1964 Morgan Plus 4 Plus – Auction Car of the Week
July 16, 2023
When you think of the Morgan Motor Company, you tend to think of the quintessential image of British, open-top motoring. Or maybe you think of fascinating, charming three-wheeled oddities. Or maybe your mind’s eye goes to more modern, V8, fire-breathing monsters that pack neck-snapping looks with performance that does very much the same. When you think of Morgans of old though, what you don’t think of is a coupe. Sure, there are modern fixed-head versions of Aero cars and so on, but back in the sixties, Morgan did indeed design and build a coupe. That car was the Plus 4 Plus, and it is the rarest Morgan to ever exist.
Why? Well, it seems the buying public didn’t really want a Morgan coupe, something that was reflected in the number built – twenty six. There is one, maroon in colour, that still exists in Morgan’s museum at the factory in Malvern, there are a few in private hands, a few more are sadly now past tense. It’s known how many survive, but the number is fewer than the aforementioned 26. A shame if you ask us, as the Plus 4 Plus is a captivating, charming car with the looks of an early Lotus Elite and the heart of a Triumph TR4. It’s a bona fide little sports coupe. It deserved more success.
While it was once an unpopular curiosity, it is now a revered, sought after classic. That makes this auction very special indeed, as they simply do not come to market very often. Finished in white with contrasting black interior, this 1964 Morgan Plus 4 Plus has lived a life of being cherished, having been restored in the past with little expense spared. We understand the car was originally sold to an American buyer before being shipped to Czechia where it resides today in the town of Kolin.
This car is a stunning thing to look at. We adore the lines, the lashings of chrome and the sumptuous leather interior with, a first for Morgan, wind up windows! But that’s not the only luxury, as there’s also a Clayton heater to make winter drives viable! And they really are, as this particular Plus 4 Plus has lived a life of use and regular excitement. It’s been driven regularly, it’s been used on road rallies and it has seen its fair share of events. The 2.1 litre four-cylinder Triumph TR4 engine has 45,000 miles on it, and is ready for many, many more.
It’s a curious car, this 1964 Morgan Plus 4 Plus, but one that should be enjoyed and celebrated. Morgan tried something here, something bold and new and brave, and it should have been a success. The car’s failure is not on Morgan, but on the customers who were unwilling to accept change and embrace something new. The worst thing is, Morgan never positioned the Plus 4 Plus as a replacement for its more regular offerings. This was an addition. Those 26 who did take the plunge didn’t regret it, those who own them today don’t either and nor will you should you find yourself as the winning bidder.
