Signature 1Yes 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 -----
From: Roger Tatton
To: mogtalk2
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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