Registration No: DBR 484S
Chassis No: B4125
MOT: Exempt

Motorcar Location: Cumbria

• A true driver's car with uprated engine, gearbox, suspension, brakes, steering and back axle
• Current ownership since 2004 and formerly the property of historic racing driver Andrew Smith
• Capable of embarassing many a more modern sports car!

No stranger to competition having rallied a Ford Escort RS1600 in his youth, the vendor bought ‘DBR 484S’ from well-known historic racer Andrew Smith in 2004. Noting that the Morgan had already been upgraded with a wider back axle and lightweight bodywork, he decided to hone it into a ‘fast road’ car capable of humbling far younger machinery. To this end, he commissioned Paul Gardener Racing Engines to comprehensively overhaul and uprate the Ford crossflow four-cylinder engine. The result is said to produce in excess of 150bhp and drives the rear wheels via a four-speed, close ratio, straight cut ‘Rocket’ gearbox. The adoption of a rack and pinion set-up has transformed the steering, while the roadholding has been enhanced thanks to the installation of Rutherford rear suspension and Koni shock absorbers all round. A substantial roll over hoop was already in situ (as was a scuttle reinforcement hoop) but the seller has added a sturdy crosspiece for the five-point harnesses to mount to.

Looking suitably menacing in Black with Black leather bucket seats, the 4/4 also sports a bespoke engine-turned aluminium dashboard with the rev counter, oil pressure gauge and water temperature one all in the driver’s direct eye line. Starting readily upon inspection and sounding decidedly purposeful, ‘DBR 484S’ has a pleasing weight and precision to its controls. There are some chips to the paintwork, the hood has rubbed through at one point and the tonneau cover’s zip is broken, however, the Morgan remains presentable as the photographs show. Not a concours queen but definitely smile-inducing once behind the wheel. A car for the drivers rather than the polishers among us and a great way to banish lockdown blues!

Specification:

Chassis:

Rutherford rear suspension with Koni shock absorbers all round

Braided SS brake hoses

4-pot front brake callipers

+8 rack and pinion steering

Rollover bar with diagonal bracing

Scuttle reinforcement hoop

5 point seat belts

Gearbox:

Four-Speed, close ratio, straight-cut ‘Rocket box’

Engine:

Professionally built by Paul Gardener Engineering

1700cc Ford crossflow unit complete with:

Big Valve race spec cylinder head

Steel rocker posts

Forged pistons (Wossner)

Steel conrods, lightweight steel flywheel, steel crank pulley

Fast road camshaft

Duplex Vernier timing sprockets

Whole assembly dynamically balanced and assembled to race engine standards

ARP fastenings throughout

New radiator and thermostatic electric fan

Twin 40 carbs, oil stat, oil cooler etc

Estimated to develop 150+ bhp but tractable enough for road use

12:1 Compression Ratio

Body:

Alloy bonnet

GRP wings

Alloy doors

Bespoke Alloy Dash Panel

Dual Batteries

Battery isolator switch

Fold down windscreen

Hood

Tonneau

Sidescreens

For more information, please contact:
Damian Jones
damian.jones@handh.co.uk
07855 493737