were our plans to enjoy a scenic journey through the West Coast of England, or even to do any Christmas shopping ourselves as we made our way to Hollyhead, unsure of our route, or even the operational devices of our new car. Particularly the part where in the dark and fog I didn’t secure the roof properly and my husband complained of the cold for forty miles (revenge is sweet and best served cold)! 

We made it in time for our sailing, and finally relaxed, knowing the worse was nearly over. At about 5.00am we disembarked and headed for Laois. The fog was not as thick in Ireland, but we were in for a last minute surprise as we arrived in Mountrath, just 6 miles from home, to find the local road trecherous with frost, and so slipped and crawled the last half hour home before falling into bed after tucking the new MG into a warm carport. 

Once rested, and sanity was restored, we realised that our weekend had been a real disaster in all but one aspect. What we had brought home was a very sweet MGB that didn’t give us a minutes bother on that long and arduous journey (and had a very effective heater, once we figured out how to close windows and vents), and has never given us a minutes bother since. It is a real pleasure to drive, is reliable and worth every minute of that trip. We are now both MGB enthusiasts, and are looking forward to participating in some of the clubs activities. 
 

D’arne O’Shiel

Club Member

Dain Flemming in his beloved Morgan

Centenary of the Morgan Motor Company

This year sees the centaury of the Morgan Motor Company. It is the worlds oldest privately owned motorcar manufacturer and for a 100 years the Morgan has been a hand made to order motorcar, built on an ash frame to the specifications of the buyer. It is a formula that has worked well for Morgan, so well that even back I a few years ago Soichiro Honda, of the Honda Motor company, when asked about the future of the world wide motor industry stated that in the future there would probably be only about half a dozen companies making cars then he added “and Morgan.” 

In November 1910 the Morgan Motor Company was formed by H.F.S.Morgan and started producing three wheeled cars. Three factors help with it success. IN 1910 the UK introduced the Road Tax Fund and the three wheelers had a tax advantage. The design of Morgan’s cars and his own interest in promoting it through competition and led to the start of the now famous ‘waiting list’ for new Morgans, which initially were marketed through Harrods.  These early three wheelers had a lightweight, had a rigid frame, independent front suspension, and a power to weight ratio of 90 brake horsepower per ton that enabled this little vehicle to accelerate as fast as any car being produced at that time. 

On December 26th 1910, Morgan entered the London to Exeter and back Reliability Trial and as a result, won a gold medal and favorable press coverage. This was the first of thousands of awards and races the Morgan was to win. These successes took Morgan's sales to their highest point by the time the World War I broke out in 1914. 

During the War much of the factory was converted to produce shells and other munitions for the war effort and there was only a limited production of Morgans. After the war, there was a limited amount of production materials available for the auto industry.  The Morgan factory (or should I say workshop?) was better able than most to start producing by using wood and aluminum to build cars, and had excellent and profits. 

In 1936 the government announced that it was going to abolish the Road Fund Tax, the three wheeler's tax advantage was gone and it became increasingly difficult to enter the car in competitions as it fell between being considered a motorcycle a cycle-car and a car. It did become popular in France, and was built there under license by Morgan agents Darmont. 

Importantly in 1936 the Morgan Motor Company introduced their first four-wheeled car called the 4/4, because it had four cylinders and four wheels. The 4/4 model Morgan is still in production today, giving some credibility to the belief that it is the only model of any make to have been in continuous production for 73. There was, in fairness a break in production during World War Two when Morgan again converted space to support the war effort. Back after the war they began to export, mainly to the USA in order to survive and many people say this was the golden era of the 4/4 powered by Triumph engines, and includes their most famous race victory, at   Le Mans in 1962. At various time different model have been added, a Drop head Coupe: the infamous Plus Four Plus, which was so unpopular because it broke from Morgan’s traditional ‘retro’ design, that only 27 were ever made: to the more powerful Plus 8 models. 

Morgan early in the piece decided against making engines and used engine from other manufacturers. This has been given as one of the reasons for the car’s continued existence 

Whilst Morgan has especially in recent years had a reputation for building in a traditional manner and manufacturing ’retro’ cars

Morgan has had to change to stay alive. Their new BMW powered Aero (named after their early three wheeled model) while not everyone’s cup of tea is and example.  

At the 2008 Geneva Motor Show Morgan unveiled the hydrogen-powered Life car. It has a hint of the traditional Morgan silhouette with a long hooded and short tailed, but it is a powered by a fuel cell and electric motor system. This car, says Morgan, "takes a fresh look at transport, offering as revolutionary an approach to personal freedom as did the brilliant Morgan Three Wheeler introduced by HFS Morgan nearly 100 years ago." 

