Morgan IS a boutique car producer, and there is nothing wrong with

[1939mgtb]

Differences: MG's (and esp. the T series) were mass produced, working guy sports cars. Body tubs were designed by MG, and supplied by outside firms with bespoke production of standard bodies. Instruments were made to spec by one manufacturer who also supplied the rest of the corporation. Frames, axles, and suspensions were designed by MG, supplied by contractual companies, engines and transmissions were sourced from within the corporation, and the whole assembled at a central plant. There was a continuing developmental program with discernable differences between models. Everything from sports cars to sedans. This continued at least through the MGB. The more similar production comparison would be to say MG was a Chevy division at GM or a Mercury at Ford. More differences: MG built more of just the M type than Morgan has built in total production in the last few years. Morgan builds their bodies in-house, the old fashioned way, and I say good on 'em. Engines are sourced from whatever corporations' car model happens to have one that works, same for trannies. Rear-ends, ditto. Instruments are off the shelf. I believe they DO build the front famous locking pillar sliding pillar front suspension, but they may assemble it in house from parts from contractors. They lay out a few cars on the floor at a time, then assemble them. The cars have changed very little in the last 40 years, save for shoehorning a variety of engines under the bonnet. The best comparison is to TVR, who does pretty much the same things with regard to parts assembly. They are boutique cars; there are a limited number built, for a limited clientele. I suspect that Morgan guys get so wound up when someone says "kit car" because they suspect in their hearts that the sobriquet is deserved. Personally, though, I am not sure that it is an insult. I think Morgan builds some pretty neat cars, as does TVR, etc. There are a multitude of small car builders out there. No- one, though, makes a 1930's car updated with modern componentry like Morgan does. Each may have his own opinion. Peace, guys. Best regards, Ray "There are no easy answers in this case m'lud."

