The Classic Sale at Silverstone 26th & 27th August 2022

118 The Classic Sale at Silverstone - Cars Registration: DXB141 GP Chassis No.: 1PD24512J Estimate: £70,000 - £90,000 Lot 434 1965/2012 Morgan Plus 4 Plus • The late owner of Number 27 of 26 was a British National with a property in Henley-on-Thames but was resident in South Africa. He was a Morgan enthusiast, well known in the racing/classic car community and it appears that he was considering a Morgan project and through his UK contacts was aware of the existence of the only remaining spare Plus 4 Plus bodyshell after EB Ware had burnt down. With the assistance of Morgan guru, Melvyn Rutter, the bodyshell was purchased for £20,000 with no engine/gearbox/running gear, crated and shipped to South Africa along with a £6,500 catalogue of parts. At the same time a 1965 Morgan +4 was purchased in South Africa to use as a donor car to provide the engine, gearbox, steering, instruments and suspension. The donor car’s details are also confirmed by the Morgan Sports Car Club South Africa in 2013 including photos. To assist the car’s registration, the MSCC Historic Register provided the data on chassis numbers, engine numbers and body numbers. A new chassis was also sourced from Melvyn Rutter, along with a front scuttle, inner wings and a fuel tank. Within this batch of parts was a new back bumper and over-riders, both made from brass, a sympathetic upgrade as the originals were chromed fibreglass and additionally a full engine rebuild was undertaken along with refurbished gearbox, suspension and other essential parts. There is a good amount of correspondence between the late vendor and various Morgan clubs and owners to ensure maximum accuracy was achieved with the new Plus 4 Plus. One of the only, if not the only deliberate variation from the original Plus 4 Plus was the replacement of the period bucket seats with more deeply upholstered, semi-bench items from a later car in order to maximise comfort. There is a significant history file accompanying this handsome Morgan with invoices comfortably clearing £20,000 in parts and machine work, excluding the initial outlay of £26,500 for the bodyshell and first batch of parts. Built to an exceptionally high standard, our vendor was a true Morgan enthusiast with a meticulous eye for detail, and clearly spent an enormous amount of time ensuring the car is as true to the original as was possible. It was featured on the front cover of the Morgan Sports Car Club Magazine in November 2018 and Classic Car South Africa in May 2018. Having spent most of its life upon completion in South Africa, the cosmetic condition of the car is very good, the British Racing Green paintwork presents well and the tan leather interior appears fresh with green carpets and a Moto- Lita wood-rim wheel. Sitting on silver-painted wire wheels it’s a good looking car, a loveable oddball. It’s believed that only 8 of the original 26 remain in the UK. Number 27 of 26 is a unique example of a very rare model and we feel is sensibly guided - there will not be another one. Please note that the car comes with a South African RC1, is on temporary bond, and unregistered in the UK so there is a £150 fee to take it off temporary bond, and if it is to stay in the UK Import duty is payable at 5% of the hammer price including premium, and £50 registration fee. This rare Plus 4 Plus is effectively number 27 out of 26 being privately built, post-production, around an unused original bodyshell and a new chassis provided by Morgan. Very well built and sensibly guided taking into account its unusual provenance. More Details Lot 434 Bid On Lot 434