Jan 17, 2020  •  For Sale  •  8 Comments

Rare 3-Wheeler: 1934 Morgan Super Sports

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The Morgan Super Sports 3-Wheeler was a car that seemed to strike a chord with many people. So much so that even though production of the original Super Sports ended in 1937, Morgan chose to revive the car with a modern interpretation in 2011. This particular 1934 model has been partially restored, but it now needs someone to complete the process. Located in Wylie, Texas, you will find the Morgan listed for sale here on eBay. This quirky British classic could be yours with a BIN price of $48,000. If that seems a bit steep for you, then you could always take a chance by making an offer.

The first thing that you notice about the Morgan is that it has about 25% fewer wheels than we have come to expect on the majority of our classic cars. This was a common theme with Morgans, and even though the company commenced manufacturing in 1911, its first 4-wheel offering didn’t appear until 1936. This particular Super Sports started its life dressed in Bright Red paint. At some point, it received a repaint in orange, but it has recently received another repaint. This has returned it to its original Bright Red once again. The owner states that this was completed to a high standard, and it certainly looks good. There are no signs of any dings or dents in the car, while the owner says that the timber inner structure for the body is in good condition, with no evidence of rot. The wheels appear to have been freshly finished in contrasting cream, while the external trim and chrome looks very nice. The Super Sports does have something vaguely resembling a windshield, but this only provides limited protection from buffeting and rain when out on the road.

Technically speaking, the Morgan is actually a 2-seater. However, if, like me, you happen to be what I would refer to diplomatically as “heavier-set,” then you will definitely require a fairly lightweight companion. There isn’t a lot of room to maneuver inside the vehicle, particularly once the driver begins to wrestle with the shifter. The interior of this one appears to be in good condition. The upholstery on the seat looks to be fairly new, while the timber dash would just be classed as okay. The timber isn’t original, and if a high standard is to be maintained, I would probably attempt to source a replacement from Morgan, as they still do make them today. There are a couple of switches missing from the gauge cluster, but this is due to the fact that the Morgan doesn’t have any electrical wiring fitted at this stage. There is a pretty substantial collection of parts included in the sale, and I believe that all of the required components will be found in that lot.

Being a classic British sports car, the Morgan is front-engined and rear-wheel-drive. In this case, the engine is a 1,096cc JAP V-Twin engine, producing a quite healthy 40hp. The engine is mounted well forward of the front axle and radiator and can be prone to damage in an accident. The engine’s power finds its way to the single rear wheel via a 3-speed rear-mounted manual transmission. The transmission is actually mounted just below and to the rear of the seat, and from there, the power is fed to the wheel by a chain. The Super Sports isn’t numbers-matching, with the engine having been replaced at some point. This engine doesn’t currently run, and the owner has made no attempt to coax it into life. However, these are a simple and robust unit, and getting it running shouldn’t be particularly difficult. Once again, the Morgan comes with a wide array of parts, and it looks like there will be plenty of pieces that should allow it to return to active duty. Driving one of these little classics does take some expertise. There are only two pedals, with the driver’s left foot operating the clutch, and their right operating the brake for the single rear wheel. Throttle operation is by a thumb lever mounted on the right side of the steering wheel, while a lever on the left of the wheel controls the ignition advance. Performance isn’t stunning, but a healthy Super Sports can be coaxed to a top speed of 71mph.

The Morgan Super Sports is definitely quirky and different. This one looks to be in good condition, and it appears as though it could be revived in a home workshop. It isn’t a cheap project vehicle, but fully restored examples can easily fetch prices of around $60,000. Leaving values aside for a moment, there is a fairly good chance that if you displayed this at a Cars & Coffee, it would potentially be the only one there.

Comments

  1. Ralph
    Jan 17, 2020 at 8:14pm

    Perfect for your arrival at The Party….birdee num nums are optional……

    Like 4
    • geomechs geomechsMember
      Jan 18, 2020 at 10:24am

      I was just thinking of Peter Sellers and that zany movie. I loved his car…

      Like 4
  2. KEVIN L HARPER
    Jan 18, 2020 at 5:55am

    I like it but in this PC world I would probably get crucified when I tried to describe the JAP engine, that is almost as bad as my KKK turbochargers on my Porsche. Oh well I better get in my studebaker dictator and leave.

    Like 8
  3. geomechs geomechsMember
    Jan 18, 2020 at 10:29am

    I was at a local corner biker hangout/repair shop in Great Falls about 35 years ago when we heard the unmistakable sound of a V-twin approaching. All of us knew that it was NOT a typical Harley Davidson but we were amazed to see a Morgan in British Racing Green livery speed past. I never saw the machine again, nor has anyone of my friends and acquaintances in Great Falls. We were close enough to see that it didn’t run the J.A.P. engine but a Matchless V-Twin, which I understand to be a common powerplant in a Morgan. I would love to pick this car up but it would depend entirely on how I fare out with the lottery tonight…

    Like 2
    • Dickie F.
      Jan 19, 2020 at 2:12am

      Speaking about the lottery prize money – what is the price of a new 3 wheel Morgan? (If they are still available) because I imagine the character of the original is largely duplicated in the last one made?
      I am classic car crazy, but the least grease I need to shovel and the more I can drive, the better the car.

      Like 2
      • MikeH
        Jan 21, 2020 at 8:58am

        When I priced them when they came out, they were a little north of 50K.

        Like 0
  4. Chas H
    Jan 18, 2020 at 4:48pm

    There is considerable clearance between rocker arms and valve stems meaning some valve train parts are missing- could be other internal parts missing as well.
    Rear wheel is at a bad angle, meaning more stuff broken or missing. The BIN price is excessive and the seller should be more up front with discrepancies.

    Like 1
  5. chrlsful
    Jan 19, 2020 at 6:25pm

    some guy drove 1 thru the rush hrs in Boston in the ’60s. It wuz small enuff he broke the law and went in the non lanes to skip the traffic. Shortly after we started seein another – Messerschmidt. For some reason the Isettas never pulled this. Seemed like there were 2 or 3 of the Isetta 3000 (or wuz it 1000?). Y were they more polite?

    Like 0

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