Three-wheeled vehicles were classified as a motorcycles in Britain, so owners could avoid road taxes. The Morgan was low to the ground and weighed only about 850 pounds. With its crank-start water-cooled Matchless V-twin engine, it could go up to 80 miles per hour.
According to Jay Leno, who owns one, 80 mph in a Morgan is like 180 in any other car. Check out Leno’s video, which is a lot of fun.
Jay Leno's Garage Video
Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome
We see him in Cars III :)
ReplyDeleteLove it James. I'm not particularly a "gear head" but you make me appreciate the personality of machines like this. It's just great the way you infuse character into this car.
ReplyDeleteThe Jay Leno link is broken - I get a 404.
ReplyDeleteJames,
ReplyDeleteHere's a good link to the video: http://www.jaylenosgarage.com/at-the-garage/antiques/1932-morgan-three-wheeler/
Thanks, Mr. C. Hopefully the link works now.
ReplyDeleteTom, I'm not a gear head either, obviously, but sketching that beautiful old car made me a real fan of it. It had rust spots on the canvas canopy, a flat tire, and a fair bit of rust---not a beauty, but it looked like it could talk.
Scorchfield--who knows, maybe so. A three wheeler would be fun to animate.
It reminds me of the car Mr.Bean was always harassing, another English 3 wheeler.
ReplyDeleteIn contrast to their Triumph Thunderbird with sidecar, I think that's one motorcycle the Two Fat Ladies may not be able to ride.
ReplyDeleteExcellent watercolor. It really looks like a "portrait".
ReplyDeleteAwesome ! Love Morgan wheel wheelers, they're actually releasing some new ones this year. Always reminds me of home as the factory is not far from my house and Mr Morgan as he was known lived in my village until he passed away. Really nice image captures the character of the machine!
ReplyDeleteLove the picture, it takes me back to my child days. There were quite a few three wheelers in South London.
ReplyDeleteThe main reason for their popularity was that an unqualified driver could drive on their own. In a four wheeled vehicle, they had to have a qualified driver with them.