If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Change for change’s sake. If, like me, you’ve spent time in engineering, particularly on the shop floor, you’ll have heard these expressions all too often. I’m sure that men with beards – and their own handle in the local pub – will be tempted to dust off some of this linguistic ludditery. But, I implore you, please don’t jump the gun when it comes to Morgan’s all new Super 3.

Some years ago, whilst shopping for some new Italian leather throttle blippers, I had the opportunity to test the (at the time) current Morgan 3 Wheeler. I loved it! A bonkers appearance in today’s world, the torquey, growly S&S V-twin engine needing a little care to keep it running just right in the revs and a pedal box so sweet it gave those throttle-blipping boots a proper test run. Upon handing back the keys, I put that car on my figurative future toys list. When the time was right, I’d buy one. Only, now, I’m glad I didn’t.

Thinking back, whilst the looks, general driving experience and perfect pedals were a joy, the steering feel and general body composure was, well, a bit crap. Don’t get me wrong, it was great fun, but I don’t recall the front suspension feeling all that more advanced than the sliding pillar system on the really early ones. Forgive me if a recent French foray into a pre-war Darmont and the ensuing fairly hairy passenger ride have corrupted my memory somewhat. Nevertheless, with hindsight, some of the technology was very much broke and needed change. Pure driving and the vintage car experience are part of the Morgan thing, but antiquated feel and over-reliance on the quaint in a modern car with a not insignificant price tag makes buying a new one a difficult decision. Especially, when you consider the offering sits amid a sea of accessibly-priced used Porsches and many years’ worth of lightweight Lotus. Cue the new Malvern masterpiece…

A bit short on time to drop in and see friends at the local Morgan dealer whilst in their area, I wasn’t going to bother and felt a quick phone call for a catch up would suffice. Upon hearing that the new Super 3 demonstrator had just turned up, I rapidly massaged my schedule to create just enough time for a quick out-and-back. I’m very glad I did!

Approaching from the back, the Super 3 grabbed my attention, but when I circled to the front, I got all excited. Gone was the usual two-cylinder motorcycle engine; in its place a multi-purpose aluminium casting. Oh, and F1-style pull-rod suspension. And covered spotlights to complement the custom twin tinted aero screens. This machine looked both familiar and naked. Yet it also exuded polish, class and a new way to fuse old with new. For example, its front cycle wings replace the outdated bit of beaten sheet steel with a sculpted retro-futuristic design. I remember thinking distinctly that the new rear edge detail and tyre coverage should keep any rogue stones from being flicked in my direction.

Heading for the driver’s seat, things are typically spartan as you’d expect from a Morgan. Yet, nestled away were buttons for heated seats, an electric fan (to actually warm your legs) and, crucially, a little red T-handle knob. The latter allows any driver to slide the whole pedal box assembly to their position of choice with great ease. In the old Morgan it was a time-consuming affair involving spanners – a situation that tempted a temporary driver to adopt a slumped, back-damaging posture or grab a cushion. No such nonsense nowadays!

Whilst I’m not a fan of digital instruments, the Super 3’s gauges are a fitting reminder that Morgan has started moving on. Quite a bit! You may remember I was very positive about the new Plus Six – if not, you can read about it here – but where that car was almost there, in my opinion, Morgan have got this one just right. I’m very glad I didn’t buy the last one since, now, I want this new one even more!

After some careful stepping and sliding to get nestled into the driver’s seat without standing shamelessly on the brand new base cushion, a quick tug on the red t-handle gets the pedals set just right and my hands fall to grip the leather-wrapped Moto-Lita steering wheel. A slender rim with just enough give, it’s very comfortable and a big upgrade on the last model’s vague guiding device. Toggle switches and the ‘missile’ starter are nice additions, but nothing compared to the pull-and-go joy enhancement of the fly-off handbrake. Perhaps strange to use the first couple of times, this mechanism goads you to lay on a few revs, ping the handbrake off and pop the clutch. Fighting temptation to set off with some cheeky single-wheel spin is quite the challenge and sets the tone for a tremendous toy car in a world of mainstream mediocrity.

If you read the marketing blurb or watch the official video showing a pre-production model there’s lots of reference to patented attachment rails and the ‘sideblades’. In many respects, these don’t concern us for a short-journey play thing, but if you decide to take the Super 3 on a longer trip from time to time, the pannier possibilities are bound to be a serious plus. Special water-resistant material selection, IP-rated auxiliaries etc. show that Morgan have put some real effort into this one. The new chassis and exposed bits of it you can see are a genuine triumph. If I have any constructive criticism for this car it includes the following: a lack of centre mirror does limit rear vision more than is sensible, the moulded plastic aeroscreens deform the forward view enough to make them best employed as makeshift stone and bug protection when you’re above 50 mph and the ignition key position is just begging to see a few snap-off-in-lock incidents when bigger drivers want to jump out with the engine running. Saying that, I didn’t catch it with my thighs during pedal dancing.

While I’m at it, there’s nowhere to put your left foot when not changing gear so a dinky dead pedal wouldn’t go amiss although you can sort of rest your heel at the base of the left-most floor-mounter after a few miles’ acquaintance. It feels odd not being able to turn off the headlights, but since we’re in motorcycle territory and this thing is both small and exposing, being fully lit wherever you go would be my driving tip of choice anyway.

