Morgan Museum
By: James Robinson
Lifelong Morgan enthusiast Chris Booth runs a museum at Rolvenden in Kent, largely dedicated to his favourite marque. One of the three-wheeled ‘honorary motorcycles’ became his first powered transport in 1960 and by including or removing the reverse gear, the same vehicle enabled him to pass both his motorcycle and car tests. He still drives it.
Chris Booth stands by his first Morgan, now an exhibit in his tight-packed museum.
Located at the rear of Falstaff Antiques (the family business), the museum is crammed from floor to ceiling with memorabilia as well as a core of around 11 three-wheelers. All of them were bought very cheaply, in need of, and eventually receiving, total restoration. A variety of skills are required as much of a Morgan’s body frame is made from wood. Chris has had no formal training but carries out virtually all the work involved.
“Morgans suffer all sorts of problems,” he explained. “The timber they used was lightweight. Some even required the bodywork painting after just a year.”
The museum’s motorcycle interest includes early examples from Premier, P&M and Royal Enfield as well as a Humber forecar that has taken part in 40 London-Brighton runs. In the course of a year most of the museum’s stock will have a turn out on the road.
Morgan Museum, Rolvenden, Kent. 01580 241234; www.morganmuseum.org.uk
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