Morgan, 1909-2009, Celebrating 100 years of Morgan Cars, compiled by R M Clarke, published by Brooklands Books.
This is an amazing book. R M Clarke is perhaps best known by Club members as the compiler and publisher of the owner’s manual for three-wheeled Morgans that first appeared in the mid 1950s. This followed on from his own ownership of a 1931 Morgan Family whilst stationed in the RAF earlier that decade, a car which carried him widely throughout the British Isles. He then devised the well known format of Brooklands Books whereby contemporary magazine road tests were collected together and reprinted. The new book carries on with the traditional Brooklands Books format, except that for the Morgan centenary Charles Morgan gave him access to the famous Prebendary Morgan scrapbooks, as well as giving his own contributions. The book is split into four parts. The first is for three-wheelers 1909-1952 and occupies 207 pages. This is followed by sections on four-wheelers 1936-1967, on cars 1968-1990, and finally cars 1991-2009, including the striking Aeromax and the futuristic Life Car. Just about everything post 1967 is in colour. A staggering total of 840 pages (314 in colour) make up the book, which measures 11” by 8” by 2” and weighed around 7 pounds (!) on my bathroom scales. So what is in it for three-wheeler owners? Well actually just about everything you can possibly want, from details of all the Morgan models, photographs, advertisements (including 1920s colour ones), road tests, tours, period modifications including those for war disabled drivers, race reports, record breaking and trials. There is even coverage of John Sheally II and his drive across America in his 1935 MX4 SS in 1980. For four-wheeler enthusiasts just about every article written in magazines on four-wheeler Morgans from 1936 onwards has been included, and beautifully reprinted. There is something for everyone, no matter which Morgan model you own or admire, and articles come from magazines published all round the world. It is not the sort of book to read right through, but more to dip into and read perhaps just one article at a session. If you read one a day and start on January 1st you will get through to October 20th without the need to re-read anything. By then you will have forgotten the first I suspect! Is there a catch? Actually there are two. Firstly you will need to beef up your bookcase shelving to take this massive tome, and secondly it may seem expensive compared with other books. However on a cost per page basis, it becomes a bargain, at £89.00. In addition only 600 are being printed. It is worth commenting that a previous limited edition compilation from the same publisher on another car marque rapidly sold out some while back, and now changes hands at inflated prices. Miss buying this book now at your peril. Jake AldersonMorgan Owner and Club Member
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