Historic Winton Celebrates 110 Years of Morgan Three-Wheelers
MEDIA RELEASE 10/04/2019:
The Morgan Three-Wheeler was first released in 1909 and whilst a relatively rare vehicle in Australia, it’s been seen competing against sidecars and Gary Neilsen of Shepparton is an aficionado of the marque.
Gary and his family own three Morgan Three-Wheelers with all being placed on show at 43rd Historic Winton on 18th and 19th May.
“My wife and her father raced a 1939 F2, for many years and is well known in historic racing circles,” Gary said.
HFS Morgan first set out to build his own custom motorcycle in 1909 but constructed a three-wheeler cycle car instead. Sales were initially low but took off with the introduction of the two-seater version in 1911.
See the feature display of Morgan Three-Wheelers in the Competition Paddock area at Historic Winton.
All up, more than 2,000 cars go on display around the track at this iconic all-historic race meet.
Historic Winton – Australia largest all-historic race and display event will be held at Winton Motor Raceway.
Discounted online tickets are now available online until midnight, Thursday, 16 May. Tickets are then available at the gate from 8am on Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th May.
HISTORY OF THE MORGAN THREE-WHEELER by Michael Aisenberg
HFS Morgan built his car in the Malvern College workshops in 1909.
He intended initially to build a motor cycle and bought a 7hp Peugeot twin cylinder engine. Instead he decided to construct a three-wheeler ‘cycle car’.
HFS brazed together a tubular chassis with the principal tube running from the front to the rear of the car. The main drive shaft ran through this central tube.
The tube had two transverse members at the front to which the 7hp Peugeot engine was mounted, using an extremely advanced, front suspension.
Two dog clutches and two short chains comprised the transmission system with a two-speed crash gearbox and no reverse.
Braking was by means of a two-band system mounted on either side of the rear wheel.
One connected to the footbrake and the other one to the handbrake. Steering was by mean of a tiller.
HFS built the car entirely in the spirit of a do-it-yourself hobby. His three-wheeler car quickly attracted considerable outside attention.
His father, George Morgan, supported him with his planned venture.
HFS purchased the necessary tooling and equipment to get started and the Morgan Motor Company in Malvern Hills and it still operates on the same site to this day.
JAP engines were used in the early years the Matchless MX2 ‘air cooled’ and MX4 ‘water cooled’ engines to followed on in later years.
Sales were initially low but took off with the introduction of a two-seater version in late 1911.
Very soon demand for the three-wheeler Morgan outstripped supply and by 1914 Morgan had become Britain’s third largest car manufacturer after Wolseley and Austin.
The two main models were the barrel back and beetle back cars. The spare tyre was recessed at the rear of the barrel back car.
The spare tyre on the beetle back car was located on top of the so called ‘beetle’, just behind the passenger seat.
Morgan’s were competitive from the outset, and was the car to beat, in trials, racing, and it’s record breaking achievements.
This contributed to the success of the car and aided in the survival of the company through the inter-war depression years.
The Grand Prix, Aero and Super Sports models represented the epitome of stylish, no-nonsense machinery.
In 1931 HFS introduced a three-speed model with a reverse gear.
!933 saw the introduction of the four-wheel Model F, which was powered by a four cylinder engine.
It became the basis of the new generation of four wheel Morgans.
The Morgan Motor Company ceased production of the three-wheeler in 1952
A totally new, modern, and safe, three-wheeler is currently available today along with the latest other Morgan ‘four wheel’ models.
For more information, please contact: Leanne Cutler, Siren Marketing M: 0400 790 060 or Historic Winton email