2009 Morgan Roadster 3.0 litre Manual One Owner

Highlights

• Beautiful example

• Comprehensive service history

• One owner from new

• Bespoke colour scheme

• 223bhp Ford V6

Overview

At first glance, the Morgan Roadster is little different to its predecessors – its long bonnet, sweeping wings, and running boards as traditional as the ash frame which supports the body on a steel chassis. But at the same time, it was one of the British company’s biggest advances in its history.

Introduced in 2004, the Roadster replaced the time-served Plus 8 – a side-effect of the iconic all-alloy Rover V8 engine being put out to pasture with the demise of the Land Rover Discovery 2. Its replacement was smaller, but also punchier – a Ford Duratec V6, which in its purest form was 3.0-litres in capacity and developed 223bhp in this application.

Of equal, if not greater importance, was the rear suspension – it retained a live axle, but with a five-link set-up that was geared for sharper, more predictable handling, albeit with the traditionally firm ride that kept the traditional Morgan feel.

Despite the smaller capacity, the new engine also made the Roadster the fastest steel chassis Morgan yet – allied to a six-speed manual gearbox borrowed from the Ford Mondeo ST220, the 3.0-litre engine helped the newcomer complete the benchmark 0-60mph sprint in less than five seconds – quicker than a contemporary Porsche Carrera 996.

Yet despite the considerable performance, Morgan preserved much of the classic experience. A traditional, analogue dashboard, simple Smiths dials, leather upholstery, and hand-finished trim retained that unspoilt Morgan feel, which kept the experience as immersive and old-school as possible. Morgan fans would want it no different.

If you’re a petrolhead – and if you’re reading this then it’s inevitable that you are – then an ash-framed Morgan really is one of those cars you need to tick off your bucket list. They’re quintessentially unique. There really is nothing like them – an experience that rewards but also requires focus and concentration if you want to exploit the best from it.

If you want to get behind the wheel of Malvern’s finest, then a Roadster is a superbly visceral way of doing so – and you’ll have to look long and hard to find a better example than this. The car has no previous recorded keepers on the V5C and was ordered new from the factory by the vendor, who has covered less than 17,000 miles in it over the past 17 years. He waited for the car so it would be built in the brand’s centenary year of 2009, and specified a bespoke colour scheme of Jaguar Gunmetal Pearl with Muirhead Red leather – and he chose very well indeed. It’s an absolute gem.

History and Documentation

• First registered 1 Mar 2009 as a factory-ordered Morgan Roadster 3.0 V6 in Jaguar Gunmetal Pearl metallic with Muirhead Red Leather interior

• Ordered in August 2006 through Newtown Motors of Cwmbran, with delivery delayed by the owner until early 2009 to ensure it was registered in Morgan’s Centenary Year

• One owner from new with no previous keepers recorded on the V5C

• Built to the vendor’s personal specification with regular factory visits during the build, and a full professional photographic build record – a bound leather book documenting this is included

• Stamped service book with ten services: May 2009 @ 1,064 miles, Jun 2010 @ 6,533 miles, Apr 2011 @ 7,220 miles, Feb 2012 @ 8,432 miles, Jul 2013 @ 9,918 miles, Feb 2014 @ 11,358 miles, Feb 2015 @ 11,568 miles, Jul 2016 @ 11,956 miles, Feb 2017 @ 12,107 miles, Mar 2020 @ 13,205 miles; the first eight carried out by Newtown Motors of Cwmbran (an authorised Morgan dealer) and the ninth and tenth by Pearsons Garage in Penarth

• The seller advises that the reason there have been no services since 2020 was that the car was registered SORN for a period due to ill health; a major service is booked before the auction end
• The vendor tells us the car usually spends winter stored in an inflated Carcoon in the garage with a smart battery conditioner fitted
• The car has covered only just over 3,000 miles in last 6 years and when not is use has been stored in the aforementioned Carcoon

• Owner's self-typed maintenance log detailing additional works, including a new radiator (August 2011), upgraded and hardened chrome kingpins (December 2019), side screen deflectors, a rear wind deflector, replacement plastic fan cover and a battery charger harness

• Factory specification sheet included, showing an extensive options list and a purchase price of £51,364.75, including air conditioning, walnut dash, Moto Lita steering wheel with Le Mans gear knob, sports exhaust, stainless steel 16-inch wire wheels, de luxe mohair hood and tonneau, badge bar, mesh grille, boot rack, Centenary badge, spinners, round mirrors, stainless rear light tubes, bonnet stays, map reading light, embroidered headrests, and a 12v outlet for sat nav

• Original Morgan Motor Company order confirmation letter dated 9 August 2006

• Newtown Motors purchase invoice dated 14 February 2009

• Classicline Insurance agreed valuation of £44,995 dated February 2024

• Continuous MOT history

• Current MOT expires 30 Mar 2027 having passed on 9 Mar 2026 at 16,145 miles

• HPI clear

• V5C present in the owner's name

• Two keys

• Cherished MOG numberplate included in the sale

• Morgan Classic Range Owner's Handbook and warranty information wallet included, along with all old MOT certificates dating back to 2012

Interior

• Absolutely stunning Muirhead Red leather upholstery with no obvious signs of wear

• Hand-embroidered Morgan logos in the head restraints

• Matching Muirhead Red dashboard roll and top, door cards and centre console trim

• Wood-rimmed Brooklands-style Mota-Lita steering wheel with billeted aluminium Morgan central boss

• Billeted alloy Le Mans gear knob

• Burr walnut veneer dash

• Ultra-rare factory air conditioning

• Map reading light

• Morgan Centenary badged car - year reflected in Morgan Centenary badge on dash

Exterior

• Jaguar Gunmetal Pearl bespoke paintwork

• Paintwork appears to be in superb condition throughout

• Wire wheels in excellent order, with good tyres all-round

• Spare wheel has never been used

• Accessory luggage rack

• High-level brake light

• Excellent mohair hood

• Tonneau cover

• Mesh grille

• Badge bar and Morgan centenary badge

• Stainless rear light tubes

• Vendor reports one very minor dent on the driver’s side rear mudguard

• Leather bonnet strap

Mechanical

• Naturally aspirated 3.0-litre Ford Duratec V6

• 223bhp

• 0-60mph in 4.9 seconds

• Six-speed manual transmission

• Complete service history

• Genuine low mileage

• Will be freshly serviced before sale

• Sports exhaust system

• Vendor reports that the car runs without fault and is huge fun to drive

Summary

This isn’t just a car. It’s part of someone’s life story, and a part of British automotive history. A centenary Morgan that was a bespoke order from a lifelong devotee of the marque, built to a highly personal specification and with exquisite taste.

But the owner acknowledges that with advancing years, it’s time for his hugely loved and cherished car to pass into the custodianship of someone who will derive as much pleasure from it and pride in it as he has – a pride that’s evident from its near-flawless condition.

To arrange a viewing, please request this in the Q&A section. You can click through to the seller's profile and use the 'Email Me' function to arrange a viewing privately. This car is located in The Vale of Glamorgan.