HOW TO GET ONE IN YOUR GARAGE

An expert’s view MELVYN RUTTER, MELVYN RUTTER LTD

“It’s a very finite market, and not that many come up for sale, because people tend to like them and drive them. Initially, there was a huge rush and Morgan couldn’t make enough. It was only the really determined who stuck with it and waited; they weren’t impulsive buyers. Like the 3 Wheeler, there were people who had never really thought about a Morgan before, and we got new people into the fold.”

Buyer beware… ENGINE

The side-exit sports exhaust is a highly prized option, giving post-2004 cars a bassy growl. Both Bmw-derived V8 engines are characteristically durable, but stick to their servicing schedules and shell out for genuine parts.

BODY

Series 1 and 2 cars are known to suffer leaky roofs, so keep them garaged. Wooden element of the chassis means crash repairs and restoration work is a specialist job best undertaken by a Morgan dealer. Body panels, especially the bootlid, evolved over the years, so research before replacing them. Low front splitter is prone to stone chips.

GEARBOX

Don’t be put off by a noisy manual gearbox. The Aero 8 features far less soundproofing than a contemporary BMW, so a degree of crunchiness and whirring is par for the course. Installing a quick-shift gearstick helps to eliminate some of the clunkiness.

ELECTRICS

Exposed indicator wires can come disconnected, so check under the front wings if they’re playing up, and later Beetle headlights have a tendency to let water in and become misted. Series 1 cars suffered from a sticking starter motor, especially after long periods of non-use. Fit a conditioner to keep specialist gel battery in working order. Power-steering pump is a weak spot, but replacements are easily found.

INTERIOR

Later interiors are more modern but still prone to wear if not maintained properly. Popular modifications include an aluminium steering boss and a Mota Lite steering wheel, while an upgraded stereo is a wise investment.

Also worth knowing

There are 11 Morgan dealerships in Britain, and they’re well spread out, so servicing and maintenance isn’t a logistical nightmare. Not all are equipped with a low-bake oven, however, making structural work tricky. The manufacturer offers a full maintenance and restoration service at its Pickersleigh Road headquarters, with a fixed price servicing structure.

How much to spend £20,000-£39,999

The brave end of the market, dominated by bare chassis and damaged cars ripe for rebuilding.

£40,000-£59,999

Well-used Series 2s with manual ’boxes. Cheapest on sale is a solid 2004 car with 59,000 miles on the clock.

£60,000-£79,999

Good-condition Aeros spread out across Europe. Some leggier Series 3s.

£80,000 AND ABOVE

Series 4s, Series 5s and rarer variants, including a £119,950 2010 Supersports.

One we found MORGAN AERO 8 SERIES 5, 2017/66-REG, 1500 MILES, £87,995

One of the newest Aeros on sale, this 2017 car is painted in a creamy shade of white borrowed from Porsche and has a well-matched tan interior that looks like it has never been used. Fewer than 2000 miles are on the clock, so we would wager that the powertrain and chassis are similarly unblemished.