When H.F.S. Morgan began making cars in 1909 his first model was a three-wheeler: two wheels up front, the driving wheel at the rear. And that's the only kind of vehicle the factory manufactured until a four-wheeler was announced in 1935. Unlikely though it may seem, Morgan's three-wheeler was a great success. Available as a two-seater or four-seater, it was fun to drive and depending on which engine was fitted (the company used a variety of motorcycle-type engines) could be raced in competition. During a team event at Brooklands in 1933 a Morgan three-wheeler achieved a top speed of 102 mph!
One of its truly unique features was the placement of the V-twin engine. Though touring versions had theirs cowled like normal cars, the sporting models left them fully exposed which, of course, makes them instantly recogniseable. The car in our photo was one of three at the 2009 All British show in Vancouver and though there were dozens of conventional Morgans parked nearby, I found myself drawn to these eccentric automobiles, perhaps because I'd seen the spectacular Aptera electric car during the Desert Concours in Palm Springs, itself a three-wheeler and an indicator of the future.
The car in our photo is a 1934 Morgan Super Sports with a J.A.P. engine, owned by Ken Douch. It kicks off our coverage of the annual All British event, one of the best in North America. For today and for the next half-dozen blogs, I'll be showing you the British classics that attracted me most. Not an easy choice after more than 600 beautiful cars had driven onto the elegant lawns of Vancouver's Van Dusen Gardens. Meanwhile I'm off to Toronto for a week, visiting family and friends where, strangely enough, I had my first introduction to cars and car parts from "the old country," via the British Empire Motor Club.
Ain’t that beautiful!!! But if I was driving, the passanger would have to be Paris Hilton thin!
Philip, have you ever driven one. I’ve driven three-wheel Harleys, but never a two in front 3-wheeler.
May 18, 2009 @ 5:47 am