1,115cc Coventry Climax Inlet-Over-Exhaust Valve Inline-4 Cylinder Engine
Single Solex Carburetor
35bhp at 4,500rpm
4-Speed Meadows Manual Transmission
Coil Spring with Sliding Pillar Front and Sallisbury Live Axle with Leaf Spring Rear Suspension
4-Wheel Drum Brakes

*From the first year of 4-wheel Morgan production
*One of only 142 1936 4/4s built
*Exquisitely documented history since the 1950s
*Lovely, usable condition

THE MORGAN 4/4

An island of constancy in an automotive sea of change, the Morgan Motor Company looks set to continue building its unique Vintage-style cars well into the 21st Century. Indeed, the Morgan 4/4 is the world's longest running production vehicle, today's version being recognizably the same car as its 1936 forebear and none the worse for that as the ever-lengthy waiting list would seem to confirm. After formative years spent in the drawing office of the Great Western Railway, engineer H.F.S. Morgan progressed to automobile manufacture, showing his first three-wheeled car at Olympia in 1910. The first four-wheeled Morgan appeared in 1936 powered by Coventry Climax's four-cylinder, inlet-over-exhaust engine. Two years later a special Climax-engined sports model competed at Le Mans, qualifying for the Biennial Cup. A special Standard 1,267cc overhead-valve four-cylinder engine was introduced for the 1939 season and would continue to power the 4/4 model to 1950. Reintroduced with Ford 100E power in 1955 after a five-year hiatus, the 4/4 was regularly updated with more modern engines and currently is powered by the 1.6-liter Ford Sigma unit.

THE MOTORCAR OFFERED

One of only 900-or-so of its type built pre-war—and 142 built in 1936, this historic early 4/4 was supplied new to Caernarvon County with registration mark JC 3864 on December 1, 1936, its subsequent history being unknown April 1959 when its first listing appears in its Buff Logbook as being owned by on John Roden in the UK. A series of five owners would follow until the last stamp on the Logbook showed the car to be Clive Michael Perry of Malvern, Worchester at the end of May in 1969. Clive had purchased the car in that year from one George Anthony Peter Kireley for the princely sum of £50 – but photos contained in the copious records on the car show it to be in a rather sorry state by that point. Appearing to have been stored outside for much of the 1960s, it was mostly devoid of its original interior and is shown with its radiator leaning against the right front fender. It would be another decade before a restoration was begun in earnest, with photos showing the car coming together beginning in September of 1980. By the spring of 1982 the car was once again showing like new and an active participant at English tours and shows. Photos show the car getting judge on the field of the Walton Hall Concours in July of '82 and only two years later careening on the grass around haybales at the 75 Years of Morgans Production Car Trial at Dobshill Farm. In the years that followed, s/n 096 would find its way to the track in a number of vintage races and hill climbs. An engine and carburetor rebuild would come in July of 1986.

Clive Perry would retain the 4/4 for decades. In 2006 is was the poster car for Morgans at Mallory celebrating 70 years of four-wheel Morgans and it would further grace Morgan's own advertising when the company debuted the exclusive 70th Anniversary Edition of the 4/4.

The current owner acquired the car early last year and upon receipt of it here in the Northeast sent it to Brooklands Engineering Works in Stratford, Connecticut for a thorough mechanical service at a cost of over $9000 in July of 2016. The car is reported to be a strong runner and a very enjoyable driver.

Four wheel pre-WWII are rarely ever seen—and to find a first year example is all that much rarer. Complete with a thick file of history including photo records going back to the 1960s, old UK Logbooks, tax discs, and MOTs, as well as recent service records, this lovely machine is no doubt a special opportunity that is not to be missed!