----- Original Message ----- From: "Charles Hill" candahill@worldnet.att.net> To: mg-tabc@yahoogroups.com> Cc: lizandtweed@yahoo.co.uk> Sent: Sunday, April 17, 2005 10:25 PM Subject: Re: [mg-tabc] Morgan is a boutique car producer and today is essentially a bistsa > > Short Morgans in the US history > > Morgan stopped exporting cars to the US in the late 60s primarily due to > US EPA requirements. > > In the early '70s, Bill Fink of Isis Motors met the EPA requirements by > converting the cars to run on propane. He still had to meet NHTSA > requirements which meant side marker lights, sealed beam headlights, > door beams, reinforced bumpers, etc. A small trickle of Morgans came to > the US. with ISIS as the official "manufacturer." > > Years later, Morgans were able to meet US EPA requirements running on > gasoline (don't recall the years exactly) Also Morgan started building > cars to meet US NHTSA requirements - up until the demise of the +8 model > last year (Land Rover, now a Ford company, stopped making the engine, > which was the old Buick aluminum V8, a design they bought from GM years > ago.) > > Morgan plans on exporting a limited number of the new Ford V6-powered > Roadster to the US starting this fall. > > BTW, if the Morgan is a boutique car, then what are our MGs? How many > engines did MG actually build in their own engine plant? How many body > tubs were actually built by MG at Abingdon? If you start looking > closely you may discover that the MG Ts were more bitsa cars than the > Morgan. > > Regards, > Charles Hill > > > 1939mgtb wrote: > >>I think some were converted to LPG out on the west coast.....Dunno how the >>DOT was done, though. >>Best regards, >>Ray >>"There are no easy answers in this case m'lud." >> >>----- Original Message ----- >>From: "David Lodge" archie_ponsonby@post.cz> >>To: 1939mgtb@comcast.net>; morgan7709@sbcglobal.net>; >>mg-tabc@yahoogroups.com>; lizandtweed@yahoo.co.uk> >>Sent: Sunday, April 17, 2005 1:05 PM >>Subject: Re: [mg-tabc] Morgan is a boutique car producer and today is >>essentially a bistsa >> >> >>Hello Ray, >> >>Not sure about the new ones - has your D.O.T lain hands on them, >>compliance certification, etc? - but any British meet brings the >>old ones out in droves, at least up here in the Pacific >>Northwest. >> >>All the best, David Lodge >> >> >> >>----- ORIGINAL MESSAGE ----- >>From: "1939mgtb" 1939mgtb@comcast.net> >>To: "Stephen D Stierman" morgan7709@sbcglobal.net>,"mg tc" >>mg-tabc@yahoogroups.com>,"Liz Harris" lizandtweed@yahoo.co.uk> >>Subject: Re: [mg-tabc] Morgan is a boutique car producer >>Date: 16.4.2005 - 23:23:16 >> >> >> >>>Interesting cars. Does anyone in the US actually DRIVE >>>one? I know the >>>Brits do...... >>>Best regards, >>>Ray >>>"There are no easy answers in this case m'lud." >>> >>>----- Original Message ----- >>>From: "Liz Harris" lizandtweed@yahoo.co.uk> >>>To: "Stephen D Stierman" morgan7709@sbcglobal.net>; >>>"mg tc" >>>mg-tabc@yahoogroups.com> >>>Sent: Thursday, April 14, 2005 4:58 PM >>>Subject: Re: [mg-tabc] Morgan is a boutique car >>>producer and today is >>>essentially a bistsa >>> >>> >>> >>> >>>>I could`nt agree more with you Steve....I worked for >>>>a number of years >>>>with a very dear friend of mine restoring Morgans, ( >>>>BLACK PHEY Ltd ) and >>>>the `works outing` as it were, was the occasional >>>>trip down to Malvern >>>>Link to pick up the larger items of an upcoming >>>>rebuild/restoration. No >>>>trip was complete without the walk round the factory >>>>soaking up the unique >>>>atmosphere and picking up little tips on how the >>>>`works` put a Morgan >>>>together...the highlight being watching a bonnet >>>>being fitted. Every one >>>>is (still) different and made with a lot of pride by >>>>all that work on them >>>>...probably even more so today than perhaps the MG T >>>>types were in there >>>>hayday. Seems to me to be a rather shrewd idea to let >>>>some one else >>>>develope your power plant/drive train and let the >>>>skilled tradesmen do the >>>>interesting bit.... >>>>Don`t get me wrong, I love my TC and am sorry to see >>>>the great name of MG >>>>once again being thrown in the air hoping someone >>>>will catch it, but >>>>credit where credit is due, and the Morgan Motor >>>>Company deserves just >>>>that for still being here.. Tweed TC 2259... >>>> >>>>Stephen D Stierman morgan7709@sbcglobal.net> wrote: >>>> >>>>I suggest the author of the above remark take a trip >>>>to the 'works' in Malvern and see Morgans assembled. >>>>Yes they do buy engines and other assemblies from >>>>outside sources as they always have, but there is >>>>plenty of machine work, metal fabrication, >>>>upholstery, >>>>painting, and wood working, yes I said wood working >>>>done in house. They do no more "outsourcing" then >>>>other small manufactures do in this day. This small >>>>company like many others cannot be all things to all >>>>people. I would say given the hard times small >>>>manufactures have had over the years they are to be >>>>envied, not criticized. If having full order books is >>>>somehow not a prudent way to do business, I ask what >>>>is?! Hopefully they will continue in business owned >>>>by the family much longer then the 100 year >>>>anniversary they will be celebrating in a few short >>>>years. >>>> >>>>Respectfully, >>>>Steve Stierman, TC 2911 >>>>Morgan Plus 8, R7082 >>>>Vice President and Technical Advisor, Ohio Morgan >>>>Owners Group >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>>Yahoo! Groups Links >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>>Send instant messages to your online friends >>>>http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com >>>> >>>>[Non-text portions of this message have been removed] >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>>Yahoo! Groups Links >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>> >>> >>>Yahoo! Groups Links >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >> >> >> >> > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > >