2005 Morgan Roadster

‘W16 GRW’ is a one-owner-from-new example of this ever-popular classic British sportscar. Manufactured to full right-hand drive UK-spec, it’s spent its life in the salt-free environs of Japan, which means it has not only been uncommonly well maintained but it is also free of the usual surface corrosion that every British car accumulates over the years.

Imported at the end of last year, this 2005 Morgan Roadster is powered by the thoroughly modern Ford V6 petrol engine mated to a five-speed manual gearbox.

It’s also finished in the iconic British colour scheme of dark green with a tan leather interior, is built with the Plus 8’s wide body, and sits on chromed wire wheels and a matching set of Michelin Pilot Sport tyres.

The seller tells us that the paintwork is in a “totally original condition, has not been repainted, and has corrosion-free body panels” – and after a close inspection we can’t find anything to refute his claims because it looks nothing short of sensational.

Plus, of course, no colour other than black is more unforgiving than a shade of green that is this dark; if there’s a flaw, no matter how minor, it’s going to shine a spotlight on it like few other hues.

The payoff is that when coachwork is as good as this no other colour comes close to highlighting not only the car’s overall design – and few cars are as beautifully designed as the Roadster – but also the smaller details like the quality of shutlines, the panel alignment, and the depth of shine.

And regarding the latter, this Morgan Roadster is as good as we’ve ever seen. Jewel-like in the intensity of the shine, the presence of chrome fittings and chromed wire wheels make this one of the few cars you could park in your sitting room and display as a 1:1 scale model.

Take a look at the bonnet louvres, for example, which run straight and true. And the badges, which are bright and unsullied. And the lamp lenses, which are clear and unmarked.

Even the fabric roof is flawless – and while you might not plan to actually use it, it’s reassuring to know that it’s still taut, fits beautifully, and is free of damage. This means you can pack it away in the attic safe in the knowledge that it’ll be another selling point when the time comes to let the Morgan go in another couple of decades.

There’s a tonneau cover too, which will almost certainly see more use as it will enable you to drive the Roadster in the rain and snow while staying fairly dry. Well, your lower half will, anyway.

It’ll also protect the cockpit from the elements when you leave it parked up because the roof’s going to be safe and dry at home – and when you aren’t using it, you’ll be able to pop it in the genuine Morgan tonneau bag that also comes with the Roadster.

The 16-inch chromed wire wheels play a disproportionately large role in the way the Morgan presents, not least because they’re so shiny and completely devoid of rust and pitting. They’re also fitted with a matching set of Michelin Pilot Sport 3 tyres, all of which might be ten years old now but still have oodles of tread left on them and no visible aging.

Plus, as we will never get tired of telling you, experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly.

As you can see, the Morgan also sports a useful chromed luggage rack on top of the spare wire wheel, which will prove invaluable once the Morgan Sports Car Club or Morgan Owners Club gets their teeth into you and persuade you to go touring with them.

As for flaws, if we’re being fastidious then we must point out that the front bumper supports have some very light surface rust on them.

A front number plate and plinth is provided however the plinth has become detached and will need fixing on again.

On pretty much any other example we’ve seen this wouldn’t be worth noting but the fact this one is so close to show-winning condition means that you’ll almost certainly want to add it to the (very short) list of jobs that need doing.

Other things you might like to consider are the door mirrors, which are pitted and a little rusty, a small mark on the bonnet (62/123 refers), and some glue residue where the seller removed two Morgan Club of Japan stickers from the bonnet. (That the previous owner was a member can only be a good thing though.)

Unlikely though it seems, the interior has survived the past twenty years and 23,000 miles just as well as the coachwork.

The tan leather seats might be relatively diminutive but they’re still very comfortable and the Morgan’s narrow cockpit provides enough space for you to be comfortable while still being sufficiently snug to hold you firmly in place when the going gets twisty. (It’s almost like they’ve got more than a century of experience to fall back on, isn’t it?)

The headrests are not currently fitted but do come with the car and could be easily reinstated should you prefer the extra safety they provide.

