Ross,
Just mentioning the Pennsylvania State inspection brings back bad memories
from when I spent five years in the 1960s in that beautiful state and had to
have my '52 +4 inspected semi-annually. If you didn't watch him, the
mechanic would start by scraping the current validation sticker of the car
and then find something wrong. I recall the following: "not having a
certified laminated windshield" (the people who replaced the glass found
out, after breaking the glass, that it would have passed inspection),
"headlights too close together" (had to go to another inspection station),
"no centre foglight allowed" (all lights had to be in pairs, solved by
cutting the wiring to the offending fog lamp), and "improper tail lights"
(rectified by adding a pair of reflectors). Of course, these deficiencies
never showed up at the same time but were either due to changing laws and
regulations, ignorant or opportunistic mechanics. I hate to think how far
they've evolved (devolved) since then.
Chuck Vandergraaf
Pinawa, MB
> ----------
> From: Ross Jones[SMTP:rossjones@earthlink.net]
> Reply To: Ross Jones
> Sent: Tuesday, June 22, 1999 3:13 AM
> To: Morgan List
> Subject: Morgan Penna. State Inspection
>
> Just got my 1987 4/4 inspected by a mechanic authorized by the state of
> Pennsylvania.
>
> I made sure prior to the inspection that everything was O.K., down to the
> controversy about having two rear-view mirrors opposed to that
> plus-a-mirror
> on the windscreen.
>
> The car passed inspection for the price of the sticker... no work needed.
> Great news for me.
>
> However, since the car was inspected, the brake light keeps flashing on
> and
> off. Some fellow British Car owners claim I should:
>
> a: slam the brakes on at a high speed
> b: bleed the entire system
> c: ?????????
>
> Since the car is a 4/4 and had only 5K mile on it, it seems to me the
> mechanic screwed something up while performing the Penna. State
> inspection.
>
> Should I bleed the brakes of a pristine vehicle or try some other option?
> There was nothing wrong with the car until it was inspected.
>
> I would like to mention that I visited Cantab Motors in Virginia on June
> 15,
> my birthday. I got the day off from work, and drove my Dodge Stealth down
> to
> Purcelleville. Picked a bad time, as Cantab was moving from one side of
> the
> industrial park to the other.
>
> But I must say that that Cantab was most gracious, and even gave me a ride
> in their new +8 sample. Roy especially is a guy to deal with. I have had
> nothing but great relations with Cantab, even given the bad time I chose
> to
> visit. My ride in the 1999 Plus 8 was extraordinary... a very different
> experience from my 1987 4/4.
>
> First off, the cabin and the car itself was much wider. The ride was very
> solid, almost so solid to be unlike a Morgan. Roy, the employee I dealt
> with, was extraordinarily particular. If you are on the East Coast, and
> need
> Morgan parts, contact this man.
>
> Win Sharples is a fantastic person. Although I only saw him, I got his
> history from Roy. His father created the first animated cartoon (Felix the
> Cat) which, contrary to popular believe, predated Mickey the Mouse.
>
> Cantab Motors seems to me a very great importer... the people are great,
> and
> although they were in the midst of moving across the industrial park, they
> made every effort to accommodate me. And I arrived in a Dodge Stealth, no
> less.
>
> I can't say enough about the graciousness of Cantab, especially when I
> visited during the midst of a move. Since my car was in such good shape,
> the
> only items I bought were shirts and other regalia. Bought the Aero Wind
> Screens, but they interfere with my mirrors, which are mounted on the
> upper
> door sills. Can't seem to find any useful place for these objects. Plus my
> wife does not like them. Hopefully, I will be able to return them. Truth
> is,
> they look like shit. Being plastic, you know.
>
> Otherwise, if you are a Morgan owner on the East Coast, Cantab is the only
> choice. I cannot say enough about how nice these people treated a relative
> novice. In the past, I have had TR2's, TR3's, MGA's, Daimler SP-250, and
> finally a Morgan 4/4. Roy at Cantab is an enclybedia of informaton. I
> cannot
> stress how much I was impressed by this company's dedication to the Morgan
> Marque, and their otherwisie genuine dedcication to quality in general.
> This
> is a great company. I saw Morgan's from every stage of development at
> Cantab... everything is top-notch.
>
> Cantab is about a 3-hour drive from my home in Penna., but I have
> convinced
> my wife (the most important figure) to visit Purcellville. Be glad to see
> the new building!
>
>
>
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