Happy Birthday Morgan!

This article submitted by Dain Flemming

Lawrence

This is a photograph of Thomas Edward Lawrence, better known as Lawrence of Arabia, sitting proudly on one of his six Brough Superior motorbikes. All six bikes were to be called George: i.e. George 1,11, 111, 1V, V and V1. This bike is George 1V ( reg RK 4907 ) and is a 1926 SS100 Brough Superior. It was the first SS100 to be owned by him. The SS100 was fitted with a 998cc JAP V twin engine that guaranteed over 100mph. His first Brough Superior, a Mark 1 A 1922 model was the first in a long association with the marque. George 11 and 111 were SS80 side valve models.

His sixth and final Brough was bought in February 1932 and registered GW 2275. Lawrence was on his way home from bovington when he fell off the bike. He was seriously injured as he did not wear a crash helmet and died six days later in a military hospital.

Along with Lawerence`s motorcycle gloves and goggles GW 2275 has pride of place at the entrance to the main exhibition hall at Beaulieu Motor Museum.

Rolls Royce 2025

Production of the 2025 was 3827. As the decade grew older the 2025 suffered the same fate as many other cars - it got heavier and slower, although 75mph possible the firm still believed the correct place for the gearstick was on the righthand side. They provided quality motoring for whoever could afford it. The car in the photo is the property of a club member, it looks stunning in it`s cream and brown coach paint and is a showstopper on club runs.

Austin A40 Somerset 1954

Produced: 1952-1954, 173306 produced.

Types: Saloon, 4 doors, 4 seats
Convertible, 2 doors, 4 seats

In 1952 Austin launched a facelift A40 to replace the ageing Devon which first appeared in 1947, the new car was named the A40 Somerset, carrying on with the "home counties" name theme. The new Somerset was really little more than a restyled Devon, albeit with slightly more power coming from the same A40 1200cc engine.

The Somerset shared its curvy, transatlantic body shape with the much larger A70 Hereford, both cars looked visually pleasing and well proportioned. Eight months after the saloon appeared, Austin launched an elegant Somerset 3 position, Convertible which sold in relatively small numbers.

Inside the Somerset had a steering column change, front bench seat and an umbrella handbrake lever, all adding to the American theme. Despite the Somerset's leisurely performance it managed to sell well during its short production run, which ended in 1954 with the launch of the all new A40 Cambridge. It is still the most popular of all the Austin Counties models, if indeed not all the fifties and later model Austins.

Transmission
Type Gears Comment
Manual 4

Drivetrain and Suspension
Drivetrain F/R
Steering Worm
Suspension Front Independent/Coil Springs
Rear Beam axle/Semi-elliptic leaf spring
Performance
Top Speed 0-60 SQM MPG Engine Pwr Comment
72mph 36.6s 42bhp @4300

The baby car par excellence of it`s day that sold in massive numbers. The Morris Minor as we know it today was first introduced in 1948. It was very popular with women drivers and loved in Ireland. The earlier version had an 803cc engine and by the time it of it`s demise in 1971 had a 1098cc unit. It was produced in all versions i.e. woddie, van, pickup, convertible and family saloon. Today, no matter what show you attend you will almost certainly see a Morris Minor. This no doubt bears testimony to the Moggies popularity and durability.

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Morris Oxford 1954


The new Morris Oxford was introduced in 1954 and was completely restyled. Still had four on the column and had the reliable B series engine. Quite a large family car with the usual Morris/Austin qualities of it`s day. A solid car that lasted well and a good few still around.

Ford Model Y 1932

This was to be the first true European Ford, and inspiration for the Morris 8. A well built little car that could do nearly 60mph. Three speed with synchro. A really popular car in it`s day and still very sought after. A good one will not come cheap!. Happy to say there are a few nice ones in the Club.

Austin A55 Cambridge

The Austin A50 and later the A55 Cambridge succeeded the A40 Somerset from 1955. It was bigger and more comfortable with a bigger boot and more modern lines. From 1959 the model had a floor gear change. These were the last of the real Austin cars with the Pinninfarina style body taking over the Cambridge range from late 1959.

1956 Vauxhall Cresta Series E

The Vauxhall Cresta E Series is most collectors`dream car. Made from 1954 to 1957 with a 2262cc six cylinder engine it was smooth and stylish. Very hard to come by and very few around at shows.