Sue Darbyshire in the Morgan Super Aero, passing Alan Middleton's Aston Martin Speed 'Red Dragon', during the MRL Pre-War Sports Cars 'BRDC 500' Race
In 1927, the Super Aero was introduced with streamlined bodywork with a rounded beetle back. In 1931 a three speed transmission & reverse gearbox with single chain drive was introduced and a new model, a development of the Super Aero, the Aero Supersports was introduced. The Morgan three wheelers started to face difficult competition from cars of similar yet more practical specification such as the Austin Seven and produced their first four wheeled car, the Morgan 4/4 in 1936 which signaled the end of the three-wheeler. This car, known as 'Red Dragon,' has a long and distinguished racing history. It was one of a pair of cars with coachwork by Harry Bertelli and built for Dick Seaman for the 1936 Ulster TT. In 1937 it was sold to Dutchman Eddy Hertzberger to compete in the Mille Miglia and at Le Mans with a modified body. After the war, it was sold to Robert Elwes, whose wife won the ladies class in the 1946 Brighton speed trials. More changes to the car occurred between 1947 and 1950 when owned by Dudley Folland, who came third in the 12-hour race in Montlhery in 1948, but crashed in the 24 hours race at Spa. Both races were won by a Ferrari 166 Spyder Corsa, which so impressed Folland that he acquired it for a time. When Folland again changed the body of his Aston Martin, now nicknamed the Red Ragon, for Le Mans in 1949, the modifications look strikingly similar to the Ferrari. The Aston has raced continuously ever since.
Size: 4040px × 2892px
Location: Silverstone Circuit, Towcester, Northamptonshire, NN12 8TN
Photo credit: © John Gaffen / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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