• Chassis # B1267
  • Engine # K 2564 B23
  • 1 Of Just 270 Competition Models Produced From 1963-1968
  • Less Than 300 Miles On A Freshly Rebuilt Engine
  • Nicely Restored And Very Well Maintained
  • Includes Original Top, Original Tonneau Cover, Service Docs, And Restoration Photos
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The Overview

The Morgan Motor Company was founded in 1910 during the early days of motoring. In these infantile years, inventors and manufacturers alike were still battling to find the golden standard of what a car should be. Henry Fredrick Stanley Morgan, the companies founder, took some very different approaches to automobile construction that still live on to this day. For the first 26 years of the companies existence all of their offerings consisted of only 3 wheels. They also used wood heavily in the structural makeup of their cars, a process that was carried all the way through today where they still use wood for framing the body shell.

It wasn’t until 1936, with the introduction of the aptly named open two-seater 4/4, that they introduced their first 4 wheeled offering which was powered by an inline 4-cylinder engine. Building off the success of the two-seater version, a four-seater offering was introduced in 1937, followed by a drop-head coupe in 1938. Production of the 4/4 was put on hold after the outbreak of WWII in 1939 and began again in 1946 shortly after hostilities in Europe drew to a close. By 1950, approximately 1,720 hand-built series 1 Morgan 4/4s had rolled off the assembly line. Throughout the late 1950s and into the early 1960s the 4/4 underwent a number of various small changes that were introduced in varying “series” of the relatively same car. In February 1963, the series V was introduced. This version used a 1.5L Ford Cortina engine (producing 65 bhp) which was mated to a Ford four-speed gearbox. It was during this series V run of cars that Morgan introduced the Competition model. While not specifically meant for racing, it was certainly more race friendly with the addition of top louvers to the bonnet to aid in cooling, a tachometer in the dash, and most importantly a more powerful engine thanks to a weber carburetor replacing the stock soles unit. It is believed that roughly 270 Competition models were produced during the series V run which lasted until 1968 before the 1600 series of cars was introduced. The Morgan 4/4 has proven itself throughout the years as a lightweight and nimble, “true drivers” type of automobile. Except for the short disruption during WWII, Morgan 4/4’s have stayed in production from 1936 all the way up to today, where you can visit Morgans website and order a brand new 4/4 in any trim you desire.

The example on offer here, chassis number B 1267 and engine number K 2564 B23, is a 1967 Morgan 4/4 Competition. It was originally finished in Blue with natural leather trim but currently wears a red finish that compliments the lines of the vehicle very nicely. According to the included Morgan Chassis Record, the car was originally fitted with the following options:

  • Chrome wire wheels
  • Extra spotlight
  • Defroster
  • Whitewall tires
  • Bonnet strap
  • Heater
  • Wood rimmed steering wheel
  • Bucket Seats
  • 2 wing mirrors
  • Luggage carrier
  • Door pockets
  • Temperature gauge

Chassis 1267 left the factory on April 27, 1966, and was originally consigned to Fergus Motors in New York and sold to its first owner who is unknown. In 1970, the car was purchased by Ted Burkett of Haverford, Pennsylvania who owned the car until 1995 when the current owner and consignor purchased the vehicle. At the time of his purchase, the Morgan had 48,337 miles on the odometer. In 1996 the car was treated to a ground-up restoration performed by Madden and Ryan in Radnor, Pennsylvania. The restoration included the re-skinning of sheet metal, new wood treated with Cuprinol at the sills and door frame, a full re-paint, new interior, new front suspension, steering box, exhaust system, and replacing hoses amongst many other things. Documentation and photos from the restoration can be found below in the documents section. At various times since purchasing the car in 1995, the owner has had the starter motor, water pump, clutch and radiator replaced and the transmission was refreshed which included replacing the synchros/gears. In 2002 the engine was refreshed by David Tidd and new valves, pistons, and more stout camshaft were used and there is currently on 300 miles on the engine since. In 2004 the car was accepted and displayed in the Radnor Hunt Concours d’Elegance. The car currently wears a set of Vredesteiner classic tires which were installed in 2010. Currently, the odometer reads 50,867 which is believed to be the correct mileage, backed up by the nicely organized chain of ownership. As it sits today, this Morgan 4/4 Competition remains in excellent condition both cosmetically and mechanically and would make the perfect car to drive and enjoy and could even shown and displayed in various lower level Concours events.

Included with the sale of the car is the original top and tonneau cover, available service records, as well as photos of the restoration.

