Used 1953 Morgan Plus 4 for sale in Saint Louis, MO

Morgan Motor Co Ltd, of Malvern Link, Worcestershire, began its fascinating journey in 1910 when Henry Frederick Stanley Morgan built his first three-wheeled runabout, powered by a two-cylinder Peugeot engine. He entered production with a series of 3-wheeled cyclecars that proved their worth in competition around England and Europe, establishing Morgan as a respected niche manufacturer. By the 1930s, cyclecar popularity was waning, and Morgan took a significant leap into the world of 4-wheels, going head-to-head with MG with a line of snappy, lightweight sports cars. That move proved to be one of the few major changes in the company's enduring history, as Morgan has clung to tradition like few other carmakers ever have. From the 1930s through the introduction of a new platform in 2019, the evolution of Morgan's Plus 4 happened at a geologic pace. Morgan remained steadfastly committed to their traditional layout of a steel ladder chassis, sliding-pillar independent front suspension, and ash-framed coachwork with a classic 1930s sports car aesthetic. Engine and drivetrain options varied with the period, with most cars from the 30s through the 60s utilizing pushrod' fours from Standard, Standard Vanguard, and later from Triumph. A few featured Coventry Climax fours, with Morgan turning to Ford, Fiat, and Rover later. Only recently has Morgan switched to a sophisticated wishbone suspension on a bonded alloy chassis - yet the old-world ash-framed body and iconic silhouette endure. This 1953 Plus 4 is an intriguing example of the archetypal Morgan sports car. It is one of a limited run of Drophead Coupes produced, known cheekily among marque enthusiasts as the 'Snob Mog' for its luxurious trim and softer character. This car was built at the cusp of Morgan's only significant styling change, and was born in the earlier 'Flat-Rad' style but, according to works production records, returned to the factory in 1954 and updated with the new-style rounded radiator grille and integrated headlamps. It also features the preferred OHV Triumph engine, shared with the TR2. It was then sold to the US dealer Fergus Motors, an influential early sports car importer in New York City and one of the first Morgan agencies in the USA. The Morgan has undergone a ground-up restoration in more recent years and is in excellent condition, finished in a handsome two-tone blue livery. It is well-presented throughout, and the paint scheme lends a distinctly elegant flair to the classic Morgan lines. The Drophead Coupe's higher doors and belt-line give it a more grown-up, upscale feel, as do the body color disc wheels, whitewall tires, and twin rear-mount spares. Overall, the restoration quality is excellent, and the car is well-suited to casual club events and wind-in-the-hair motoring enjoyment. On the subject of touring, the Plus Four DHC offers a well-appointed and comfortable cockpit, trimmed in complementary light blue leather with dark blue piping and carpets. The leather is taut and in excellent condition, and there's some light patina to the instruments, switchgear, and banjo steering wheel. Wood trim adorns the dash and door tops, and the traditional Morgan cream-faced instruments sit in a central binnacle, familiar to any marque enthusiast. Beneath the Morgan's traditional long bonnet sits the preferred 1,991cc OHV inline-four shared with the Triumph TR2. Breathing through twin S.U. carburetors, it produces about 90 horsepower, more than enough to give the lightweight Morgan the snappy performance expected of a classic British roadster. The engine bay is tidy and well-detailed with appropriate fittings, including a chrome valve cover. With change being a relative rarity at Morgan Motors, variants of the Plus Four are few and far between. The Drophead Coupe is an intriguing offshoot of the traditional sporty Morgan, offering a welcome dose of luxury without sacrificing the character and old-world charm that has made this British marque an enduring, refreshingly independent anomaly in the automotive landscape. Offers welcome and trades considered For additional details please view this listing directly on our website