Highlights
- Fascinating 1947 Morgan ‘Flat Rad’ in great order
- Unique 4-seater aluminium body added by a WWII Spitfire pilot
- Comprehensive four-year restoration completed in 2017
- New chassis and floorboards installed
- Triumph Herald mechanicals for reliable performance
- Huge history file of maintenance, including original chassis records
- Features in John Tipler’s book on Morgan cars
The Appeal
In its 78 years, this wonderful little Morgan has led a quite fascinating life. It began life as a ‘flat radiator’ Drophead Coupe chassis, which was then fitted with a bespoke Coventry & Jeffs body. In the 1960,s it was acquired by a World War II Spitfire pilot who installed a unique four-seat aluminium body onto the ash frame.
The vendor acquired the car in 2013 and began a four-year restoration that delivers the pretty car you see today. He has sympathetically restored the body, fitted a new chassis, overhauled the running gear, renewed the wiring, fitted a new dashboard and attended to a whole host of other improvements that you can read about below and check in the photos.
The love and affection he has invested in this distinctive one-off Morgan is clear from the images. It is only for sale due to ill health. For the same reason, it hasn’t been used for 10 months, so it may require some checks and tuning before hitting the road.
We wholly approve of this lovely car, whose condition is as compelling as its remarkable story.
The vendor says:
“The car was driving well when I last drove it 10 months ago. I have enjoyed refurbishing it, but for health reasons, I can no longer drive it. It would be nice for it to go to someone who will enjoy going out for drives in it.”
History and Paperwork
- First registered in 1950
- Recorded as first UK registered May 1981
- Issued with DVLA replacement chassis number likely due to new chassis
- Despatched by factory on 14th October 1947
- Despatched as a ‘coupe chassis’ number 1624 to Coventry & Jeffs
- Bodied by Coventry & Jeffs when new, with a bespoke design
- Previously different colours, including green and blue as shown in photos
- Previously registered as blue with DVLA which was changed in 2012
- Four registered keepers since 1981
- Current keeper since June 2013
- Acquired by WWII Spitfire pilot in the 1960s
- This owner added a 4-seater aluminium body onto the ash frame
- The car was exchanged for a vintage Rover 10 in 2013 by current keeper
- Car was in worse condition than expected, prompting a major rebuild
- Restoration spanned several years, and the car was back on the road in 2017
- Since restoration, the car has been shown at some local shows but has low mileage
- Stored under cover in a garage
- For health reasons, the car has not been run for the last 10 months
- Car was driving well when last driven 10 months ago
- V5C in seller’s name
- Registered as a Historic Vehicle
- Large history file as shown in photos
Summary of restoration work:
- New chassis from GEE
- Triumph Herald 12/50 engine and gearbox fitted
- New marine ply floorboards
- Bulkhead rebuilt
- Complete rewire using the correct loom from Autosparks
- New brake lines and hoses
- New stainless steel fuel tank
- New fuel lines
- Replacement electric fuel pump
- New dashboard
- Reconditioned instruments by Speedy Cables
- Interior trim and seats refurbished
- Radiator reconditioned
- Full professional respray
The Condition
- Very smart little car in red aluminium with black wings
- Car restored and completed around eight years ago with very sparing use since
- Consequently remains in very good condition with few indications of use
- Originally fitted with Coventry & Jeffs that was then modified to four four-seater as above
- The aluminium body is in fairly good condition
- The steel wings are quite recent and very solid
- Well detailed body with smart, bright chrome and front badge bar
- New GEE chassis and marine ply floorboards fitted eight years ago and remain in good order
- Bulkhead rebuilt during restoration
- Avon tyres fitted in fair condition with some sidewall cracks to note in photos
- Steel wheels in good order with red paint finish and chrome hub caps
- Matching spare integrated into rear with bespoke bodywork
- Four reasonable spare tyres and a couple of tubes included
- Black folding roof in good order with clear screens and decent fit as shown
- Modified to practical four-seat layout with bench front seat equipped with seatbelts
- The interior is in good condition, but the front seats are a bench seat, making rear seat access difficult
- Very presentable retrimmed seats in grey and are reported to be non-original
- The interior trim and carpets have been replaced
- Instruments and switches have been replaced
- We are told that the switchgear and dials are all working except for the clock
- New dashboard was built with reconditioned instruments by Speedy Cables
The Mechanics
- Triumph Herald 12/50 engine and gearbox installed
- Complete rewire using the correct loom from Autosparks
- New brake lines and hoses installed
- New stainless steel fuel tank, fuel lines, and electric fuel pump added
- Radiator reconditioned
- Engine runs well but may need a bit of retuning due to lack of recent use
- Ancillary components including coil, distributor, carburettor replaced
- No reported running or driving issues except as noted
- Due to being unused for last ten months some checks and tuning may be required
BEFORE YOU BUY
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