Highlights
- One of only around 100 produced
- Roadster Lightweight specifically created for the racetrack
- Only 17,141 miles from new
The Appeal
Replacing an intrinsic part of a Morgan, the engine, could have been seen as a misfire in the car's reputation, but the inclusion of the 3-litre Ford Duratec V6 engine gave the big Morgan something of a rebirth. The old Rover V8 certainly served its time and was amongst one of the most appreciated power plants in British motoring circles, but the new remapped V6, the same one that powered the Mondeo ST220 coupled up to a Jaguar 5-speed gearbox allowed Morgan to create a new legend. A compact unit that slotted into the gullwing bonnet with ease, the Roadster's unmistakable styling is indistinguishable from the original Plus 8.
The appeal of the Morgan Roadster goes way beyond the classic styling, it's in the way it drives, handles and the emotions of engaging in a back-to-basics sports car. And with those characteristics, Morgan set up producing a fully road-legal car specifically aimed at the racetrack. Crafted to compete in the Morgan challenge, the Roadster allows the best possible options for the Adrenaline junkie, a car for both track days and those summer evening blasts.
First registered in 2007, by renowned Morgan dealer Richard Thorne, the car was specifically built for the respected Classic car and racing specialists and has an impressive track day provenance. Kitted out with FIA-approved seats, harnesses, roll cage and fittings, it has been in the hands of several Morgan enthusiasts. Fitted with a standard tuned version of the Duratec V6 engine, it also comes with a hardtop, as well as a road pack. It also comes with three keys, a stack of Richard Throrne invoices, track day photos and 12 months MOT.
The History and Paperwork
- A race-ready road version of the Lightweight Roadster
- One of around 100 Lightweight Roadsters built
- Fully homologated and registered for road use
- Includes Road pack - full-length windscreen, passenger seat and harnesses
- 12 Months MOT
- Health check carried out in November 2022 by Morgan specialist Richard Thorne
- £1600 spent at the start of 2022, including a whole new clutch kit, flywheel, rear main seal, service and front springs
- Racing provenance in the Morgan Challenge Series and other events
- Over £12,000 worth of historical invoices
- A selection of historical MOTs
- Several professional track day shots of the car in action
- The owner has a history of racing Morgans
- Only selling due to a reoccurring injury
- Three keys
The Interior
- Tillett drivers race seat and padded Sabelt passenger seatbelt are both in good condition, although the driver seat FIA certification expires this year
- As a race car, the concessions to comfort are at a minimum, so no carpets or plush bits to worry about
- Detachable Sabelt 14” steering wheel
- Bespoke gear lever
- Sports ‘fly-off’ type handbrake
- Mild distortion was noted on the top of the padding of the dashboard
- All dials are legible
- Facia includes Smiths fuel, oil pressure, engine temperature and voltmeter instruments
- Switchgear in good shape
- All are said to be operational
- Dash-mounted cut-off switch
- FIA approved Fire extinguisher
The Exterior
- The chassis and underside structure looks solid
- Bulkhead, inner wings and suspension mount in good order
- Ash framework appears to be robust
- Aluminium body free of significant damage
- No observations of body distortion
- Wings and bonnet panels are free of significant dents with no observations of corrosion
- Doors open and close freely with good rubber seals
- Full-width quick-release windscreen and sliding side screens in good shape
- Racing screens also included
- Full-length tonneaux cover in excellent shape
- Glass fibre hard top free of significant marks, with a decent rear screen
- Hard top easy to remove and replace, with adequate sealing
- BMW Mauritius blue pearl body colour has even coverage with a decent lustre
- A light peppering of chips on the nose along with various minor surface blemishes collected from the circuits
- Lights and lenses in good shape
- Rain light is fully operational
- Chrome trim in good order
- FIA-approved roll cage with diagonal under scuttle roll-bar
- The 15” bolt-on alloy wheels are in good condition
- Its Yokohama Advan tyres have plenty of even tread
The Mechanics
- Standard-tune 3.0-litre Ford Duratec V6 quad-cam engine producing around 250 bhp
- Getrag Jaguar 5-speed gearbox
- The engine starts up readily with no drama, with no observations of warning lights remaining on
- Tick-overs evenly
- Said to drive smoothly, with no untoward engine noises
- Brakes and steers as it should
- Engine presentation is very tidy, with evidence of regular maintenance
- No reports of oil pressure or engine temperature issues
- Straight through sports exhaust with side pipe in decent shape
- The fuel pump was replaced in 2017, fuel gauge module replaced in 2019
- History of regular brake and tyre replacement
- Mylaps power transponder
Summary
Well-maintained, low-mileage Morgans always carry a premium, as their demand often exceeds the number available, so the chance to obtain a genuine limited edition lightweight Roadster, with FIA compliancy as well as road legal status shouldn’t be ignored. A perfect opportunity to get your teeth into track day racing or simply enjoy an authentically presented race-road car for those fair-weather journeys, whatever you chose to use it for, the outcome will never
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