What's not to like about hand-built cars using old world craftsmenship? That was my thought as we toured the Morgan Motor Company (
₤15 per person). Morgan has been building cars by hand since 1914. Today, it produces vehicles of various styles and powertrains that range from $50,000 (3 wheeler) to over $200,000 USD. Morgan cars continue to be built in the original factory buildings on Pickersleigh Road, in Malvern, UK. Malvern is about an hour from Chipping Camden. The skilled craftsmen are dedicated to their work and several have 50+ year careers with Morgan.
The 3 wheeler would be a kick to drive. 0-60 in 4.5 seconds, a top speed of 125mph from a 2,000cc v-engine and only 1,000 pounds.
Here is a video of Jay Leno driving a Morgan 3 Wheeler.
The tour takes visitors into various building areas, including the:
- chassis shop, where you can see the steel or aluminum chassis being built up with engines, transmissions and electrical components.
- woodshop, where ash wood frame components are added to the vehicles.
- tin shop, where aluminum skins are hand finished and used to cover the ash frame pieces.
- paint shop, self explanatory.
- trim shop, where leather interior and hood (convertible top) are installed.
- pre-delivery inspection, where cars are road tested, polished and prepared for shipping.
As with most excursions, the tours at the museum and gift store. You can even day hire a Plus4 or Three Wheeler at the Visitors Center.
I've toured a Ford F150 manufacturing plant and the differences between the two plants are like night and day. The Morgan plant is completely opposite to a high volume assembly line and the exacting construction methods and skills are clear. In fact, it was mentioned that one bonnet (hood) from one car may not fit another car as it has been custom fitted to a specfic vehicle during the build process.
The Morgan Visitors Center also hosts a cafe. We had a light lunch there before continuing our drive through the Cotswolds. Due to the wet weather (the first day of heavy rains we've experienced in the UK on the trip), we decided to head back early to our B&B.
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| Chassis shop - © 2015, R. Ono |
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| © 2015, R. Ono |
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| © 2015, R. Ono |
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| Tin shop detail - fine tuning is done by hand mallet, © 2015, R. Ono |
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| Trimwork, © 2015, R. Ono |
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| © 2015, R. Ono |
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| © 2015, R. Ono |
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| Aluminum cladding on ash wood frame, © 2015, R. Ono |
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| © 2015, R. Ono |
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| © 2015, R. Ono |
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| Leather interior hand installed, © 2015, R. Ono |
Paint shop, © 2015, R. Ono
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| © 2015, R. Ono |
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| Almost ready for final preparation and inspection, © 2015, R. Ono |
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| In preparation for delivery, © 2015, R. Ono |
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