You know it’s an all-new 2011 model because of the fancy computer-generated press shots, but otherwise would you have any idea that this is the 2011 model-year Morgan three-wheeler? Yes, the wackiest of British cottage sportscar shops has dusted off its old three-wheeler designs and is bringing the model back after a 58-year hiatus. InsideLine says the new version will offer 100 HP from a Harley “Screaming Eagle” engine and will weigh a mere 1,100-lbs, giving it an estimated 4.5 second 0-60 time. Of course, it will have to be homologated as a motorcycle thanks to the missing wheel, and there’s no word on price or American availability. Still, it seems to have retained the most important quality of its predecessor, namely that it is, as Sir Stirling Moss once put it,
a great babe magnet
Pick on me if you want, but I like it and might purchase depending on price.
No picking-on here. That thing is way, way cool.
There are plenty of trikes around these days. This year I noticed more of them on my summer travels than normal bikes, and most of them were still towing a trailer, to boot.
Ooooh that looks cool. Nothing like a bit of bare metal retro to get the inspirational juices flowing.
from the rear it looks like some sort of beetle.
I want to know how tippy it is.
Of course, 100 hp on 1,100 lbs is bound to be zippy
Does this SCCA know about this?
Also: Moar Wood!
What’s wrong? Only that’s it’s a CGI on a website and not a reality in my garage. Looks like a hoot.
The problem with the picture: That vehicle should either have 2 wheels or 4, but not 3.
That’s awesome ! Hrundi V. Bakshi (Peter Sellers’ character in “The Party”) drove the original Morgan that this is based on.
Those are made in Seattle by the same guy that builds the “Liberty” sidecar. The are on his web-site. He sold the rights to Morgan, but kept some for the US market.
I found a link: http://cycle-car.com/specifications.htm Thanks Harleyrider!
Here’s an article from the late, great Henry Manney III about a Morgan concours:
http://www.morgancars-usa.com/moggies1.html
Enjoy!
It’s air cooled but it has a faux radiator.
God, I hope it’s more reliable than the CanAm Spyder!
Looks like it has the styling and creature comforts of a fairground bumper car. With a Harley engine? I guess I don’t get it?
A Harley engine? In a Morgan?
I say, ol’ chap that’s just not proper!
Quite so. It should be JAP engine.
Not sure why, but I love any vehicle that has the front wheels pushed out in front of the front end (negative overhang?).
I’m with you, Doc. Negative overhang is one of my favorite things.
Speaking of Sterling Moss, I highly recommend his book, ‘All But My Life’. He’s no Hemingway, but it’s a bracing, honest read.
On-topic with the book and the article: he mentions a discussion with a friend about a magazine photo of him and another driver. It’s captioned something like, “Mr. Moss discusses setups with blah blah…”. The friend asked how they knew what he’d been saying, and Modd replied that they didn’t – he was actually “[talking about] crumpet”.
‘Crumpet’ in this context is apparently a British equivalent of “poontang” or similar.
Ugh, why did they have to choose such a crude internal combustion engine to power the thing?
How better to evoke 1928?
I’m intensely curious how they’re planning on getting 100hp out of a harley lump and actually warranting it.
I’m intensely curious how they’re planning on getting 100hp out of a harley lump and actually warranting it.
The 100 hp number is at the wheel. So, I’m assuming the engine is still producing the factory stock 123 hp at the crank and no de-tuning is involved.
I was loving this idea until I saw the price. $48,000 for a toy seems likely to mean that this will only end up being a 5th or 6th car for someone. Might as well get an Elise.
I think I’d rather have a can-am spyder or maybe a goldwing. That thing is fuuuuuuugly