I am going to start off this week with a car most of you have probably never heard of, but it is the first car I ever drove (well kind of, I will explain later). A Morgan 3-wheeler, and yes as you might guess it only has three wheels. I have a feeling in the future I may talk a lot about the numbers of the car; the horse power, the 0-60 time, things like that. With this Morgan, there is no need. Mainly because this car provides something that can’t be measured by a number: happiness. As for a little history on the company, Morgan started in 1910, and has been owned by only three people. The early cars only had three wheels to avoid a British tax on cars, because without the fourth wheel, it was not considered a car, but a motorcycle. The car used a motorcycle engine, which has always been placed in the front. Morgan has always been a small company, building their cars by hand, and even currently only employs just over 150 people.
In an effort to provide at least some car type facts I will be reviewing, the brand new, throwback style, 2013 three-wheeler. While producing a jaw-dropping 80 horsepower (jaw dropping for its small value, most sports cars are well over 250 hp), the car weighs less than 1200 pounds, so power to weight does play a pretty important factor here.
2013 Morgan Three-Wheeler (http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/convertibles/1208_2013_morgan_3_wheeler_first_drive/photo_01.html)
So how have I driven one? Well I haven’t. I drove my high schools all-electric car that I helped to maintain and repair, which was a kit car. A kit car based of a 1937 Morgan Super Sports. It was the first car I ever drove, so yes that means the first car I ever drove was electric. Once I got my license, I did get to drive the electric car, dubbed the Lorax, at competitions and to various eco-fairs and festivals we attended. The Lorax was even less impressive in the numbers category because it was a teaching tool, not a performance vehicle, but what a joy that car was to drive!
I am about to Auto-Cross the Lorax, we added a windshield, roof, and rollbar for safety
Just as the real Morgans, there was no power steering, no traction control; it’s just the driver, maybe a passenger, the car, and the road. With a car that light, and with wheels like that, ordinary corners make you feel like a race car driver. You hit the apex of every turn, every single time, not because you are necessarily that amazing of a driver, but because you can look down and see the wheel on the tarmac. The top speed in the 2013 model is 115 mph, which can’t even imagine in that car. I hit 75mph and it was certainly a rush. With no windscreens (our car had one) 30 mph feels like 60mph, so 115 mph must feel like at least 150.
The thing about the Morgan is it never gets old. It will always look unique and turn heads, no matter the paint job. Simply put, it will always be a joy to drive. Every time you make yourself into a pretzel just to get inside you know you are going to have the best drive you had that day. It is simply exhilarating.
1937 Morgan Super Sports (www.conceptcarz.com)
Sources: http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/convertibles/1208_2013_morgan_3_wheeler_first_drive/
This car is sweet. I honestly didn’t know they actually made 3-wheeled cars people could buy. The idea that the car is really light but has an engine strong enough to make it reach 115 mph is crazy. I would love to drive one of these cars somewhere around 60 mph, I’m sure it’s nuts!
I have to stay that I know absolutely nothing about cars. In fact, I’m not even very good at driving them; however, it was interesting to hear you talk about them and I definitely learned a little bit more about cars. The Morgan seems like a really exhilarating car to drive. The look is unique, it has only three wheels, and I think the fact that it doesn’t have a windscreen must make it feel like you’re flying on the roads. I think it’s really cool you got to repair and maintain a kit car in high school. I’ve never even heard of something like that so it’s pretty awesome your school made this available. I look forward to reading more of your posts!
This is a really nice looking car, and I love the history you gave on it as well. On a side note, it’s awesome that you had the opportunity to help maintain a car like that and take it to events at your school. I’m looking forward to reading your blog again.