Smells Fishy: 1960 Morgan Plus 4 – SOLD!

November 7th, 2020 Update – The motivated seller deleted their latest listing for their rare Morgan and with no replacement ad found, we’re finally able to call this pretty Plus 4 “Sold!” This one got away, but if you have your heart set on something similar, email us the details of what you’re looking for or call Rudy directly at (908)295-7330

October 16th, 2020 Update – While preparing for our latest Sports Car Saturday features, we came across a new listing for this Morgan the private seller has been trying to unload since early September 2020.  While he’s keeping the price at the lower $38,900 (see below), the fact he’s moving to Mexico and asking for a personal check that needs to clear before he provides the title is likely scaring potential suitors away.

September 29th, 2020 Update – We called it about this motivated private seller.  He just lowered his asking price another $8,100 and now has his fully restored Morgan priced at $38,900, which is down a substantial $11,000 from where he started one month ago.  The only odd part about this listing is the seller’s willingness to accept a personal check over a certified one.  The seller is moving to Mexico and indicates he can’t take the car with him, so our only advice here is that we strongly encourage using an Escrow service to ensure neither party gets burned.

September 18th, 2020 Update – The private seller just lowered his asking price another $1,000 down to $47,000 for the second time in as many weeks.  It’s clear this private seller in the process of moving to Mexico is very motivated to sell his Morgan.  We’re started to smell a great deal to be had if you’re willing to negotiate with a realistic counter-offer.

September 9th, 2020 Update – Just five days after posting his Morgan for sale on Craigslist, the private seller already lowered his asking price $1,800 to an even $48,000. We suspect this motivated seller will continue lowering the price until a suitable buyer appears. Stay tuned!

A Mexican Stand-off typically refers to a confrontation in which no strategy exists where either party can win.  In this case, however, while the private seller of this beautifully restored Periwinkle Blue 1960 Morgan Plus 4 recently listed for sale on Craigslist in Somerset, New Jersey is forced to sell his Morgan due to him relocating to Mexico, the buyer will ultimately win out as it’s not very often we come across a vintage Morgan for sale in the U.S.  Originally asking $49,900, the motivated seller recently lowered his asking price $11,000 to the current request of $38,000.  When compared against the Hagerty Insurance Online Valuation Tool confirms this private seller now has his Plus 4 priced between the #2 “Excellent” estimate of $41,300 and the #3 “Good” estimate of $27,100.

Morgans are an elusive brand of motor car which sports car purists aspire to own at least once in their life to enjoy the quirks of the old world, wood-framed bodies.  With their inability (that is to say more like the Morgan Family’s unwillingness) for many years to certify their cars for U.S. export, these remain a very rare sight on this side of the pond.

Morgan Motor Company has been producing its famed Plus 4  for seventy non-continuous years.  The first production ran from 1950 to 1969. It was revived in 1985 and filled the gap between the 4/4 and the Plus 8 until 2000. Then in 2005 Morgan management revived it for 2005. Most recently, the company introduced a redesigned PlusFour introduced earlier this year.

Body styles available were two-seat sports, a more luxurious two or four-seat drophead coupé, and the 2+2 four-seater featured here.  While this vintage of Plus 4 relies on a Triumph running gear that’s still relatively easy to source, what’s even nicer to know is that Morgan will make you any other part you need for this car.  Yes, you may have to pay and wait, but they will do it for you.

Oddly, when researching to post a Morgan-related video, we first came across this brief walkaround post from 2016 we believe to be the same car currently featured in this post:

Anytime we can share a King Rose Archives link about a particular car, we find it worth the time to watch and enjoy. We hope you do too!

Opportunities to purchase a vintage Morgan Plus 4 are few and far between in the U.S., especially examples in the condition presented here.  Our biggest concern during our in-person inspection would be ensuring the ash wood frame remains structurally sound. As long as that and everything else checks out, we wish you good luck with the purchase!

Here’s the seller’s description:

“1960 Morgan Plus 4. Totally rebuilt from the ground up and maintained for years but rarely driven. A remarkable car mechanically and aesthetically. Inspect it, drive it, look under it, bring your mechanic.
Chrome wire wheels almost perfect, class 1 paint, heater, walnut dash, leather, new Dunlop tires, pristine tonneau, and side curtains. The top is excellent and fits the way it should. The motor and transmission totally rebuilt, stainless steel exhaust. Amazing to drive. You can find cheaper Plus 4’s but they would need $$$$ to even come close to this one, you may never find another one like this. Relocating to MX and cannot take it.
A personal check is okay. (No certified checks) When cleared you get the car with a clean NJ title. I can assist with shipping. Thanks“

Do you have a Morgan Plus 4 story you’d like to share?  Comment below and let us know!