There are strange encounters, serendipitous coincidences and then there’s this. How chalk and cheese can you get? It could have been worse, of course. A Model T paired with an Isetta, or a Maserati Khamsin next to a 2CV would have also looked pretty random, I guess. But those are theoretical. This V8-powered Porsche and two-tone Morgan roadster were actually in front of me.
The funny thing was that I knew the 928 would be there. I had seen it and photographed it, then I found myself going down the same route a few days later – only this time, things were greener on the other side.
The 928 immediately slipped into the background. Morgans are rare beasts – and flamboyant ones, at that, especially compared to the coldly rational and gray Porsche. So I just went to town on the lean green machine, because well, just look at it!
Morgans are chock full of sweet details, it was such a treat to photograph this one.
I have absolutely no idea how old this one is – it’s definitely post 1977 (as per the aluminium front bumper), but other than that, it’s not easy to tell these apart. Really old ones with the flat radiator aside, 4/4s are just like other Morgans, periodically updated but never fundamentally changed.
That means that under the hood, we might have a Ford Cortina 1.6 (1968-82), a Fiat 1.6 twin cam (1981-93) or a Ford Zetec 1800 (1993-2006). The 4/4 (4 wheels, 4 cylinders) was Morgan’s mainstay since 1936, though it was out of production between 1950 and 1955.
Still, the 4/4 kept its end up by keeping the basics – separate steel chassis, ash-framed body, pre-war styling – but integrating a modicum of modernity here and there: disc brakes from 1961, 5-speed gearbox in 1984 and airbags in 1997. Baby steps. Morgan only started galvanizing their chassis in 1995, so older cars usually need a lot of work. For more on these terrific cars and on Morgan in general, I recommend Roger Carr’s authoritative post (links at the end).
The contrast between the Morgan and the Porsche could not be more pronounced. They are contemporaries and would both be classed as sports cars, but other than that, they’re the definition of chalk and cheese.
Pity abut that tonneau cover, we won’t have the pleasure of the 4/4’s hand-stitched upholstery. The consolation prize will have to be the Porsche’s interior shot. Dark, clinical and plasticky – the antithesis of the Morgan way of doing things. Plus it’s an automatic. But no airbags on this one, so it’s probably a pre-1991 car.
So which one would you pick? Are you a stickler for Germanic precision engineering, big V8s and sophistication, or would you prefer to sample the unique delights of an open-topped artisanal English antique?
There are benefits to both sides, of course. Given the cool and sunny weather we’ve been having here these days, the Morgan is a no-brainer. Just the way it is here, windshield folded down, like it’s the date written on the license plate.
But in the summer, what with the heat, humidity and massive insects (murder hornets!) we get here, I’d probably prefer to be cocooned in the Porsche’s cockpit, having first made sure that the A/C is in perfect working order. First world problems, eh?
How hard would it be to actually own one of these? Though I wouldn’t call them common, Porsche 928s are seen in Tokyo on occasion – always S4s, as far as I’ve seen so far. So getting a hold of one would not be particularly difficult.
Morgans, on the other hand, are damn rare, and I never realized how much until I caught this one. They made the 4/4 for eight decades, but they haven’t made 10,000 of these yet.
I know which one I’d pick. Hey Morgan, 1939 called, and it wants its groove back.
Related posts:
Curbside Classic: Porsche 928 – Blasphemy With a Big Butt, by Don Andreina
Curbside Classic: Porsche 928 – The Future Of Porsche, Twenty-Five Years Too Soon, by PN
CC Capsule: Porsche 928 – A Victim of Entropy, by Dave Skinner
Carshow Classic: 1936 Morgan 4/4 (And Morgan History) – Trying To Understand The Enigma, by Roger Carr
No contest. The Morgan is my lifelong dream car.
Morgan here, too.
That green is gorgeous!
In my 20’s, I would have picked the 928 hands down.
Now that I just crossed into my 60’s, I think I’d rather enjoy the Morgan.
Ironically, at our Cars and Coffee, where we had our Baltimore CC Meet-Up a couple of years ago, the Morgan is typically more well represented than the Porsche 928.
Yes it is hard to argue against the (ok, THAT) Morgan on purely emotional criteria. For occasional drives as an extra vehicle it takes it hands down. As an everyday car or forced to be an all-weather, all-conditions car the 928.
