Morgazette May-June 2011 Issue - Morgan Cars for Sale

Spring BreakStory & photo by Larry AyersFourteen year old Jason wasoverjoyed at the prospect of visitinghis Uncle Jim’s farm during SpringBreak. He hadn’t been there foryears. After settling into his room,he decided to explore the groundsand out buildings. While walkingbehind a building,his keen eyesightcaught the shapeof an unusuallookingvehicle,or perhaps itwas just MotherNature playingtricks on him.He approachedcautiously andrealized that itwas only part ofa vehicle. Butwhat make?Then he sawthat it had onlythree wheels,one of whichwas removed forsome reason.Could this be? He pushed asidebranches from the front of theradiator and “Morgan” appeared. Hehadn’t heard of this make, althoughhe recalled seeing pictures of threewheeled vehicles in a book at home.What was this strange vehicledoing here? It wasn’t very large,and seemed to be built for someonehis size, and it had two doors.He climbed into the cockpit for abetter feel, hoping to understandmore. As he sat on what remainedof the decaying seat cushion, theleather crackled and sank beneathhim. Wrapping his hands around therough large steering wheel, he triedto imagine how it would be to drive.His left hand moved to the gearshift lever in an attempt to jiggle it.Surprisingly, the lever moved freely,so this was a good thing he thought.Then it dawned on him. Since hewas only a couple of years awayfrom driving age perhaps this littlecar was something he could rescue,if his uncle would allow him to workon it. Wow! How cool would this beto take to school? With bubblingenthusiasm, he hurried back to thehouse, questions running throughhis head. He had to know moreabout this vehicle.Just awakening from his afternoonnap, Jim could see that Jason wasexcited. “Well, you must have seenit then, he exclaimed.” Jason statedthat he found some strange lookingthree wheeler in the field. “What wasit doing there?” he asked. Jim saidthat a neighbor had a collection ofold British MGs, and the Morgan wasthe odd-ball in his collection. He didsome work on his neighbor’s tractorand took the Morgan in exchange forhis labor. He further explained thatit is called an “F-model” because itis fitted with an English Ford motor.At the time he was given the Morganit was running, and he used it forrunning around the fields whenweather permitted. One day, thestarter motorfailed to operate.After attemptingto start it usingthe hand crankwithout success,he gave up andbegan cussing“Lucas, the Princeof Darkness”as his neighboroften referred tothe demons thatseemed to live inhis MGs. Beforehe could getaround to havingthe startermotor repaired,the batterydied. Giving theMorgan a disgusted kick, it was leftto suffer the weather’s indignities.With little invested in it, there wasno incentive to drag it inside oneof the out buildings. Besides, hewanted to punish it!“Well then, would you mind ifI work on it when I come for avisit?” asked Jason. “Could wemove it inside out of the weatherso it doesn’t get any worse?” “Oh,I suppose so,” offered Jim. “Butdo you know what you’re gettinginto? This old machine needs a lotof work, perhaps a lot more thanyou would think.” Jason’s eyes weresparkling with anticipation by now, afact not dismissed by his uncle. “I’lltake good care of it, and”……………Morgazette • May / June 2011 • Page 26