Morgan Plus 4 (1950 – 1970) Review

Item: Morgan Plus 4 (1950 – 1970) Review 2024
Author: Administrator

Morgan Plus 4 (1950 – 1970) At A Glance

English roadster that's utterly timeless, and there's a four seater version as well (really two plus two children)

Uncomfortable and uncompromising

The Morgan Plus 4 and 4/4 four seaters added a further dimension to the models, by giving them room for four. They had a four-inch stretch to its wheelbase, making room for that second row of seats. It was a wise move for the Malvern carmaker, as it opened up the appeal of these vintage sports cars to those with small families.

It was still clearly a 1930s sports car, but throughout the years, it received updates and upgrades as the cars that donated their engines and gearboxes evolved. A move to hydraulically assisted brakes was a welcome move, as was the lightly restyled front end, which is still in place pretty much unchanged into the 21st century. During its 19-year run, it went through a 2.1-litre Standard Vanguard engine before moving to a Triumph TR2 engine. Front disc brakes were finally fitted as standard in 1961, which was a good thing, as the final TR4 engined models were genuine 100mph cars.

Ask Honest John

How can improve security on my Morgan Plus 4?

"I have a 2007 Morgan Plus 4. My insurance company will not insure me when the car is left unattended with the roof down. What is the best way to improve security?"

Aside from leaving the roof up, a good quality steering lock is always a good deterrent. We spoke to classic car insurers Footman James and Lancaster Insurance. A spokesman said: 'Footman James does not have a ‘roof up’ clause on their policy, however, your insurance could be void if you have either left your vehicle unlocked, left your vehicle with the keys in the ignition, left the windows, sunroof or panel open, or if you have not taken reasonable precautions to protect your vehicle.' Meanwhile, Andrew Evanson, senior operations manager at Lancaster Insurance, comments: 'This area strikes up many a debate as to what is and what isn’t covered but ultimately it comes down to a ‘Duty of Care’. If you take your classic convertible for a drive on a sunny day and park up in a show field or pop in to the petrol station and leave the hood down, you are more likely to be covered than if you parked in a multi-storey car park for a few hours. Your insurer would expect you to take reasonable care to safeguard your vehicle and to ALWAYS lock contents in the boot whilst your vehicle is unattended. If you are in any doubt with regards to the level of cover you have, either refer to your policy booklet or ask your insurer.'

Answered by Keith Moody

Should I buy a lead acid or calcium battery?

"I have a 1999 Morgan +4. Should I buy a lead acid or a calcium battery? My last battery was a Halfords lead acid and lasted seven years."

Despite the name, a 'calcium' battery is still a lead acid battery - it just means antimony in the plates of the battery has been replaced by calcium. This means it's more resistant to corrosion but it does require a higher charge voltage than conventional batteries. Personally, I'm a big fan of keeping it old school and seven years from a non-premium battery on a car that probably covers 5000 miles a year is pretty good. If you're having battery issues then choose the largest battery that will fit in the car with the highest amount of cold cranking amps. Or get the multimeter out and look for electrical leaks. Mike Powell, from the Morgan Sports Car Club, added that: 'Some 4/4's have the battery exposed to the elements under the rear floor so maybe a sealed, maintenance free or gel type would be preferable, but they are more expensive than conventional types and may require a special smart charger.'