1929 Morgan Super Sport Aero 3-Wheeler

Description

From a deceased estate; in the current ownership for 58 years; Ewan Cameron 'fast road' 1,150cc JAP engine; former concours winner; recent repaint; a fast and expertly tweaked machine, well-known in Morgan circles 

Launched in 1909, the Morgan 3-wheeler was a common sight on British roads up until the 1930s, its popularity only diminishing when small cars such as the Austin Seven and Morris Eight became cheap enough to tempt the buying public into these more comfortable machines.

However, such was the pace of the flyweight Morgan that it could outperform many a larger engined four-wheeler and it enjoyed great success on the racetrack. Progressively developed, the single rear-wheel-driven platform played host to a variety of JAP, Matchless, Blackburne, Anzani and Ford power plants over the years.

Knowledge gained on the track led directly to a road-going spin-off in the form of the Grand Prix model, introduced for 1914. The first Aero sports model followed immediately after WWI. Subsequent technological developments included the fitting of front brakes from 1924, operated by a hand lever, and the introduction of a new chassis, the M-Type (to replace the earlier B-Type) on the new Super Sport model in 1928.

In 1931 a conventional three-speed-plus-reverse gearbox was introduced and the model name abbreviated to simply 'Super Sport', the old two-speed transmission disappearing soon after. The three-wheeler remained in production as late as 1952 although it is the pre-1932 vee-twin models that are most prized today.  

According to Morgan factory records, chassis 1333A was originally built as a Super Sport Aero with a water-cooled JAP ohv engine (serial number LTOW/539089), the original colour being described as 'Grey top; Dark Blue sides'. It was despatched from the factory on 9th April 1929 to Morgan main dealer Homacs of 243 Lower Clapton Road, London E5.

First registered in London on 11th April 1929 with the number GU 1629, nothing is known of the car's early history, but an enamelled plaque on the dash indicates that it was sold by The Light Car Company of Euston Road fairly early in its life. A buff logbook shows that by 1959 it was resident in Staffordshire, moving back to Malvern in 1966.

On offer here from a deceased estate, it was acquired by the current owner in c.1968. We are told that the late-owner was a gifted engineer and inventor who maintained the Morgan to his own high standards of engineering, and it remained his pride and joy for the rest of his life.

The buff logbook indicates that the original JAP water-cooled engine was replaced in 1966 by a JAP vee-twin air-cooled J-Series racing engine (serial number J/TOR20025, as is still recorded on the V5C today). This produced 55bhp rather than the 40bhp of the standard water-cooled engine.

We are told that the owner subsequently replaced this with a modified Brough Superior engine which made the Morgan virtually unbeatable on the track. He was eventually persuaded to sell this engine to a European gent who needed it for his own Brough Superior motorcycle. The funds from the sale of the Brough engine were used to build the engine currently in the car which was specially built at considerable cost by Morgan 3-wheeler maestro, Ewan Cameron of Cameron Engineering & Motorsport in Malvern, about 10 or 12 years ago.

The engine is a 'fast road' version of Ewan's own racing JAP J/TOR unit - 86mm x 99mm; 1,150cc capacity; 8:1 compression ratio suitable for forecourt petrol (the V5C still records the capacity as 1,096cc). Other features include: pressed up nitrided crank assembly with billet machined flywheels and conrods running loose rollers on a 1.25" crank pin; 50% balance factor; single spark per cylinder from ML 50' magneto; single plate clutch; Amal carburettor and Pilgrim oil pump.

Ewan (who rates the car highly) tells us that the engine was built with a total loss oil system, however: "The owner was a very talented engineer and he designed an ingenious system to catch the used oil and return it to the supply tank, a system that seemed to work well."

Although there is precious little history with the vehicle, other than a few old photographs and a letter from a previous owner, we are told that GU 1629 has always been kept in tip-top running order. We are further told that it was given a sympathetic ‘tidy up’ about eight years ago, including a full repaint, a new high level exhaust and rebuilt wheels.  

Retaining the correct B-Type chassis and signature sliding-pillar independent front suspension, it also retains the correct bevel box to transfer the power to the rear wheel via the twin chains, correct nickel silver radiator cowl, two-speed gearbox and original-type cable brakes. Supplied with a full set of weather equipment, it also comes with sundry useful spares.

Well-known in Morgan circles and frequently featured in the club magazine, The Bulletin, we are told that GU 1629 was widely regarded as one of the best-preserved and fastest three-wheelers out there, a tankard showing that it won a Concours award at the Morgan 60^th Anniversary gathering at Prescott in 1970.

Interest in Morgans of this period has never waned and the company's inspired decision to re-introduce a modern three-wheeler in 2011 has brought the early cars to the attention of a new audience.

This wonderfully patinated and expertly tweaked 1929 example, from devoted long-term ownership, will continue to draw crowds of admirers wherever it goes and is no doubt capable of scooping some more silverware on the show or race circuit, should the new owner feel so inclined.

Consigned by James Dennison – 07970 309907 – james.dennison@brightwells.com