James Ferry of Glencoe, Ill., is the proud owner of a 1966 Morgan with a four-cylinder, 2,138 cc. engine. The restoration of this beauty was finished in June 2016, just in time to win Best of Show at the Art & the Automobile inaugural event in Palos Park, Ill. It will be on the show field and competing for awards at the Milwaukee Concours d’Elegance, Aug. 28, in Veterans Park.
The car traveled across Europe
The car was purchased from Charles Morgan by a Midwestern industrialist for his daughter who was studying abroad. She and the Morgan traveled all over Europe. It was by no means a garage queen in its early life, sustaining dings and dents as it transported the young lady.
The car was shipped from Paris to New York and then to Chicago’s North Shore when the young lady concluded her studies in 1969. Her high school age brother then drove the car to school every day. Shortly thereafter the car was moved to storage where it languished for decades.
Restoration work began in 2014
The many steps undertaken by Gregory Serduke at Columbia Restoration in association with The Last Detail included:
- In May 2014 the car was disassembled, down to every last nut and bolt. All panels and frame were blasted to bare metal and epoxy primed.
- All original components of the chassis were rebuilt to uncommon standards
- The original 8-piece plywood floor was duplicated and laminated with 1/8-in. aluminum dynamat center.
- The entire passenger compartment was lined with aluminum and dynamat and painted with the body color, where visible.
- New complete interior panels were fashioned incorporating a hidden fashioning system.
- The exterior was painted with glasurit urethane in Westminster Green, the car’s original color.
- The wood dashboard made of Luthier-quality curly maple was redesigned with different contours and included a locking glovebox and hidden mounting system.
- The caramel-colored full leather interior features contrasting stitching and distinctive map pockets.
“This stunning example has been road tested at 100 mph and is perfect,” according to Serduke. Attendees are invited to see this car and talk with Serduke, the restorer and Ferry during the 2016 Milwaukee Concours d’Elegance.
Gates open at 10 a.m., Aug. 28, in Veterans Park. Buy tickets at the gate. Cash or credit cards accepted (Visa, Mastercard or Discover). Learn more at MilwaukeeConcours.com.