The Morgan Centenary Roadster 100
It was sometime during 2009 that a group of Morgan Dealers led, I believe by Melvyn Rutter and possibly Phil Ledgerwood, convinced Charles Morgan that a Special Edition of the Series 2 Roadster be produced to celebrate the Morgan Company Centenary that year.
The car was named The Roadster 100 and the first car to be built was registered on 3rd June 2009. Strangely though, this car was give Series Number 030?
Originally all of the cars were to be built as Right Hand Drive but that policy seemed to change as more European orders were taken.
It was decided to utilise what eventually became known as The Centenary Trim Pack as the minimum specification for every car in this edition.
This Trim Pack included as standard:
A Matching Mohair Easy Up Soft Top,
Matching Tonneu, Hood Cover, Spare Wheel Cover and Side Screen Bags were offered as optional extras.
Stainless Steel Wire Wheels with Morgan Spinners.
A Motolita Wood Rim Steering Wheel.
A Burr Walnut Dashboard.
Reclining Sports Seats with Perforated Leather.
Stainless Steel Chassis Cover with Morgan Badges
The Morgan Centenary Car Badge on the Dashboard
The Edition Number Plate on the Firewall.
The Body Colour of Mercedes Amazon Green, a metallic paint, was chosen as the editions only Colour available
The Interior Trim Leather Colour chosen was Biscuit. A second option of Black was the only leather colour variable.
Contrast Green Piping was an option for the interior leather work.
One other extra which allowed the outward appearance of those who chose it was the option of Bumper Bars rather that the standard sporty Over-riders.
The other visual difference was caused by MMC timing in deciding to eliminate Wing Lamps. This rule was introduced after making the first few Roadster 100 Cars.
There is some confusion about the actual number of Roadster 100's manufactured. It is estimated that there were only 63 made of what was obviously an intended 100. Production went well into 2010 by which time the factory had other priorities and no more forward Roadster 100 orders.
Some UK Dealers were able to request specific Edition Plate Numbers for their customers out of sequence just to add to this confusion.
Dealer SGT acquired Plate No.100 on their Demonstrator.
Car No. 099 was also selected elsewhere, as was Car No. 029 (to go with the owners TOK registration)
Apparently, because the Morgan Motor Company only keep Production Records by Chassis Number and the same chassis is also used for the Plus 4 Model, there is no actual record kept of Roadster 100's manufactured.
Unfortunately, the unused Series Number Plates were not retained. Those Unused Plates, could have been used to clarify the actual numbers manufactured but apparently they are lost?
The Owner of Car No. 001 (Supplied by Ledgerwood Morgan) contacted me during early 2010 with the idea that we should try and set up a register for the Edition. At this point the 'Morgan Centenary Roadster 100 Register was formed and at the Buxton MOGMMX we were able to contact a further 6 owners there who have all joined the Register.
Since the Registers inception we have managed to increase our membership to 40 of the 63. we also know the location of a few others who's owners do not wish to join.
We know of 5 member cars in Germany, 2 cars somewhere in France, 2 members in Sweden, 1 member in Denmark .
The rest seem to be liberally distributed around England and Wales.
Frank