Pile-O-Parts Project: 1955 Morgan +4
When I was a wee-one, I received a crash mobile as a Christmas present. It was about a 1/25th scale with the body parts attached to a spring-loaded frame so when the car, which looked like a mid to late ’50s domestic sedan, bumped into a table leg or a baseboard, the front bumper compressed, released the spring, and the parts when a-flyin’ – Big Fun! Well, that’s what this 1955 Morgan +4 reminds me of. As the old saying goes, “parts is parts” and this one looks more like a crash mobile after it has made contact with a stationary object. Located in East Hartford, Connecticut, this Morgan assemblage is available, here on Facebook Marketplace for $2,500. Thanks to Peter R for this discovery!
We’re told that the seller is letting this one go because his storage is being vacated. As to how long this Morgan has been owned, or any back story for that matter, nothing is revealed. Not exactly a common car, about 4,500 +4’s were produced over its twenty-year (’50-’69) model run. The +4 name/model has been revived several times and currently shows on Morgan’s website. This example is so dilapidated that it’s difficult to determine what’s present and what’s missing. Conceivably, this is nothing more than a parts car at this point.
The engine should be a 68 HP, 2.1 liter, Triumph, in-line, four-cylinder unit working through a four-speed manual transmission. From what is visible, it’s obvious that some parts are missing but the general gist, based on the motor’s appearance, is that it has been silent for many years – no word if it will turn over by hand.
When the most notable thing that you can say about a car’s interior is that some bank is looking for its “Drive-Through” sign, you know you’ve got problems. There’s just a tangle of detritus and it, along with the rest of this car’s forlorn appearance, portrays the likely result of parts poaching. The most obvious missing interior component is the instrument panel and dash, but there are no seats as well. Beyond this initial observation, who knows?
I suppose that maybe someone’s intention, long ago, was to perform a restoration on this two-seater. That endeavor got stalled and then various parts and items started walking away. Unfortunately, this car seems like a lose-lose proposition, a situation that should never befall a classic like a mid-fifties Morgan +4. This car is in atrocious condition, it’s advertised on a much less than optimal automotive selling site, and there are no details. But other than that…My suggestion? Let the parts poaching continue; what’s yours?
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Comments
What a mess…parts only maybe??
Looks like it’s been sitting outside for years
The dumpster is out back!!!
I think this one should be re-named as a “Morgan Minus”
I’m sure its worth the asking price just for some of the parts if you’re restoring one. There cant be too many of these lying around anymore. For the right person this is likely a gold mine of pieces
Looks a lot like my ’61 Plus 4 did when I bought it. Not for the faint of heart.
After a cash injection of $35-40k it would be a fun car with a great camaraderie of other Morgan owners, lots of smiles, and worth about $35k. The value is in the friends and adventures it introduces into your life.
These cars are mostly made of wood. So you probably have most of the metal parts right there. Just need a chainsaw, a couple Oak trees and get a table saw and a planer and you will do just fine… Termites were the biggest threat to the Morgan.
You, sir, are clueless… stick to your Chevys!
I love Morgans, great style. The wood would be the big concern, if it was somewhat intact this would be bargain, and still worth it for parts. Throw it together with a newre 4 or 6 cylinder and make a patina rod. Good thing I already have a LBC in my collection or I’d be very tempted.
Did one of those a few years back..
Well whoever buys this one needs to be really good at 3D puzzles should keep someone busy for a while
Seller should be asking a lot more. This is the unique 1955 +4 with a flat rear deck and a curved windshield.
Paul L,
You are so right. That windscreen is likely worth more than the asking price for the whole car.
The Morgan factory still offers many spare parts for the +4 cars, including complete wooden body assemblies, or individual wood pieces. Someone commented above about termites, but that’s not likely, as the wood was chemically treated when new.
In the 1980s and early ’90s I used to visit the factory, and when I conducted my British 1 and 2 week “Automobile and castle tours”, the Morgan factory was one of the places we visited. I used to correspond with Charles Morgan, the grandson of the founder, and now the guy in charge. The company has always resisted change, just for the sake of change.
Morgans in the 1950s were several stages up from a kit car. They were a fully engineered and assembled road vehicle that maintained a simplistic design concept that also allowed them to ship cars in kit form, to places with high vehicle importation taxes on complete cars.
I had a customer who owned a 1969 Morgan +4 in Barbados [the only one on the island], and it was imported as an unassembled kit to avoid the 162% import tax! I used to fly down to the island during the cold winter months in America, and work on his Morgan, while staying at his estate/villa.
As Paul pointed out, this is a fairly rare “flat back” version, and if someone can do most of the work on their own, this is a car worth bringing back. It’s not so far gone as to make it a parts car.
I found one even worse, missing more parts nearly 10 years ago in a DUMPSTER in Pendleton, Oregon. I pulled it out, found the owner who signed over the title and I made a quick $1500 flip so this may be priced right, a minor bargain.
Loved the sign restoration would sure drive through your bank account.
If it was close to me I’d buy it and investigate the cost to rebuild it. Always loved tge Morgan