Wayne Scott commentates in arenas at classic car shows across the UK. Here, he recalls a very special couple, with a very special Morgan 4/4, whom he met and interviewed at the Three Counties Showground, Malvern earlier this year.
The car in question was not only historically significant to the story of Morgan but also has a fascinating story related to its owner’s family. The lucky owner is Matthew Darch, and he brought the car in with his partner Joanna Glennon to share it with an enthralled audience.
Morgan was founded in 1910 by Henry Frederick Stanley Morgan in Malvern Link, Worcestershire. He had decided that he didn’t like working on the railways so quit the Great Western Railway in 1904 and co-founded a motor sales and servicing garage.
By 1909, he had designed and built his first car, just for his enjoyment. Deciding that it all worked quite well, he began production a year later, and the company prospered producing only three-wheeled cars.
Morgan 4/4
However, in 1935, Morgan announced his first Morgan’s first four-wheeler and the car we are writing about here was the one that went to the Paris Motor Show the year after, 1936. The car was imaginatively called the 4/4, 4-wheels, and a 4-cylinder Coventry Climax engine. They would go on to cement Morgan’s name in motorsport as successful race and rally cars.
Matthew’s was given to his father Peter by a friend called Barry from university in the 1960s. The pair were both physicists and great friends. Barry eventually went on to be Matthew’s godfather. Barry finally decided that the Morgan needed serious restoration and so gifted it to Peter who then set about a decade-long restoration.
Matthew told me during the interview that the car had at one time been used as a chicken coup, but that now the restoration was completed, it was his mission to continue the hard work of his father and preserve this historically significant Morgan, which had been known to his family for over half a century.
“I want to continue Barry’s wishes to preserve the car and be a good custodian. She is very much part of the family, ” he told me.
One of the joys of my work as a commentator at classic car shows across the land is not only meeting and seeing historically significant cars like this Morgan 4/4 in the flesh but also sharing their story and that of their previous owners with others. What a privilege!
Morgan Sports Car Club Insurance
Here is another quick reminder of the key benefits that Morgan Sports Car Club Insurance offers you:
- Exclusive rates for Morgan Sports Car Club members
- Additional discounts based on length of membership
- Free agreed value
- Free salvage retention
- Free Member to member cover – drive another club member’s Morgan with fully comprehensive cover
- Cover for young Morgan enthusiasts
- UK and European Breakdown Cover
- Tools and Spare Parts Cover
- Self-repair option
- Legal expenses cover
- Multi-vehicle options – insure all your cars on one policy.
If you’re a member of the Morgan Sports Car Club, we’d love to hear from you. To speak to a member of our friendly team and to request a quote, please call: 0121 506 6022
