The Morgan Three Wheeler: often mystical, always magical

You wouldn’t want to rely on Morgan’s 3 Wheeler as your sole car, but it’s a very good back-up! Here’s to our 12 months of fun

Brit sports car marque Morgan first created its 3 Wheeler before the First World War. It ceased manufacture of the quirky trike in the early 1950s, then resumed production in 2012. The latest incarnation remains fundamentally unchanged from its ancestor, which means it shares the same fun and agility both on-road and on-track.

This achievement is due to its 2.0-litre V-twin motorcycle-derived engine, as well as its sturdy yet lightweight construction; it weighs a mere 500kg all-in. Of course, the steel tube chassis, brakes and suspension are thoroughly 21st century, as is the Mazda MX-5 gearbox.

Morgan boss Steve Morris lent us a 3 Wheeler for a year. We specced it up for ultimate practicality rather than the ultimate pose, which meant we shunned costly leather and paint options in favour of items such as heated seats, and chose black-spoked wheels rather than chromed ones.

Then we let our team of testers loose with it. The experiences and opinions were as varied as the people who drove it, but everyone had fabulous fun.

Last winter, we drove it from Cheddar to the Welsh coast alongside a Caterham and an Ariel Nomad. The Morgan wasn’t nearly as fast as its companions, and its driver spent the journey peering around the filthy aeroscreen while never approaching the national speed limit, but he couldn’t stop smiling.

A gridlocked Southampton during a wet boat show weekend doesn’t sound very enthralling, but while sitting in traffic the Morgan attracted just as much attention as, say, a Rolls-Royce or a supercar. Total strangers waved, smiled, asked questions and took photos.

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Wearing the right clothes for the right conditions is imperative in the 3 Wheeler, as one rather underdressed, chilly and wet tester discovered during a trip from Morgan’s Malvern HQ to Gloucestershire. While the little aeroscreen protects the top half of your body pretty well, a diagonal slice from your left eyebrow to right elbow remains rather exposed. If you don’t wear motorbike waterproofs in poor weather, you’ll regret it. Dress snugly and you’ll have better wet-road visibility than you’ll get in any normal car.

Large or tall drivers shouldn’t have too many issues fitting into the Morgan. The pedal box can be adjusted three ways to give extra legroom and optimise the driving position, but the most extreme of these operations is somewhat fiddly to implement. Our tallest driver settled for scrunched legs instead – and he still loved every mile.s

We did find the process of fitting the many-toggled storm cover to be rather fiddly, especially in the rain or at night. However, it’s important to protect the cabin overnight or, in ‘half’ position over the empty passenger seat, to keep your luggage dry on the road.

Another must is wearing a visored crash helmet in the winter. An open-face lid will freeze your face and allow the wind to force itself between your neck and collar and down to your torso.

Such practical considerations and the occasional discomfort are well worth the effort. The Morgan 3 Wheeler is often mystical but always magical. Thanks for the memories.

Sarah Bradley is a writer for AutoCar.