Both are sublime and couldn’t be more different while being at their root the same. I rather think that like this owner, I’d have to just go all Gordon Gecko and want both. (“Greed is good”…)
I’ll take the minority viewpoint here and choose the 928.
There’s something about a big, sporting V-8 car that I find irresistible, and the 928’s unique shape made them as endearing to me 40 years ago as they are now. Yes, it’s a lot of wasted space, and it’s not really a sports car or a proper coupe, but if I could afford to buy and maintain one, I would certainly consider it.
Just a few weeks ago, I saw a 928 at my local gas station – the first one I’ve seen in quite a while, and it reminded me how much I liked them.
Nothing against the Morgan – I love them too, and would love to drive one some day – but for a car to actually own, I’d take the 928.
Why would anyone want the Morgan over the Porsche? That makes no sense. The Porsche was designed by German engineers with degrees from prestigious universities. The Porsche has been tested on the world’s fastest auto tracks. It has been shipped to extreme weather locations and beaten mercilessly to test its ability to shelter occupants from jungle heat, torrential rainstorms, airless mountaintops, Arctic frigidity and Baltimore.
The Morgan is a fragile creature as compared to the Porsche. It offers none of the logic! You cannot drive it in the rain! You cannot plow through the Sahara in 125 degree heat! Taking the speedometer over 200 kilometers per hour is a risky proposition! Drivers who choose the Morgan over the Porsche are exhibiting reckless abandon!
What’s that? You still prefer the Morgan? Is this some kind of a joke? Please do not toy with us! You want a green car with mismatched fenders? You are obviously suffering from a bout of emotional instability and need to see a specialist for your condition.
Next – you will tell us that you would prefer Elizabeth Hurley over Angela Merkel!
How about the Morgan with the 928’s engine?
Morgan +8 had the Buick/Rover V8…..
The 928 engine is exactly why I think “German Engineering” is grossly, wildly over-rated.
The 928 engine block (just the block, not including the tall OHC heads) is taller/wider than a Big Block Chevy engine block. Bore spacing is nearly as huge, 4.8″ vs. 4.84 The Chevy goes to 502 CID in GM crate-engine form, more than that with aftermarket parts. The Porsche, eventually, grew to a 5.4L displacement–about 327 CID, a mid-sized Small-Block Chevy number.
Porsche built a long and (very) tall engine, with less-good oil control than Chevy. Altogether underwhelming. Power of the late-model “years of development” 4-valve, 5.4L was very competitive with the pushrod, two-valve LS-series “Corvette” 5.7L engine in it’s first year of production (granted that that first year was a year or two after Porsche retired the 928.)
In both cases–Porsche and Chevy–the aftermarket has managed to improve upon “Factory” performance, and engineered solutions to “Factory” mistakes.
I’ll take the Morgan. On second thought I’ll take the Porsche so I don’t fear losing my head in the event of a rollover.
Both cars are lovely but the Morgan pulls at the heart strings more. I’d love to borrow someone else’s 928 and give it a go but not sure I could stomach the running costs on one.
Porsche 928 for me – my favourite Porsche, and probably the only one I’d actually really want – not that I’ll turn down the 911 Targa when it’s offered.
That’s a great find! I think maybe I’ve seen one or two Morgans here in 30 years. Must be a very wealthy owner.
If they’d had Michigan license plates, I would have guessed that they belonged to John Li!
Looking at the Morgan reminds me of the past. Back when sports car owners never put their tops up. They had snap on tonneau covers that they would unzip to allow the driver to get in. Everyone wore those cool old “car coats.”I only have memories as far back as the late 1950s.
Definitely the Morgan for me, and I love that colour.
A tad late here, but with the ultimate CC-effect: we run a boutique b&b and a guest arrived 10 days ago in a British-Racing-Green 2018 Morgan Plus 4! I was delighted when he offered me a ride in it, and completely gobsmacked when he let me drive it for a couple of kilometres! In all honesty, it drove as you’d expect for a 1930s design with modern running gear, and I’m not sure I’d want to drive one long distance, but that didn’t matter one iota, as the level of sheer theatre was amazing! The sound, the feel, the scent, the view down the hood and over the mudguards and headlights…it was all fantastic!