THE MORGAN THE MERRIER
Adam Workman dons his driving gloves and puts a pair of timeless Morgan to the test.
What price kerb appeal? In most parts of the world, it’s a simple equation. Less so in a region where multi-million-dirham price tags won’t always attain the adulation you desire – after all, a day in Dubai without a Ferrari or Lamborghini sighting is about as rare as 24 hours without sunshine.
The Morgan Plus Four and Plus Six, however, may as well have been beamed down from the Planet Zod – couple comparatively small-volume sales with timeless looks, and what the British marque is selling here is less car, more petrol-powered happiness for all involved. The only complex facet to figure out: whether you or onlookers are deriving more enjoyment.
We start this two-headed test drive with the Plus Four – named for simplicity, the two cars’ numerical elements refer to the total cylinder count. It’s by far the more traditional of the two, and on the face of things seems to have changed little since the original models began production in the English rural enclave of Malvern in the 1950s.
What those iconic lines don’t tell you – or multiple excited passers-by who enquire about the car’s seemingly vintage age – is the modernity on offer. The gorgeous picture outside seems slightly at odds with the relative creature comforts provided inside, such as surprisingly icy AC. Sure, you won’t switch between a Mercedes and a Morgan without noticing, but you also aren’t stepping into a total time warp.
Classic style: The Morgan Motor Company provides a fitting antidote to mass-produced automotive manufacturing, bringing with it an exceptional mix of traditional craftsmanship and appropriate modern technology
Having grown accustomed to the Plus Four’s cheeky zip, the Plus Six’s inline six-cylinder is a frankly mighty propellant, lending 335bhp (80bhp more than its counterpart) to a car with a measly dry weight of 1,114kg. The other chief difference here is the hard top – not transportable in the car when removed – versus the Plus Four’s fold-back soft top. On or off, though, the driving experience from inside the cockpit is vastly different, as you hit 100kph in 4.2 seconds, likely while screaming with glee. It all betrays that the Plus Six’s genesis was about 70 years later than its younger sibling.
Sunburn becomes a regular hazard – but that’s kind of the point.
Established in 1909: Passed down through generations, the same craftsmanship skills that were integral during the founding of the Morgan Motor Company in 1909 are as alive today as they have ever been.
Yes, there are a bunch of impracticalities to both cars – entering or exiting will test your limbo skills, while sunburn becomes a regular hazard – but that’s kind of the point. Indeed, atop a list that includes the Bugatti Chiron, countless supercars and a bunch of rapid two- seaters from the Lotus Evora to Dodge’s fearsome Viper, the Morgan Plus Four and Plus Six might be the most fun I’ve ever had in the driver’s seat. And that’s without adding in the sheer unbridled smiles and rabid attention they inspire after you park.
