Morgan 3 Wheeler
When Dodge launched the current Challenger, many lambasted the company for shamelessly knocking off the old car’s design. But using a model from the 1970s as wholesale inspiration is a space-age move compared to Morgan’s 3-Wheeler, which debuted at the 2011 Geneva auto show.
The car, which would be a bit of a shock to see on the road these days, is a three-wheeled roadster with two up front and one in the back. The layout and styling are bang-on for the three-wheelers Morgan constructed from 1909 until 1952.
Like many of Morgan’s prewar cars, the 3-Wheeler is powered by a front-mounted V-twin motorcycle engine. This S&S-supplied powerplant is a bit more modern, though: It produces 115 hp, is fuel-injected, and is mated to a Mazda-sourced five-speed gearbox. The front wheels steer, the back wheel puts down the power, making Morgan’s creation literally “rear-wheel drive.” The company says that the chassis team worked on this relic of the Interbellum in parallel with their development of the company’s upcoming and very modern EvaGT. One figures it would have been pretty hard to get the projects mixed up.
To further enhance the retro styling, the 3-Wheeler features a green paint job reminiscent of a British Spitfire interceptor plane’s, the country’s World War II warhorse. It even includes a Royal Air Force roundel symbol—and yes, the RAF would paint words around them, just as the 3-Wheeler has its roundel incorporated into the Morgan “MOG” nickname. Twin exhaust pipes flank the car’s sides.
The 3-Wheeler’s interior is described as “leather-padded,” and sports centrally mounted, aircraft-inspired gauges. Naturally, as every Morgan is hand-built in Worcestershire, the company is happy to paint and trim your own 3-Wheeler however you like; a polished engine and a polished cowl, headlights, and rollover hoops are among the more pedestrian possible additions.
If this retro-fabulous roadster seems like it might be your bag, baby—it’s definitely ours—Morgan has great news: The 3-Wheeler has been approved for sale in the States. It’s estimated to cost £25,000 in the U.K., but since cross-Atlantic car pricing never goes strictly by exchange rates, we figure on an American MSRP of $40,000 or so. Of course, that’s if the car should actually make it here; we’ve got our fingers crossed and our goggles ready.
When Dodge launched the current Challenger, many lambasted the company for shamelessly knocking off the old car’s design. But using a model from the 1970s as wholesale inspiration is a space-age move compared to Morgan’s 3-Wheeler, which debuted at the 2011 Geneva auto show.
The car, which would be a bit of a shock to see on the road these days, is a three-wheeled roadster with two up front and one in the back. The layout and styling are bang-on for the three-wheelers Morgan constructed from 1909 until 1952.
Like many of Morgan’s prewar cars, the 3-Wheeler is powered by a front-mounted V-twin motorcycle engine. This S&S-supplied powerplant is a bit more modern, though: It produces 115 hp, is fuel-injected, and is mated to a Mazda-sourced five-speed gearbox. The front wheels steer, the back wheel puts down the power, making Morgan’s creation literally “rear-wheel drive.” The company says that the chassis team worked on this relic of the Interbellum in parallel with their development of the company’s upcoming and very modern EvaGT. One figures it would have been pretty hard to get the projects mixed up.
To further enhance the retro styling, the 3-Wheeler features a green paint job reminiscent of a British Spitfire interceptor plane’s, the country’s World War II warhorse. It even includes a Royal Air Force roundel symbol—and yes, the RAF would paint words around them, just as the 3-Wheeler has its roundel incorporated into the Morgan “MOG” nickname. Twin exhaust pipes flank the car’s sides.
The 3-Wheeler’s interior is described as “leather-padded,” and sports centrally mounted, aircraft-inspired gauges. Naturally, as every Morgan is hand-built in Worcestershire, the company is happy to paint and trim your own 3-Wheeler however you like; a polished engine and a polished cowl, headlights, and rollover hoops are among the more pedestrian possible additions.
If this retro-fabulous roadster seems like it might be your bag, baby—it’s definitely ours—Morgan has great news: The 3-Wheeler has been approved for sale in the States. It’s estimated to cost £25,000 in the U.K., but since cross-Atlantic car pricing never goes strictly by exchange rates, we figure on an American MSRP of $40,000 or so. Of course, that’s if the car should actually make it here; we’ve got our fingers crossed and our goggles ready.
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