1966 Morgan Plus 4 Plus Coupé

• One of only 26 made
• Left-hand drive
• Present ownership since 2008
• Partially restored

Introduced in 1950, the Standard Vanguard-engined Plus 4 represented a major step forward in the evolution of the Morgan sports car. Although the traditional chassis layout was retained - what else would one expect from Morgan? - the frame underwent extensive alteration, gaining in both wheelbase and track dimensions while being considerably strengthened. The centrally mounted Moss gearbox was carried over from the 4/4. A few years later - in 1953 - Morgan began the process of updating the car's appearance, which culminated in the arrival of the quintessential Morgan look in 1954.

With an eye on the future, Morgan had introduced the futuristic (by Morgan standards) Plus 4 Plus in 1963. A very pretty glassfibre-bodied coupé styled along lines reminiscent of the Lotus Elite, the Plus 4 Plus was not what its traditional customer base expected - or wanted - from Morgan, and production ceased in 1967 after only 26 had been made. In his book Morgans to 1997, Roger Bell observes: "Perversely, the Plus 4 Plus is today one of Morgan's most cherished models, not least because of its rarity."

According to records held by the Morgan Sports Car Club, this ultra-rare Plus 4 Plus was despatched as a right-hand drive model on 5th January 1964 to Autosales Ltd in Bilston, Staffordshire. (The registration number 'BUY 280B' is listed in the Club's database against chassis 'A5650'.) Options when new were wire wheels, disc brakes and Restall-type seats, while the car was originally red with black PVC trim. It had right-hand drive body number '178/008' and was supplied with a spare left-hand drive body, number '178/024'. The body currently fitted is the left-hand drive one, '178/024', and the car comes with a right-hand drive dashboard. Apparently the engine was changed at some point from the original 'CT25448' to 'C11109' before the current unit (CT52394') was installed.

Our vendor purchased the car from Morgan specialist Melvyn Rutter in 2008. Commencing that same year, much restoration work has since been completed by Melvyn Rutter but the car is not yet finished and thus is sold strictly as viewed. The car has not been used since acquisition.

Accompanying documentation includes an old-style logbook, copy factory record, and numerous bills. It should be noted that there is no registration document present and the registration 'BUY 280B' is not recorded in the HPI database; however, 'BUY 280B' is listed in the MSCC's database against chassis 'A5650'. Bonhams would like to thank the Morgan Sports Car Club for their assistance in compiling this description.