A slick 5 speed ‘box, those superb pedals and a new 3 cylinder car engine developed to propel much larger Fords promise a spirited sporty drive. They deliver. The engine is a touch rough at the lower revs and doesn’t like to idle drive, but I wonder if that’s almost a designed-in nod to the character of the S&S V-twin from the previous model. Keeps revs a touch higher and the new water-cooled power plant hidden beneath the front hood is a pleasure to play with. Since the car I drove was brand new and hadn’t even covered 100 miles, I chose not to push the engine too hard, but there’s plenty of grunt for the sort of driving this car is designed to encourage. It’s not an all-out Caterham slayer – far from it – but you’re so exposed that I’m pleased it’s not! The brake pedal wasn’t the firm, confidence-inspiring experience that the pedal box promised, but the brakes perform well with wheel locking far from difficult once you squeeze enough on the elastic feeling stopper. In any case, the handbrake had more than enough might to lock the rear wheel should I have needed a little extra.

Not only did the Super 3 grab my attention during my first circling, I’ve never had so many looks, smiles and photos taken in anything else on the public road. I even had a motorcyclist riding alongside with head turned backwards for the best part of far too long as his wrist outpaced his sudden interest. A kerb-huntingly wide front track and olde-worlde fighter plane tub take a bit of getting used to, but then that’s nothing new in the three-wheeled lineage. Having touched on the aero screens and the constant risk of flying guff threatening your eyes and forehead – or beard – driving these machines at speeds much above 40 mph without some protection is, perhaps, less than prudent. Whether you choose Biggles’ headwear or opt to follow Morgan’s long-striding footsteps and take a modern full-face crash helmet is up to you, but one or other makes a lot of sense if you’ll be dogfighting with trucks on the dual carriageway from time to time. Of course, a tinted visor on a sunny day will keep you incognito amongst all those impressed onlookers.

At this point, we’d better talk ride and handling, because this is the single biggest change from 3 wheelers past. Quite simply, Morgan have got this just right! The ride’s not so perfect that you feel dulled and cushioned in the enveloping cocoon of an S-class Mercedes, however, it mops up bumps and the odd pothole in such a way that some beard-sporting Morgan owners may claim this isn’t a proper Morgan. On the contrary, it’s what a Morgan should have been for quite some time! I want one, whether I’m sporting my beard or not. Yet, the biggest single surprise was the handling; how the chassis responds to steering inputs and a little throttle fiddling. This machine doesn’t react like most modern sports cars with their wide low-profile tyres. The freshly-developed vintage-inspired rubber is more like a bicycle tyre than what I’m used to loading up in the bends. You must give the front tyres time to react and avoid sudden double changes in direction, but load things up smoothly and there’s a fairly linear response; a decent conversation with the contact patch and how hard it’s working.

Instead of feeling like the thing was going to tip over at any minute, it inspired enough confidence to wag the tail a little and give those Caterhams a run for their smile-inducing money. You’ve just got to work out where you’re going to put your right elbow during all this, but I’ll leave you to discover that for yourself during your first drive. Taking one out for a spin may just be the best automotive afternoon you’ll spend in months.

Before publishing this article, I was lucky enough to get another go at the Super 3 driving experience – only this time, in the rain! A decent jacket, full-face helmet and willing passenger on my way to Millbrook Proving Ground meant a chance to test almost all remaining aspects of ownership. Frankly, I had accepted getting a bit damp, but I’m sure that hardcore 3 Wheeler drivers have been better prepared in the clothing department for some time. The first thing that stood out was how exposed my right hand was to the elements at speed. Being out in the breeze, soft water raindrops felt like a refrigerated hailstorm and I’d have appreciated some motorcycle gloves or, better, an extra bulge in the driver’s side aeroscreen. Morgan, the conveniently placed mount would be an easy anchor for a retro-fit extra.

Enjoying chit-chat with my passenger, we decided that the heated seats were really very comfortable as well as supportive and did a great job of warming up a damp posterior. The seat fabric resists water brilliantly so dries up easily with a quick wipe after parking through a downpour. If there’s one place Morgan have gone a touch too modern for my taste, it’s the switch from 12v supply to twin USB port. We had a 12v-powered intercom to help us chat between helmets, but couldn’t plug it in! Perhaps there’s another socket that I didn’t have time to find in the rear luggage compartment?

With a rain jacket in poor weather, my wristwatch was hidden from view so I noticed the distinct lack of dash-mounted clock, but these are both minor gripes for such a well-sorted car. Driving two up on a damp road surface changes the handling markedly and was far less fun than in the dry, but the extra weight over the rear tyre and reduced front grip makes for improved safety in challenging conditions. I suppose I’m only disappointed as I had use of Millbrook’s wet dynamics pad for some playful oversteer trials!

Overall, the superb Super 3 is a genuine three-wheeled triumph. It definitely represents a niche within a niche, but in terms of quality and driving experience, it’s worth every penny of its not insignificant price tag. The chassis, handling, build quality and innovation are fabulous. I think the only problem Morgan will have with this car is finding enough of the new client base they’ll need to sell suitable volumes of this new model in the higher price bracket.

Special thanks to Morgan & Lotus specialists Allon White Sports Cars for letting me loose in their Super 3 demonstrator. Twice.

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