24h Le Mans
The Morgan LM P2 of the 24 Hours of Le Mans runs on four wheels, but the company owes its existence to a vehicle whose weight rests on just three wheels.
In 1906, driven by his passion for cars, Henry Frederick Stanley Morgan (known as HFS) gave up a promising career in rail transport to open a motor repair workshop. A draughtsman by training, he could not resist the call of the drawing board on which he designed a three wheel car that although simple, was advanced for its time. With its air cooled front engine, it quickly raised local enthusiasm (Worcestershire) and then national interest when, in 1912, Harrods of London added it to their catalogue. Sales rocketed and continued until February 1952, when the last delivery, of more than 30,000 cars was made.
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| Photo : The Morgan Motor Company | Photo : The Morgan Motor Company | Photo : The Morgan Motor Company |
This was not however the end of the Morgan 3 wheeler, because sixty years later, the car that been condemned to history by affordable small cars such the Austin Seven and Ford Popular, is making its return in a more exclusive market at a price of €39,500. At that price, you can cheese from no less than 35,000 colours are available, including RAF green complete with roundels and all the trappings of a Spitfire. The slim tapered body has a total weight of just over 500 kg, which allows to combine 3 wheeler performance with energy conservation. In short, it is a machine that can still "draw pretty girls," as declared by Stirling Moss who owned one.
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| Photo : The Morgan Motor Company | Photo : The Morgan Motor Company | Photo : The Morgan Motor Company |
More than a century after the creation of the Three Wheeler, and while Rolls-Royce, Mini, Jaguar and Lotus have fallen into the hands of investors from Germany, India, Malayasia and China, the Morgan factory in Malvern remains steadfast. Each year, approximately 900 cars are assembled and finished by hand, as were all 50,000 cars in circulation around the world. This same values apply also to their investment in an endurance programme with a "made in France" LM P2 prototype (Oak Racing). On the 22nd of June, four Nissan powered Morgans will be at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and maybe even five with that of Morand Racing (first on the LMP reserve list).
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| Photo : Markus Berger / Oak Racing | Photo : Markus Berger / Oak Racing | Photo : DPPI / Oak Racing |