The transmission tunnel is trimmed in the same leather as the seats, as are the door cards and dashboard top. All are in an excellent condition with no damage whatsoever.

The brown carpets, which are edged in cream, are in an excellent condition with no visible wear thanks to a winning combination of careful curation and the use of protective Morgan-branded overmats.

The foot pedals are one of our favourite Morgan features. Beautifully crafted, the brake and clutch pedals are floor-hinged, while the tiny accelerator boasts a tiny roller that enables the driver to modulate the throttle’s position with mm-accurate precision.

Speaking of metric measurements, the 300km/hr speedometer has recorded 38,356 kms, which is 23,833 miles in old money. It also sits in a beautiful walnut veneer dashboard behind an equally attractive four-spoke, wood-rimmed steering wheel.

We are told that everything works as it should, including the heated windscreen. Yes, that’s right; Morgan, a pillar of the Brunel School of Engineering fitted a heated windscreen, which was a canny move on its part as it does away with a lot of complexity and weight.

All of which means that there isn’t much for the new owner to do in here, either.

The gearknob is a little worn, but only a little. The seat belt buckles are distinctly shabby though, so you’ll want to replace them. There is also a crack in the veneer to the right of the clock.

We should start by saying that while the Morgan starts well and drives even better, however we would recommend a full service due to lack of use in recent years. It also has an “occasionally noisy tappet, which is not uncommon for low-use Ford V6 engines.”

And whereas you’d be forgiven for baulking at having to fork out for a major service so soon on most sportscars, the fact the Morgan utilises a Ford engine and familiar, well-proven underpinnings means it’s going to be much cheaper to maintain than it would be if the car was built in Germany or Italy. You’ll also get to choose who does the work, which’ll give you extra confidence, eh?

The centrally-hinged bonnet gives great access to the US-built engine, and for bigger jobs it can be easily removed which will make that maintenance – and cleaning – much easier than it might otherwise be.

Not that you’ll need to do much of the latter because it presents very well indeed, which is further proof of the quality of the Morgan’s curation while it was in Japan: the seller has driven it for 200 miles-or-so and reports that it drives “very well”, “doesn’t overheat”, and says that the steering, suspension, gearchange, and brakes all work as they should.

The chassis plate sits ahead of the battery, and the battery includes a quick disconnect to prevent it being drained when it is in storage. It’ll also serve as a useful anti-theft device when the car’s parked and left unattended.

The underside is a bit grimy but the eagle-eyed among you will have noticed that it sits on the later multi-link rear suspension.

And anyway, we imagine your preferred valeter would be able to tidy it up easily enough, leaving you in a position to show off its rust-free status to your mates, who’ll be queuing to buy you a drink to celebrate your cleverness in buying a car from a country that looks after ‘em so well.

The Morgan does have a valid MoT till the 7th of November 2025.

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear bar the markers for no MoT (which is incorrect) and being an imported vehicle.

The history file contains two full sets of keys in addition to the owner’s handbook, the full Japan-market book pack and wallet, a letter from HMRC confirming that all duties and VAT have been paid, a V5 registration document, and some paperwork from its time in Japan including the all-important mileage confirmation certificate.

Sadly, while it does have the Morgan service history booklet, none of the services have been recorded in it, however there are service record sheets which are shown separately (albeit in Japanese).

NB: The DVLA has incorrectly recorded the colour as black. This would be an easy mistake to make but we can assure you that it is a very dark shade of green, despite what it looks like in some of the photos!

A classic car is always a discretionary purchase, and few are more discretionary than a Morgan thanks to their unique blend of vintage engineering and modern components that deliver an unrivalled driving experience – and the fact the V6 engine is not only lighter and more powerful than the Rover V8 but also sits further back in the chassis endows the front-mid-engined Roadster with perfect balance.

Refreshingly analogue in an increasingly digital and tightly regulated world, we estimate the virtual hammer will fall somewhere between £27,000 and £32,000, which feels like good value for such a fine example of one of Morgan’s finest.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays between 10am - 12pm or 2pm - 4pm. To make a booking, please use the ‘Enquire About This Vehicle’ button on the listing. Feel free to ask any questions, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.