Re: [mogtalk2] Hard Tops, now wheels and body widths

Tue, 07 Aug 2012 05:56:54 -0700

Where is bodywidth apparent?
 
Just my opinion, but It is in the wings, or more precisey  the piece between the wing and the cowl where it is easiest to see a difference - if you look at at that area on a a wider bodied car compared to a narrower model it is immediately apparent. If there are spotlights fitted the width is very apparent as there is more width on one side of the light
Richard M800RGN+8

From: Roger Tatton <[email protected]>
To: mogtalk2 <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, 7 August 2012, 11:36
Subject: Re: [mogtalk2] Hard Tops, now wheels and body widths
It all adds to the fun Owen.  Having had a good look at the new +8 at Donington it's about 9' 6" wide!!! 

The +4 always (well I'm talking M16 onwards really) had a frame narrower at the front than a +8 and wider than a 4/4, but was much wider at the rear (same as a +8 on alloys).  Never understood why as it meant having a whole new jig just for the +4 front.  The newer +4s now have the same frame front as the Roadster - a fairly recent change, my 2007 +4 is still arrow-shaped.

Roger


--
On 07/08/2012 11:10, Owen Jenkins wrote:
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
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