It’s easy to feel cynical when every other new car debut feels like it’s for a limited-run ultra-expensive ego-soother for the Miami set. The perfect seventh Ferrari or fifth hypercar for the sort of person whose ensuite sink is carved out of pure onyx. Sic semper insipidus. However, every so often, something costly and exclusive comes along that’s simply rather neat. This is the Morgan Midsummer Coupé, and it’s fantastic.
The story of the Midsummer Coupé starts two years ago, when Morgan and Pininfarina teamed up on an entry into the boutique segment of cars without traditional windshields. An old-school barchetta with two tiny wind deflectors and gorgeous wood surrounding the cabin aperture, it’s one of the few cars to pull off this sort of treatment without seeming a bit gimmicky. Maybe it’s because Morgan’s image is deeply traditional, and this cut-down look is pure golden age of sports car racing. It’s not the most practical arrangement for locales known for summer showers or swarms of insects, but it has a certain nostalgic appeal.
However, upon seeing the topless Midsummer, one customer had a question: Could Morgan and Pininfarina make a proper coupe? Something we haven’t really seen from the marque since the Aero Coupe bowed out in 2016. It turns out, Morgan and Pininfarina could, and the resulting Midsummer Coupé is stunning enough that eight other clients hopped aboard.
I mean, just look at it. It may be inspired by the Midsummer roadster, but this split-window coupe is a stunner all its own. The door handles perfectly sandwiched between glass and sheetmetal, the stripe of brightwork down the center of the car, the proportions, it’s all just so good. Even the ribbon of brightwork surrounding the lower body simply works here, a touch of art deco for the road.
The way that fixed canopy sits gives the Midsummer Coupé some serious presence, enough that you might miss just how much has changed over a standard Supersport. The winders, the grille, the valence, the hood, all of that’s new. It would’ve been easy to overdo such a comprehensive raft of changes, but it’s all just lovely. Simply magnificent.
Oh, and if you thought the new coachwork was good, wait until you see the interior. Panoramic roof panels shed light on a bewitching mix of teak, aluminum, and leather. In the right lighting, it all looks so incredibly inviting. There’s a warmth here that carbon fiber just doesn’t offer, an architectural feel that carries forward themes of Morgan’s traditional use of ash in their cars’ construction.
Unlike in the days of old, however, the engine in the Midsummer Coupé isn’t made of coal and lead. It’s the same sort of turbocharged twin-cam aluminum affair you get in a BMW M340i mated to the ZF 8HP eight-speed automatic. The gold standard of automatic gearboxes. While Morgan hasn’t disclosed a specific output, it crosses the 400-horsepower mark in the Supersport 400, which should be good for proper modern pace.
The only glaring flaw I can find in the Midsummer Coupé at a glance is that Morgan only plans on building ten. Admittedly, the market for a hand-built boutique sports coupe with proper old-school looks is rather small, but I’m delighted to exist in the world at the same time as this.
Top graphic image: Morgan
One day I’ll be cool enough to get invited to buy one of these ultra-low production cars. Hopefully I’ll be able to afford it by then.
This is going to be someone’s 7th or 8th car. I think most people dig the design, but you can probably name at least 1/2 dozen other cars you’d rather buy before you spent money on one of these.
Gorgeous, but why is it not BRG?
I’m glad the car isn’t cross eyed, but the grille looks like someone in the middle of saying the word “sheesh”. Looks like the car is disappointed in my life’s choices.
You might have a point, car, you might have a point.
It looks like the box the Bugatti Atlantic came in.
Plus, you have to keep the original box for resale and shipping.
Even more Art Deco is the Devaux – Only 7 built so far, and doesn’t appear likely any more will be built. One is now in a private collection in the USA, so it’s not impossible it will turn up at a show or an auction at some point.
https://www.devauxcars.com.au/
That has some very awkward proportions going on in the front.
It is pretty, but, honestly, I feel like that if I had the money for a Morgan, I’m choosing a slightly older, used model from before they started going all retro-futuristic. They seem to have been stripping out a lot of character and purity of design in a lot of their recent modernizations
Behold, the Morgan SVX!
