Here’s baT Auction Success Story: Marj the Morgan
BaT member williamglenn95 wrapped up a fly-and-drive adventure with the 1967 Morgan 4/4 GT that he won from 97mar in an August 2025 BaT auction. He affectionately named it Marj, and wrote in to tell us how the name came to be:
As a kid, I had a hardwired fascination for all types of beautiful and unique vehicles. This was inspired by my older cousins, who owned everything from motorcycles to a 1960s VW sand rail and a 1965 Sting Ray. My brother and I would play a game every time we rode in the third row of our family’s Chevy Astro van, trying to accurately state the make, model, and year of every car we passed, even at night (I can still read headlight and taillight signatures with surprising accuracy). We also collected hundreds of Hot Wheels cars and spent countless hours talking about our future rides. I inherited both of my current vehicles and started a separate savings account for my dream car.
I’ve always loved British cars. Their smooth lines, the focus on driver-to-road connection, and longstanding heritage were all pieces of the ineffable attraction I felt to Lotuses, Jaguars, Aston Martins, McLarens, Minis, MGs, Austin-Healeys, and…Morgans. I was split between pursuing a kit order of an adrenaline-blasting Seven or taking the more demure route of a classic Morgan to begin with. I began following both model categories on BaT, and watched and waited for something, hoping I would know when the right one came along. This site is addicting (as many others have noticed) and I still enjoy perusing and watching various listings. I was living away from home when this Morgan went live. Its unique details were perfect, the color combo was the most attractive one I’d ever seen, and the maintenance records dated back to 1981. I had to have it, and from a temporary office in a strange town, I somehow placed the winning bid—higher than I intended, but no regrets. I was in disbelief.
I flew from Atlanta to Tucson and met the owner. His partner, Marj, had suddenly passed away a couple of months prior. The car was her pride and joy, and I spent time listening to stories, including about her spontaneous purchase of the car in 1981 from a Ferrari dealership in Los Gatos, the cross-country road trips she took with her Morgan club, the washboard she played with jazz groups, and the incredible art she produced. The seller gifted me a picture of Marj draped across the front fender, with the tagline: “I love my Morgan.” The first photo I took with the car in the seller’s driveway was a recreation of it.
I decided at length to attempt to drive the car home over the course of a week, with backup plans in place. The seller and I were both nervous. Even though he kindly offered to pay for shipping, I was determined to get to know the car and have my own story for the future, no matter how the trip went. We took an educational ride together before I set off, and I left armed with spare parts and a tool kit that barely made it through TSA. It was almost exactly 2,000 miles back home.
The week that followed entailed much overnight driving to take advantage of cool night air on the radiator and lower traffic volume. I drove through the desert with the top down and the Milky Way stretched out in front of me until the sun rose over the bonnet. I drove up the Natchez Trace, letting the Mississippi Delta rain sprinkle my hand through the side curtain. I stopped to see family members, told truck stop crowds the story of Marj, and counted the number of spontaneous thumbs-ups I received while passing kids, truckers, and friends. I now keep a tally of thumbs-up using an analog clicker in the glovebox. The car purred like a kitten the whole way.
All of our cars had been named and had their own personalities since I was little, so I had considered what to name it before I even flew out. I figured by the time we crossed the country together, the car’s personality would become clear, and I’d know what name would fit it best. As I parked her in my garage and reflected on the miles behind us, there was only one name that encapsulated the spirit of the car: Marj. There was so much of its previous owner wrapped in it, from the colors she picked out during refurbishment to the impeccable maintenance record. I am determined to carry on her legacy through loving and caring for every inch of the car, for as long as I can lift a spanner.
My favorite thing so far has been the smiles and friendly conversations that are sparked wherever I go. Watching supercar owners crane their necks to get a better look is a pretty good feeling, too. When I go to shows, I place the picture of Marj on the back of the tonneau cover and tell anyone who asks about how much she loved this beautiful machine. Interestingly enough, at the ripe old age of 30, this is the first car I’ve ever actually purchased. I figure I’ve got at least 30 more years and thousands of miles to spend with her.
That’s a wonderfully fitting name, williamglenn95! Thanks for writing to us.
If you have a Success Story about a car you’ve bought or sold on BaT, please send a few lines and pictures (or a video) to community.content@bringatrailer.com, and we’ll send you a $50 credit to the BaT Gear Store when your story posts to the site.
We love to hear from satisfied BaT buyers and sellers, and a Success Story feature is a great addition to any car’s history when you’re ready to sell.
