Today's post just delivered the latest issue of the SAE magazine
Automotive Engineering (May 1999). On page 22 there is a short
article about the Morgan. At the risk of abusing copyright laws, I
thought this list would be like to know what's in print (its not
likely that most of you would be able to find a copy of the
magazine). I don't have a page scanner, otherwise I would have
flagrantly abused the copyright by sending a pdf of the page and
photo.
Morgan approval
One of the world's more unlikely production cars is the Morgan. Now
describing itself as "the oldest independent British car maker,"
Morgan has achieved European Whole Vehicle Type Approval for its
two-seat models. Morgans have retained their classic appearance for
decades, and changes to meet the European legislation have not
threatened that. They include a high-level brake light, larger, safer
cockpit, and anti-theft immobilizers.
Charles Morgan, Joint Managing Director, said: "While retaining our
traditional coachbuilding skills and hand-built manufacturing
processes, we have been able to surpass the latest legislative
requirements."
Morgan has also invested to surpass US regulations. US emissions
legislation required development of onboard diagnostics, a new wiring
harness, and solid-state digital ignition system. Driver and
passenger airbags are fitted for the US and are optional for Europe.
They are of the depowered type designed to operate in conjunction with
seatbelts for maximum protection.
Morgan has made changes to its manufacturing processes. Every part
of the factory's process and layout, from laying down the chassis to
hand stitching the trim, has been refined." according to the company.
The time each car is in the production phase has been cut from 40 to a
"regular and repeatable" 24 days.
A major pivot of these changes is a reduction in work-in-progress,
with manufacture now regulated to a constant and controlled workflow.
The new layout includes specially designed line-side parts bins and
racking systems for quick and easy parts picking. In the bodyshop,
where 72-piece ash frames for all models are assembled before being
paneled with aluminum, the new system has speeded parts supply.
Production of Morgan's long, sweeping front fenders are now formed
with aluminum pressings using superplastic forming, with detail
finishing by hand. The forming process forces the heated alloy into a
tool. As the force used is air pressure, only single-surface tools,
whose shape matches precisely that of the component, are required.
Morgans said that the company's aim is to manufacture, in limited
numbers, a car that lasts the life of the owner - and to reduce the
waiting list for new cars to three years in any of its export markets.
Authored by Stuart Birch
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