Charming and thrilling in equal measure, albeit it with a small dose of frustration thrown in.
First, though, the positives, because when all is said and done they are what really stand out.
The engine is a belter. From the bark on start up to the roar at higher revs it makes a noise to set the hairs on the back of your neck upright, while the real world performance of 0-60mph in about 4.5sec does everything to be the equal of it. Roof down, revs up, there is little on the market that will put a wider smile on your face.
That six-speed manual also helps. It’s action, and that of the clutch, is very heavy, but that firmness and directness is a positive, lending the car a heft that takes getting used to but which complements the engine’s meaty performance once mastered.
The revised steering system is also a qualified success. The once uncertain feel of the all-electric system is gone, replaced by a more dependable, and hydraulically assisted, if not sparkling, set-up.
As for the rest of the car, it is hard not to applaud Morgan’s ability to mould old and new tech. That a car that looks like this and that is built around a wooden frame can also be fitted with ABS and airbags is praiseworthy. That it can meet modern legislation and retain such charm is a lesson to other car makers.
The Aero-derived chassis contributes to all-in car weight of around 1100kg before options. It is assembled from a kit of 32 panels, which are glued together and then riveted for extra strength, before being cured in a two-stage heating process. Those aluminium panels are then supported by an ash frame, which lends the car both its light weight and decent rigidity.
The end result is a chassis that has a more than reasonable balance. Corner hard and there’s a touch of initial understeer followed by a touch of oversteer. Even on Aero-sourced 19-inch wheels it rides acceptably.
Foibles? There are a few. A cloth roof introduces inevitable compromises, the door locks are near-pointless and a frustration to operate — and the fuel filler seems angled solely to provoke the automatic spillage cut-off to kick-in. For brief moments they can make you wonder why you’d spend more than £70,000 on such a car.
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Singer?
You think this is a lot "for a throwback"? What about a Singer 911 ? For this $ I would prefer a 4S Cabrio but would Love a Speedster.
i see an aircon botton on the
i see an aircon botton on the dash but where does the cold air come out from??
I want one!!!
It just looks so appealing!
I actually looked at 2nd hand prices and found a 35th anniversary 4.0 V8 going for £50k. It looked amazing with its wire wheels.