1938 Morgan Super Sport

In 1910, H.F.S. Morgan introduced their first three-wheeler. It was of simple construction with a front-mounted motorcycle engine and two-speed chain transmission. It was light, fast and economical to run. Several 3-wheeled cycle-car manufacturers sprang up in the pre-World War I era in England. However, the competition dwindled as four-wheels gradually became the convention. In the early 1920s, approximately 25 manufacturers sold 3-wheelers; by 1929, there were only 11. In 1933, only three remained, and by 1936, the Morgan Motor Company alone had survived on the strengths of founder Henry Frederick Stanley Morgan's focus on power and economy.

Over the years, a variety of V-twin engines from a wide variety of manufacturers were employed, though those from J.A. Prestwich predominated. A three-speed (plus reverse) gearbox was added in 1931 and the last of the two-speed models left the factory the following year. Soon after, a more refined version dubbed the F4 was introduced. It had an eight-horsepower Ford Model Y four-cylinder engine and it would form the basis for the first four-wheeled Morgan.

From the mid-1930s onwards, Morgan three-wheelers were powered by Matchless v-twin engines in preference to those from JAP. For buyers seeking and more performance, Morgan offered the Matchless-powered Super Sports.

In the mid-1930s, taxation and the arrival of the four-wheeled 4/4 meant that the three-wheeled Morgan's production was nearing its end. Annual sales dwindled to a mere handful by 1939.

After World War II, Ford-powered Morgans were the only ones on offer.

by Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2017