To understand this rapid development, we have to go back to 2008 when American Pete Larsen launched the Liberty Ace, a car clearly inspired by the great Morgan Aero three-wheelers or trikes of the 1930s. He designed and built the Harley Davidson-powered machine himself, using funding from several clients as well as his thriving side-car business.
The Morgan is powered by a V-twin motorcycle engine, as were the 1930s originals, only now it's a modern S&S with fuel injection. (Photo: Wouter Melissen) One of the people very interested in Larsen?s project was Charles Morgan, the manager director of the 100-year-old British automaker. Morgan travelled to Seattle, Wash., to get a closer look, and he was so impressed with what he saw that he decided to buy Larsen out and bring the project back to the Morgan factory where the first of the original three-wheeled Morgans had been produced.
A lot of work was still needed to get the design up to production-car standards, but Larsen had provided Morgan with a flying start, allowing for a relatively short development period.
The big V-twin mounted between the front wheels rumbles with power, although one of the biggest changes compared with the original design is that it?s no longer a Harley Davidson but a narrow-angle S&S X-Wedge twin. Equipped with fuel injection, dry-sump lubrication and displacing just under two liters, it produces around 120 horsepower and 100 pound-feet of torque.
Bolted directly to the motorcycle lump is a five-speed gearbox straight out of a Mazda Miata MX-5. The sizeable single rear wheel is driven by a belt.
The prototype model was adorned with World War II fighter-style shark graphics. (Photo: Wouter Melissen) The mechanicals are bolted to a simple tubular steel frame that in most respects follows Larsen?s interpretations of the original Morgan design. Suspension is by double wishbones and coil springs at the front, while the rear wheel is fitted between a motorcycle swing arm, which is equipped with twin spring and damper units.
The straightforward package is clothed with an aluminum body complete with the bullet-shaped nose inspired by the 1930s Morgans. Like many of the show cars, the protoype 3 Wheeler was decorated with funky ?shark? graphics that would not have looked out of place on a World War II fighter plane.
In addition to the starter button, the dashboard is fitted with only the bare necessities: a speedometer, tachometer and a row of four toggle switches.
At 6-foot-2, I was a tight squeeze getting into the Morgan, even with the help of a removable steering wheel, but there was just enough room. Thanks to the abundance of torque and power in the 1,100-pound machine, pulling away is easy and spinning the rear tire in first or second takes very little encouragement.
Source: http://automotive.speedtv.com/article/driven-morgan-3-wheeler-is-reborn/
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