MORGAN PLUS 4

Year of manufacture 1959 Recorded mileage 18,350

Asking price £38,950 Vendor Brands Hatch Morgans, Borough Green, Kent; tel: 01732 882017; www.morgan-cars.com

WHEN IT WAS NEW Price £1118 (1963) Max power 100bhp Max torque 122lb ft 0-60mph 10 secs Top speed 103mph Mpg 23

This Tr3-engined Morgan, originally a left-hand-drive car supplied new to the USA, came back to the UK in 1991 and was restored from 2007-’10 on a new chassis, with new body (the replacement ash frame comes ready panelled), wings and bonnet with air scoop; only the steel radiator shroud is original. A little negative camber was introduced to the front, the engine was rebuilt and the interior was retrimmed.

That all can’t have been many miles ago – the recorded mileage may be since restoration – because it still looks fresh, riding on one-third worn Avon ZZS, dated to when it went back on the road. The spare is unused. The hood looks newish, with clear windows, and the sidescreens have been retrimmed.

The interior leather, including the transmission tunnel, is still supple and hardly worn. The carpets still look recent. The dashboard, pleasingly, was left untouched so it shows a nice patina, and the instruments are all good. The under-dash Clayton heater is either restored or a new repro item, seatbelts are fitted and there’s a lovely Bluemel’s wheel that does have a little telescopic play on the column so something needs tightening.

The 2-litre motor now wears an electric fan, and there’s a stainless exhaust, plus a new washer bottle and pump. The coolant is to the right level and passes the taste test, the oil is cleanish and to the ‘max’ mark.

It starts instantly from cold, with no tappet or chain noise, and is refined for a Morgan of this vintage, with no crashes or rattles from the chassis and a fairly smooth ride. It goes well, the Moss ’box has an easy change – though it will crunch if you rush it – and the disc/drum brakes pull up strong and straight. Oil pressure is a healthy 75psi at almost any revs when warmed up and the ammeter showed charge, though neither the fuel nor temperature gauges worked; they will at point of sale.

Priced at almost £20,000 less than the other Tr-engined Plus 4 in stock at Brands Hatch, this car looks pretty good value for a 1950s Morgan.