The Details

exterior

body and paint

This Morgan 4/4 was originally finished in Blue but during the thorough restoration in 1996 the current owner and consignor decided to paint the car in the Red color that it wears today. Despite the restoration being performed in the mid-’90s the quality of the paint has held up very nicely. There are a few very minor scrapes in the paint, such as a small spot on the top of the rear passenger wheel arch as well as a small ding on the edge of the driver's side door, but overall the entire car retains a smooth and consistent finish with excellent color. One area of note is the gas filler which has developed a considerable crack in the paint around the base of the filler. The body itself is straight and tidy with no signs of prior bad repair work or bad metal. The body gaps are all respectable and the doors open and close as they should with no sag. If a critical opinion was taken to the car, the gap between the bottom edges of the bonnet flaps and the fenders could possibly be adjusted to sit a bit tighter but the bonnet seals well and looks good.

glass and trim

The headlights are covered with chromed rock guards which have kept the glass clean and clear. The Lucas driving lamps show some very minor pitting from normal road use but remain in good condition. During our testing of the car, it appears that the headlights are currently inoperable, however, we will be investigating this further. The windshield contains clean and clear glass along with bright and smooth chrome trim around the edges. The chrome throughout the car is very presentable although the bumpers do show some minor scuffing and scratching in the finish. Rubber trim appears supple and shows good color. The only real area of note is the rubber trim around the base of the rear taillights which does appear dry and cracking although it does appear to be structurally sound still. The leather straps that hold the bonnet in place are cracking and separating and should be replaced before any serious driving is undertaken.

wheels

The chrome wire wheels are in good driver quality condition. The finish is bright and consistent, however, there is some very minor surface corrosion developing around the base of some of the spokes, etc. The knock off center caps are bright and show only minimal signs of use.

notable flaws

There is a section of cracked paint around the base of the fuel filler neck, as well as a few very minor paint chips. The leather strap the secures the bonnet is cracked and tearing and will need to be replaced before any serious driving is undertaken. The headlights currently appear inoperable but we will be investigating this further.

interior

seats and surfaces

The interior is very nicely trimmed with tan leather throughout. While the seats and some surfaces do show signs of use, the interior as a whole remains clean and tidy. The leather door cards fit nicely, with no pulling or sagging. There is a bit of scuffing on the driver's side sill from normal entry and egress. The seats show some signs of use in the form of natural creasing and folding however they retain excellent color and tight, solid stitching. The ribbed floor mats are all in good condition showing minimal wear. The wooden dash retains a smooth finish with excellent color. There is some flaking of the paint on the black painted section of the dash that houses the switches and the ignition but nothing that takes away from the overall appearance of the interior.

functionality and accessories

The doors fit very nicely and open and close with ease. The wood-rimmed steering wheel is in good condition with a clean rim and bright spokes that do show a bit of patina in their finish. During our brief testing, it appears that all the gauges work with the exception of the temperature gauge which was not reading at the time. Both the shifter as well as the emergency brake work as they should. The current owner and consignor fitted a set of M&R 4-point racing harnesses into the car which are dated July of 1996, coinciding with the time the restoration was completed. They were nicely installed and function well however the dating on them is technically a bit old.

notable flaws

It appears that the engine temperature gauge is currently inoperable.

engine bay and trunk

engine bay

The engine of this 4/4 was rebuilt by David Tidd less than 300 miles ago and as such, the engine bay as a whole appears in tidy condition. Components appear relatively new throughout. Hoses, wires, and tubing all appear in good cosmetic and mechanical condition. The headers are heat wrapped very nicely. Painted surfaces in the engine bay area appear smooth and consistent however there is some very minor surface corrosion on the top of the block where it meets the valve covers.

Underside

The underside of the car appears in well kept, driver quality condition. There is some minor road dirt accumulation but for the most part, everything is clean and tidy. The wooden floorboards and other underside pieces are dry and clean and show no signs of an issue. There is some minor surface corrosion forming on the chassis where the master cylinders are mounted. All mechanical components appear in good condition both cosmetically and mechanically.

mechanicals

engine

The engine has only 300 miles on it since it was rebuilt and remains in excellent mechanical order. The car fires to life with a quick turn of the key and a bit of choke. The idle settles out smoothly once the engine temperature begins to rise. Out on the road, the inline 4-cylinder makes good power and rev’s out nicely. During our brief testing, it did not appear that there were any stumbles or misses during acceleration and the car pulled nicely throughout the gears.

transmission

Shifting the 4 speed on this car takes a bit of getting used to as you are essentially pushing and pulling the car into its gears rather than moving a lever back and forth. However, the transmission moves smoothly through the gears and holds power perfectly. The clutch take-up is spot on with good feedback and solid pickup.

brakes and suspension

The brake pedal is a bit firm with what feels like a short amount of travel but the brakes do bring the car to a smooth and controlled stop with no issues to note. The suspension feels responsive and lively. It transmits the feedback from the road surface very well and provides a light and nimble driving experience.

tires

The tires are currently Vredestein Spring Classics on all four corners. According to the current consignor they were put on the car in 2010. They retain plenty of tread and appear to be free from any issues.

driving experience

Sometimes it is better to not change something that works incredibly well and this is certainly the reason that Morgan 4/4 has been in production now for over 70 years. This little 2 seat roadster provides everything that you could want from a small, open-top British roadster. While not their most powerful offering, the Morgan 4/4 allows the driver to push the limits of the car in a safe and playful manner. The engine rev’s out beautifully and the chassis provides a kinetic like, connection to the road. This particular 1967 Morgan 4/4 is special in that it is 1 of approximately 270 Competition models produced during the Series V run of cars. The addition of the weber carburetors, the dash-mounted tach, as well as the louvered bonnet top, really helps to bring this little British roadster alive. As it sits today, this 4/4 has been lovingly restored, maintained properly, and currently needs very little except a new driver behind the wheel.