A go-anywhere, rough-and-tumble ... anachronistic British roadster? Let's find out!!
You might know the Morgan Motor Company as the longtime purveyor of quaint roadsters seemingly unaffected by the passage of time. At least until relatively recently (well, in terms of the company's 100-plus-year history), when BMW engines started powering these increasingly modernized vehicles.
Don't worry, the company still uses strong, lightweight wood to support the bodywork. But whatever your level of familiarity is with its three-wheeled, four-wheeled, traditional-looking, or more modern offerings, perhaps nothing can prepare you for the visual shock of seeing one outfitted for overland duty. Meet the limited production Morgan Plus Four CX-T, the classic roadster that starts being more fun when the pavement ends.
There is actually a lot of precedent for taking Morgans where they might not belong, with a long history in the United Kingdom of hill climbs and trials in various forms. We're most familiar with the type of trial where a car—often a lightweight roadster with several people aboard, moving around to ballast the vehicle or rock a corner for traction—scrambles up a muddy slope, with transit sections in between. But the CX-T is a very contemporary reinterpretation of this very old form of motorsport.
Morgan got together with Rally Raid UK, a specialist with a huge amount of Dakar Rally experience, to hone the Plus Four into the appropriate shape to off-road without its parts falling off. The modifications are fairly extensive and go beyond the likes of racks, driving lights, and additional body armor. The suspension is obviously fairly important for a vehicle like this, so modified wishbones from Morgan's Plus Six, as well as EXE-TC coilovers, complement modified wheel wells and increased track width. With the under-armor fitted, and a side-exit exhaust system tucked up further than the stock unit, ground clearance measures in at around nine inches.
A BMW-sourced rear electronic differential was calibrated for this off-road use case and has several different drive modes, including a fully locked mode for truly extreme conditions. That diff is loaded with a shorter final-drive ratio to accommodate the large, knobby (and incredibly named) Maxxis Worm-Drive all-terrain tires.
As with any mouth-watering overland build, there's a lot of gear on this Morgan, and it's both worthy of admiration and well-integrated. This includes an exoskeleton that holds forward-facing auxiliary lights and high-mounted taillights (it can be used to haul other things, such as kayaks, with some adaptation—or the side window panels, if the driver wants to take these pieces off). Two spare wheels sit next to a Rotopax fuel tank arrangement. A bespoke rack houses a pair of rugged Pelican cases and a Zarges aluminum toolbox. There's a container full of recovery equipment, too. It all makes getting out there look fun as all get out.
Want one? Morgan will only make four—yes, four—examples of the CX-T. And you'll pay the equivalent of $237,000 at today's exchange rates to claim one. Act fast, as we have to imagine this fascinating combination of British trials heritage and modern overlanding themes is going to really appeal to some unconventional and well-heeled Morgan enthusiasts.
-by Amaan Attar
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