In L.A. in the fifties, I discovered 2 Morgan 3 wheelers on a backlot, unloved but in good condition, though I didn't see either run.
The owner wanted the princely sum of $125 each, I bought a $125 '40 Ford Delux convertable coupe' instead, had a cramped back seat, indispensible to an American teenager. It did however, have a vee'd (matched the windshield vee) oak header in the convertable top, finger jointed of 2 substantial pieces.
I spent an hour or so inspecting the Morgans, noting the similarities of the prominently featured, (served as the front bumper
) J.A.P. engine to the H.D. engine
and the differences, I was very entrigued, which prompted further study.
I was struck by the wood framing melded with the steel chassis and ever since, I've tried explain to my countrymen that in England the structure of the body is called the frame and the structure supporting the mechanical components is called the chassis. This to such assertions as
"yeah, them Morgans got's wood frames, don' no how they keep the axles on though." I seldom bothered with,
"on many Morgans it's axle, in the singular."
It went something like,
"cabinets have wooden framing and stage coaches had wooden chassis' but Morgans always had ash frames and steel chassis," some got it, I think but most looked a little cross-eyed at
chassis, french being foreign to most.....
Though I had no finances with which to alter the situation, I've always been sad that I had to pass on the Morgans. No regret's on the Ford however, I made big bucks on that thing, sold it for $225!!
Oh yeah, we pronounce it
"cha-see", as in chaff, rather than
"sha-see", as in shack, again,
"french being foreign to most.....".
Bob