If you wanted to, you could argue the case for later generations of Morgan 4/4 being, to all intents and purposes, a factory ‘restomod’. Classic car looks and construction, modern engine and electronics. It’s all the rage among customisers these days, but for decades Morgan has sold them that way from the factory. 

The 4/4, (the four-cylinder, four-wheeler model) is the entry level version of the eternal chocolate-box British roadster and boasts a production run that, through multiple iterations, spanned a record-setting 75 years.

This 2001 example boasts the ‘Lowline’ body option that upgrades the flowing aluminium flanks to the wider fenders of the spicier Morgan Plus 4, along with its wider wheels and tyres to fill them, while retaining the 1.8-litre Ford Zetec engine of the regular 4/4. 

It has been owned since 2005 by a married couple after a factory tour in the 1970s planted a seed of inspiration, which eventually led to the husband finding one for sale in his wife’s preferred colour scheme and secretly buying it as a present to her! Since then the 4/4 you see here has been treated like royalty, driven only when the sun is out and maintained fastidiously.

The dark blue interior compliments the red exterior marvellously, with matching red piping tying the two aspects together. Drop into the driver’s seat and your feet naturally arrive at the pedals – especially the Morgan branded all-metal accelerator. 

The leather remains in superb condition all around, including on the doors, dash top and transmission tunnel. The carpeting and floor mats have retained their lustre very well too, with little if any discolouration to speak of.

The seller reports a very small mark on the walnut dashboard, whilst there are also shoe scuffs immediately next to the clutch pedal. Hiding deep below the dashboard are the HVAC and the stereo head unit, both of which are unmarked and work as they should. The passenger also gets a pull-out map light on a bendable stalk (Google Maps didn’t exist in 2001!) that lives along the bottom edge of the walnut veneer.

The Corsa Red paintwork, the classic choice for a Morgan Roadster, remains resplendent all around as it competes graciously with the full suite of proper chrome brightwork for your attention. The proud front end sports an optional badge bar, suitably festooned with event commemorations and an owners’ club emblem, between its also optional spotlights to visually announce the arrival of a marque enthusiast. 

The seller reports a few “minute hairline scratches” on the paint but you would do well to spot them without being told they are there to find. The chrome is also unblemished and polishes to a mirror shine. The fact that this 4/4 looks like it’s only two years old instead of the 22 years old it really is, speaks to how closely cared for it has been under the seller’s long-term stewardship.

The roof is a Simmonds system, which is easier to use and highly rated amongst Morgan owners, as it also does away with all the studs to instead attach at the sides of the windscreen frame, giving a cleaner look and saving time. There is a zip-on cover to protect the roof from the elements when it is folded away, as it has been on this car for the vast majority of its life.

With only 29,000 miles covered since 2001, this 4/4 has been driven so sparingly that when the tyres were replaced, it’s because the rubber was hitting its expiry date. 

Similarly, the original battery was kept in such good shape by the seller and their trickle charger that it only needed replacing in spring of this year (yes, this 22-year-old car is only just on its second battery!). All Morgan roadsters from this era have their ash wood body frames treated at the factory and all visible parts of it are still in totally unspoiled condition here, including under the spare wheel cavity where weather could feasibly reach it. 

The aluminium skin attached to the wood body frame is of course without corrosion, while the steel chassis carrying the running gear beneath was Waxoyled before the seller purchased the car in 2005, to protect it from the elements. The car has been inspected and serviced annually regardless of mileage; maintenance invoices detail minor jobs here and there over the years to keep everything in top shape – including an invoice for £0.00 when an inspection at the seller’s preferred garage found absolutely nothing to report. 

The Morgan handbook included in the paperwork file features service stamps (initially from the original main dealer, then from independent garages) dating right back to 2001, with only very occasional gaps in the years.

The 4/4 starts on the first try with no smoke at all from its stainless steel exhaust pipe and the seller reports that it always runs and drives well without issue. With such a long running production life, it may be tempting for some to mix ‘n’ match parts from different eras, perhaps modernising older examples, but this 2001 Zetec-powered car is mechanically unmodified and true to its time.

The seller described this Morgan 4/4 as having been “mollycoddled” throughout their considerable time with it, and it presents as every inch the cherished mechanical pet.

A combination of low mileage, careful storage and no-stone-unturned attitude to maintenance has rewarded them – and you, dear bidder – with a concours-worthy example of the timeless British roadster that is well able to serve another couple of decades enjoying all the sunny days one can get.

Notice to bidders

As is Where is’ basis. The condition of this item is the opinion of the seller and may differ from your own opinion. Photos and listing descriptions are for guidance purposes only*.** Car & Classic do not warrant listing accuracy. Full inspection is recommended. Viewings are at the seller’s discretion. Buyer is responsible for delivery and collection of any item purchased.*

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