Last August, I travelled to County Kilkenny, where I spent an afternoon with the Wilsdons, lifelong classic car enthusiasts and competitive racers. In 2025, Alex Snr. stepped back from competition, passing the racing to Alex Jnr. and returned to the more sedate style of motoring for which he has always held a passion. He purchased a 1936 Morgan 4/4, still fitted with its original Coventry Climax engine and Moss crash gearbox, both recently rebuilt.
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MOTORSPORT BACKGROUND
From the time he left school, Alex Wilsdon Snr. has had an interest in cars and has been involved in several types of motorsports. Over many years, he competed in car rallying, auto testing and, more recently, hill climbed Caterham type cars and the Radical PR6, or as he says, “all sorts of bits and pieces”. Following a medical issue in 2024, Alex Snr. has had to “pass on the fast cars” to his son Alex Jnr. and has returned to the older cars for which he has always had a passion. Having purchased his 1936 Morgan 4/4 from a lady owner, Alex explained that “it was rebuilt in the 1970s, it was her dad that built it and she had owned the car since then”. Unfortunately, due to illness, she decided to sell the car and, as Alex puts it, “her loss has been our gain”. Since acquiring the Morgan, Alex has discovered what he describes as “a new passion” for classic car motoring.
MORGAN HISTORY
Alex’s 1936 Morgan 4/4 represents an important chapter in the history of the Morgan Motor Company, a British manufacturer founded by Henry Frederick Stanley Morgan in Worcestershire, England. Renowned for lightweight construction, traditional craftsmanship and distinctive styling, Morgan remains in production today, hand building around 630 cars annually.
After establishing a garage and motor dealership in 1905, H.F.S. Morgan introduced his first vehicle in 1909. The Morgan three wheeler, powered by a motorcycle derived 7 horsepower twin cylinder Peugeot engine, quickly established the company’s reputation for light, sporting and unconventional motoring.
FOUR WHEELS
Alex’s car belongs to a pivotal period in Morgan history. In December 1935, Morgan unveiled the 4/4 during the London to Exeter Trial. Adding a fourth wheel to the company’s successful line of three wheelers was a major step driven by changing customer expectations. The 4/4 (“or “4-4” as it was known pre-war for its 4 wheels and 4 cylinders”) became Morgan’s first four wheeled production car.
ORIGINAL FEATURES
Alex’s 1936 example, chassis number 148, features a steel chassis with ash frame construction, Morgan’s distinctive sliding pillar independent front suspension and the original 1,122cc Coventry Climax four-cylinder engine coupled to a Moss four speed “crash gearbox”. While early cars used a Meadows of Wolverhampton gearbox, Morgan adopted a Moss unit in 1938, retaining its unusual shift pattern, an upgrade that appears to have found its way into Alex’s Morgan.
Offered as a roadster, drop head coupé, open four seater or rolling chassis for specialist coachwork, the 4/4 combined light weight, simplicity and sporting performance.
Built from 1936 to 2018, the Morgan 4/4 went on to become the longest running production car in the world. While later Plus 4 and Plus 8 models offered greater performance, the 4/4 remained the entry point to Morgan ownership for generations of classic car enthusiasts.
DRIVING EXPERIENCE
What Alex likes most about driving his Morgan is that “you are back to basics, back to a double de clutch on the gearbox and having to use an engine, rather than the engine just being there for you. It is a bit of an experience and you must get your head mentally around the car and accept that this is not a modern car.” “It drives quite well and is quite an interesting experience and we are looking forward to many more experiences with it.”
He went on to say, “the car kind of becomes part of you when you are on a longer journey, as it is an old steering box system and, although they have completed a lot of alterations and repairs, there is still a tendency to weave with the camber in the road”.
PRACTICAL MODIFICATIONS
Modifications to date include work on the shock absorbers, with some further attention still required to the rear end and its friction shocks. They are looking forward to getting that sorted out.
Guiding us around the Morgan’s dashboard, Alex explained the various gauges, including oil pressure, an electrical ammeter and a two stage charging system giving different rates of charge. The car has been slightly modified in that it does have an electric fan fitted to cope with the stop start nature of modern traffic. The car does not have a water pump, instead using a system whereby the heat of the water creates a circulation effect and, at some stage before Alex’s ownership, it was fitted with a Brooklands steering wheel.
As Alex says, the car is very original. It has good worn leather, it is not all new and has been well used and enjoyed by people rather than being put up on a pedestal.
IRISH CONNECTION
Alex believes his 1936 Morgan is quite a rare car and is not sure how many are left on the road. He does know there were three of these cars imported into Ireland around 1938 by a company called Gormans. The family was originally from Clonmel and he believes one of the cars still exists in the Channel Islands. Alex is not sure if his car is now the only one left in the country. We previously covered the story of the Gorman Morgans — see links below.
COVENTRY CLIMAX ENGINE
Guiding us around the engine compartment, Alex pointed out the two steel chassis rails on either side of the engine, while the balance of the Morgan chassis and frame is built in ash wood. The car retains its original 1936 1,122cc 34 hp Coventry Climax engine with a side valve exhaust and overhead valve inlet. In recent years, the engine has been overhauled and reconditioned and the only non-standard item is that the original problematic Stromberg carburettor, now in a box on the shelf, has been replaced by an SU unit. A slightly more modern petrol pump has also been fitted. The Moss gearbox and back axle are all original, the cable operated brakes, with no hydraulics, are all original, and the final comment — “it goes quite well”.
SUMMER MOTORING
Under glorious August sunshine, Alex Snr. treated this author to a spirited drive through the roads of County Kilkenny, followed by a gentle parade around the grounds of Mount Juliet Estate. Open top motoring and summer sunshine provided the perfect setting and the Morgan was very much in its element.
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Check out the other stories we have made with the Wilsdons:
Check out our previous Morgan stories:
Sources of Information, Photo, Video & Music Credits:
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