Morgan Threewheeler returns after 58-year break

The Morgan Motor Co. will relaunch the Morgan Threewheeler after a 58-year hiatus, the British automaker said on Wednesday.

The 2011 Morgan Threewheeler, inspired by the three-wheeled Morgan cyclecars of the early 1900s, has a Harley-Davidson 1800CC Screamin’ Eagle V-Twin that produces an estimated 100 hp at the rear wheel. Power is transferred to the wheel through a Mazda five-speed gearbox. The Threewheeler goes from 0 to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds and has a top speed of 115 mph.

Morgan did not say what it plans to charge for the 2011 Threewheeler.

The interior of the Threewheeler is built to resemble the cockpit of an airplane, according to Morgan. Leather covers the seats, the dash, side pads and steering wheel. The dash panel has aluminum toggle switches like those found in airplanes and a “bomb release”-style start button.

The exposed engine sits in front of a bullet-shaped hull that protects the passenger compartment. Further protection comes from a tubular frame and two rollover bars located behind the driver and passenger seats.

The bullet-shape design of the 2011 Threewheeler is reminiscent of the Morgan Super Sport Aeros built from 1927 to 1939. Like its predecessor, the Threewheeler includes an exposed, side-mounted exhaust.

Morgan says the new Threewheeler provides a “get in and drive” simplicity, which is a welcome change from early Morgan cyclecars that required a number of predrive exercises.

For example, a driver of a Morgan from the early 20th century had to lubricate the valve gear, pressurize the fuel system and adjust the flow rate of the oil-supply system. After this, the Morgan had to be push-started since it lacked a starter motor or crank handle.

The Morgan Motor Co. was started in 1909 by H. F. S. Morgan in Malvern, England. It produced three-wheeled cyclecars from 1911 to 1952.

By Brad Constant