It is a gorgeous design, but if I’m spending silly money on a Morgan it’ll be for a Super 3.
I just did the configurator on the Morgan Motor Co. website and a well equipped new Super 3 (to my preferred specs) is about $67K, plus tariffs and whatever. So probably about 20% of a proper Midsummer Coupé. Silly money, not stupid money, but it’s about as practical as a screen door in a submarine on anything but a sunny day. which is not to say I wouldn’t want one…
Truffade Z-Type
Stupid expensive I’m sure but at least it’s actually classy
If these are ever actually driven, that A/C better work well with those tiny opening windows and huge untinted expanse of glass overhead (it really should be electrochromic).
Many enthusiasts hold Morgan with esteem for old world craftsmanship, attention to detail, taking the time to make art. Took a while to find engine bay images. https://share.google/tOeqQxXbOS5VrSd8N I’m OK with them using a BMW drivetrain, But I’ll be Damned if I’m going to open the bonnet of a $250-$300k purchase and see anything other than beautifully crafted and polished alloys. It’s got the same crap plastic covers BMW has used for decades!
Those look to be the fibre of carbon to me. Although I do agree I want more splash.
It hits as the antithesis of their theme. Granted 400hp motivating 2200 lbs. should entertain, and appears sold out as most ultra- low production attention grabbers find wannabee cultured Bitcoin up the wazoos.
If I’m buying art, I expect every part of it to be art. Like a Singer, where I could just stare at a door hinge or hood latch for a weird amount of time, or any part of a Spyker C8.
Pride in craftsmanship wasn’t rare in our fathers or grandfathers time. You didn’t need to restrict your view to only exotics. Granddad started a hardware store, and expanded to an additional location. He and my paternal grandmother worked very long, hard hours, keeping the community functioning while the able bodied help left for WWII. The photos of their shop, the script hand painted on the front window, the display cases, the beautifully crafted tools of the time. Times were very tough for many of their customers. Some lost their husbands and couldn’t afford to replace or even repair The Repairable. They repaired and trusted their customers to pay when they could. I AM SO TIRED OF WINNING!
10 is a good number as Morgan cars despite being beautiful and desirable are last century technology in the century before materials they just aren’t great at anything but look fabulous. 3 wheel, wooden frame c’mon they aren’t going to outperform anything new but God is take one over any supercar, hypercar, pickup, electric, great mph, anything.
I see this and wish I was rich. . .but alas. . .I am not. 🙁
Well done Morgan. Beautiful.
Setting a reminder on my calendar to start watching BaT in 15 years.
Gorgeous interior.
Unlikely I will ever own a Morgan, but I’m glad the company continues to exist.
I’ll preface by saying I’ve always been a great fan of Morgans. I grew up with them, my Dad had 3 of them at various times (a 4/4 and a couple of +4s). And it goes without saying (but I will anyway) this is not your (or my) father’s Morgan. The interior is spectacular, I can live with the rear and side treatments, but there’s just something off with the grinning-cadaver look of the truncated front grill combined with the traditional radiator cowling. But yes, the wheels are very nice.
I really, really want to be angry about the idea of a fixed roof Morgan.
…but I can’t do it.
And those fantastic wheels. They deserve a mention.
I’m so incredibly happy they didn’t hop on the black wheel bandwagon.
Morgan takes a clumsy go at a
1936 Bugatti T57S Atlantic Coupe
I see why you led with the rear 3/4 view. By far the best.
They’ll sell tens of them I tell you. TENS!
And make a profit.
Nine, isn’t it? They are going to build nine cars, aren’t they?
I am not a fan of the window in a window and partially obscured grille in the top.
My favourite Morgan hardtop is the Aeromax with the Lancia Thesis taillights. And the Plus-Four-Plus in second place.
Also wooden frame but a ZF 8 speed automatic? Sounds odd.
It certainly is eye catching and will be a head turner.
They finally got the shifter right!
I like it. It is not perfect looking but I really like it.
I like it better than the convertible.