1964 Morgan Plus 4 Plus Coupe

In 1910, Henry Frederick Stanley Morgan assembled his first two-passenger Trike at Malvern Link, Worcestershire, UK. It was a three-wheeler so that it could be registered as a motorcycle and thus avoid the road taxes normally levied on four-wheelers. HFS continued to produce similarly styled vehicles until 1936 when he introduced a real four-wheel car, the 4-4. To this day, the V8-powered Morgans (or those propelled by electricity) remain philosophically firmly entrenched in the 1930s.

The Plus-Four-Plus (+4+) was a two-seat fiberglass coupe with wind-up windows and Grand Touring pretensions. They had a rather tall roof and wide doors (and as Morgan history goes), this was to accommodate the six-foot-four-inch Peter Morgan.

By the 1960s, many British Companies had abandoned the pre-War chassis and coachwork design and were offering aerodynamic sports cars with modern conveniences and creature comforts. Morgan decided to experiment in 1964 with the new +4+ which was introduced at the London International Auto Show. The design was a departure from tradition, and unfortunately, true Morgan fans rebelled against the new design. Fearing the company was about to change its course, enthusiasts began to order conventional open +4s, giving Morgan a badly-needed infusion of cash. In total, just 26 examples of the +4+ were produced, and two additional bodies from EB Ware of Birmingham were retained for spare parts. In modern times, nearly all 26 examples have survived.

This example was the London International Motor Show display car, built in 1964 and delivered afterward to Mr. Harry Ingham, a Los Angeles university professor, in 1965. It came with chrome wire wheels and a luggage carrier. Mr. Ingham had the wires replaced with disc wheels.

The car remained in Mr. Ingham's care until his passing in 1999 when it was acquired from his estate by Norwegian Morgan collector Knute Hallen in Oslo.

The current owner, a long-time Morgan racer, tasked Dennis Glavis of Morgan West to locate one. Glavis brokered a deal for the Norwegian car. He later arranged for the nut-and-bolt restoration of the completely original car.

The car has a Z-section steel tubing frame and a bolt-on fiberglass body. It originally wore a black exterior with a red leather interior. This has been replaced with a two-tone British Racing Green and pale yellow exterior with honey-colored ostrich-hide treatment on the interior.

The engine has been modified with Carrillo rods and JE pistons, an Elgin cam, and ported and polished heads. There is a pair of Weber 45DCOE carburetors, an extractor manifold, and a finned aluminum sump, bringing the engine to near-Super Sport specification. It is estimated the engine can produce between 170-180 horsepower. The Moss gearbox and rear axle have been rebuilt. The sliding-pillar front suspension and Armstrong shock absorbers have been freshened. A Panhard rod was installed on the rear axle, and wire wheels on the hubs. Inside, there's a Derrington steering wheel and a full complement of Smiths gauges, including a 140 mph speedometer, a tach redlined at 5000 rpm, and a combination gauge with ammeter, water temperature, oil pressure, and fuel level.

The standard Morgan +4+ weighs about 1800 lbs and was about 10 mph faster than a +4 roadster, thanks to its aerodynamic body. This +4+ example, with its highly tuned engine, is much faster.

In 2013, this car was offered for sale at the Bonhams Auction in Scottsdale, Arizona. As bidding came to a close, the car had been sold for the sum of $230,500 including buyer's premium.

In 2013, the car was offered for sale at Bonhams Auction in Scottsdale, Arizona. As bidding came to a close, the car had been sold for the sum of $50,600 including buyer's premium.

By Daniel Vaughan | Mar 2013