I shall start by regaling you with a story which I found to be quite amusing. It involves a friend of mine, Reg Beer who lives close by in Bolton, Ontario and who was, at one time, the Canadian distributor for the Morgan Motor Company of Great Britain.
Now, Reg has spent his entire life, all 80 odd years of it, in the automobile industry. He has worked for the likes of H. J. Mulliner & Co, the Rolls-Royce specialist coachbuilder, has hand-built and restored several incredible wooden brewery dray vehicles, and has worked on any number of weird and wonderful machines during the course his life, including several 3-wheeler Morgans.
As Reg advanced in age, he handed over the restoration company, which he had founded, to his two sons who run the business today. Of course, as he still resides in his bungalow next door, Reg is often to be found roaming around in the workshop. He calls it "keeping up with what's happening", whereas his sons probably view this as old Dad keeping a watchful eye on them!
It was on one such day, while his two sons were working on a vehicle outside that Reg decided to answer the telephone. The call came from a man who had recently purchased a 3-wheeler Morgan which Reg had restored several years prior. Unfortunately, the gentleman had lost the cover for his spare wheel and wondered if Reg would be able to replace this for him.
As these parts are almost impossible to locate second-hand, Reg assured the man that he would indeed be able to supply one, but it would require being hand-turned on their English Wheel (An old-style device for rolling sheet metal into formed bodywork).
Shortly after this, his sons returned and Reg told them of the phone call. Now as Reg has been known to forget the odd thing now and then, his son Martin enquired, "Did you get the man's name and contact details"? To which Reg replied, "Yes I remember, it was something like Jay Lemon"!
Only Reg could've spoken to the famous American talk show host and not realized who he was. Now, every time I hear the name Jay Leno, I think of my old mate Reggie!
Of course, locating spare parts for the Morgan 3-wheeler may no longer be an issue, as the company has announced plans to reintroduce the model. Yes, what started out in 1910 as an affordable motorcar for the masses, the Morgan 3-wheeler will now become the desired choice of the fortunate few, as these vehicles will be sold in limited numbers.
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| Photo: Morgan |
Now, Reg has spent his entire life, all 80 odd years of it, in the automobile industry. He has worked for the likes of H. J. Mulliner & Co, the Rolls-Royce specialist coachbuilder, has hand-built and restored several incredible wooden brewery dray vehicles, and has worked on any number of weird and wonderful machines during the course his life, including several 3-wheeler Morgans.
As Reg advanced in age, he handed over the restoration company, which he had founded, to his two sons who run the business today. Of course, as he still resides in his bungalow next door, Reg is often to be found roaming around in the workshop. He calls it "keeping up with what's happening", whereas his sons probably view this as old Dad keeping a watchful eye on them!
It was on one such day, while his two sons were working on a vehicle outside that Reg decided to answer the telephone. The call came from a man who had recently purchased a 3-wheeler Morgan which Reg had restored several years prior. Unfortunately, the gentleman had lost the cover for his spare wheel and wondered if Reg would be able to replace this for him.
As these parts are almost impossible to locate second-hand, Reg assured the man that he would indeed be able to supply one, but it would require being hand-turned on their English Wheel (An old-style device for rolling sheet metal into formed bodywork).
Shortly after this, his sons returned and Reg told them of the phone call. Now as Reg has been known to forget the odd thing now and then, his son Martin enquired, "Did you get the man's name and contact details"? To which Reg replied, "Yes I remember, it was something like Jay Lemon"!
Only Reg could've spoken to the famous American talk show host and not realized who he was. Now, every time I hear the name Jay Leno, I think of my old mate Reggie!
Of course, locating spare parts for the Morgan 3-wheeler may no longer be an issue, as the company has announced plans to reintroduce the model. Yes, what started out in 1910 as an affordable motorcar for the masses, the Morgan 3-wheeler will now become the desired choice of the fortunate few, as these vehicles will be sold in limited numbers.
 |
| Photo: Morgan |