Signature 1
Yes indeed, Roger. The wheels on
my 4-seater are the chrome ones shown in your photo. The tyres
are 195/60R15, whereas the narrower wheels are usually shod
with 165 R15, if my memory serves me right. Can't remember the
profile as I've never used them (75 or 80, I think, or
possibly the classic American 78, or all of the foregoing).
At the GTM's Vintage and Classic
day recently, we were able to see the differences, as there
were two narrow bodied 4/4s and my wide one. Mind you, it
doesn't stop there. Some years ago at a JockMog Autumn
weekend, we measured the differences between my 1988
wide-bodied car and a mid-90s +4, 4 seater. Although the
overall width was the same, the body tub (the tonneau, if you
want to be clever - 'tonneau' is French for 'tun' or 'tub', as
wine enthusiasts will know) was wider on the +4. This could be
because of the bulkier gearbox making a wider body desirable
so the driver's legs and feet fit. On the other hand, it may
have nothing whatsoever to do with it.
Standardization is not Morgan's
strong suit. Rather the opposite, in fact.
The width of +8s (not the latest
ones, about which I know next to nothing) varied from 4'9" to
5'9". Mine (2003 on alloys) is 5'4". The early 4.6 l. cars on
wide, 16" stainless wires were 5'9" and, when following one in
France in my 4/4, I concluded that its bum did, indeed, look
big, particularly in Connaught Green. On alloys, the width
was much less.
Now start looking at the distance
between headlights and cowl and the raised, mudguard part of
the wing, and you will go mad. I think that just depends on
which batch of wings they used at the time or the sense of
humour of the bloke making them. They've moved in, they moved
out (look at 80s +8s), they've been midway (see my 2003 +8).
Cheers,
Owen.
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Tuesday, August 07,
2012 9:26 AM
Subject: Re: [mogtalk2]
Hard Tops
As a general rule the easy way is
to look at the wheels; narrow-body cars have 5.5 inch wheels
with the outer row of spokes close to the outer rim, wide-body
cars have 6 inch wheels (same as +4) with a much deeper inset
to the outer row (photos attached which I hope I have made
small enough!). The hood rule only applies to later cars after
the fold-away factory hood arrived.
Roger
On 07/08/2012 08:31, e-mail colin.jones5857 wrote:
Hi Owen
When I was looking for another Morgan this spring I went
through this as I had seen a rather nice 4/4 at a dealer.
the dealer could not tell me if it was the wider or narrower
body tub, I tried again with another dealer and got very
conflicting information that there is no way to tell (did
not believe that) then it was nailed on the head by one
dealer who said 'its simple, look at the windscreen and
hood. If its a lift the dot on a 4/4 its a standard narrow
tub and if its an MMC quick fit hood its a wide tub as there
is only one width of windscreen and that's the clue to the
tub width'.....I have only checked it out on 2 cars and it
seems to make sense.
I bought a 2008 +4 in the end but measured a friends
similar era 4/4 with the later hood and sure enough between
the door latches there was 1/4" difference in the tub. Had
that information been available at the very first dealer I
would have bought the car he was selling as it was just what
I was looking for. Maybe he could not be bothered (and it
was the owner that I spoke to not a member of staff and not
a new dealer either!).
BR
Colin
