Monthly Archives: January 2019

It began with the 1961 Plus Four Roadster I purchased from my father in 1966.

This was my everyday car while I was attending Georgia State University where I had the good fortune to meet Dale, my wife of now fifty plus years.

We dated in that car for almost a year until it was sold and replaced with a yellow 1961 VW convertible (but that is another story).

Fast forward twenty years, we were raising three children, both working and dealing with all that goes along with a dual income, hardworking, busy family.

In celebration of our 20th wedding anniversary Dale said she wanted to give me another Morgan.

The search for a car began the Sunday after Thanksgiving of 1988.

Amy and Adam and I journeyed to a small British Car event in downtown Atlanta where we met Lance Lipscomb as well as Bob and Wynell Bruce and Maidie and Charlie Williams, all members of MOGSouth. I told them of my quest for another Morgan and by Monday afternoon, Lance, called and said he had found a car.

The car was in a basement in a home in Marietta and was being sold because the owner had begun a rebuild but had by then given up on the project.

I purchased the car on sight and all of the various pieces and brought it home.

It needed painting as well as an interior and reassembly and with help from Don Simpkins, Fred Sisson and Lance the car came together in early 1989 and made its formal debut at the MCCDC National Meet that summer after traveling in caravan from Atlanta along with Fred and Roni Sisson and their three year old daughter Sam.

The car was frequently driven to many meets and Morgan events over the next thirty years where we made long lasting friendships with the many members of the Morgan community.

After the MOGSouth Christmas Party of 2016, Dale and I made the decision that it was time to “freshen” the Morgan as it was showing its age and the wear and tear of 30 years of enjoyment. This car is not a “garage queen”. It was driven and enjoyed weekly for almost thirty years.

After several fits and starts, I reached out to Mitch Bressler of MSA Classics in Carrollton, Georgia to handle the project.

I had met Mitch just after the car was first on the road when he worked with Jon Stamps of Jon Stamps Racing and they had performed several major repairs to the car.

Mitch had begun full time vintage race car preparation and car restoration as well as general maintenance with his company MSA Classics in a large facility in Carrollton.

As it turns out, what was to be a “freshening” became a full body off frame up restoration and now it sports a completely rebuilt engine and transmission, new brake and electrical systems, rebuilt transmission, aluminum radiator and fuel tank, new floorboards, complete respray and complete new custom fit leather interior.

In effect, it is a new 1967 Plus Four and in my opinion, the result is stunning.

Thanks to Mitch Bressler and his company MSA Classics and his local suppliers and craftsmen as well as Morgan Spares, Lonnie Bailey, who painted the car and Northpoint Auto Upholstery, and especially to Dale, my wife of now fifty plus years, the Morgan Rides Again!

We lost another MOGSouth stalwart.  Bob Bruce passed away on Sunday, 30 December, just shy of the New Year.  He was 81 years old. 

Most of the relatively new MOGSouth folks wouldn’t remember the Bruces but those of us that have been around MOGSouth for a while certainly do.  Wynell Bruce was a past president of MOGSouth so Bob was always there with the Morgan. 

My first introduction to MOGSouth was when Wynell was the president.  I was in some position of authority in MCCDC and had dealings with MOGSouth about support for a MCCDC MOG meet or some such.  This was around 1990 or so.  MOGSouth was seen as the ‘standard,’ organized, vital and aptly led. 

The Bruce’s lovely Blue Plus 4 2 Seater (Elizabeth) was always at the meets.  (There was a three wheeler, called Angus??, as well, that needed a bit of TLC. )  Bob was pilot for Eastern Airlines, then Eastern Airlines did their thing and Bob was piloting aircraft, island hopping as it was, in the Caribbean.  Bob took this all in stride and his understated sense of humor always rose to the top. 

At one point a MOGSouth event in the islands was discussed.  Now that would have been interesting!

Eventually the Bruce’s came back to the cars and house in Kennesaw.  The most memorable Bob moment for me was the phone call.  There was a message on the tape machine. Bob had called.  I returned the call, asking ‘what’s up?’  Bob was abrupt and asked frankly ‘What ever happened to the Five Dollar lunch?’ 

Now that took me a bit by surprise.  He was reacting to a recent MOGSouth event and comparing it to earlier times.  I think the question may have been partially in jest, but I failed to adequate provide a reasonable answer, so he kept hammering me.  Bob was a happy guy with an infectious smile.  He always expected the best. 

I do have to say, that I think of Bob and his question often these days, especially when I am negotiating, on behalf of MOGSouth, something that costs real money.  I guess his question left a mark! 

After that the Bruce’s haven’t been seen too often, although they maintain their affiliation with the club but haven’t participated in any of the more recent MOGSouth events.  I know, sometimes it is just too hard, or there are too many conflicts.  The trike was sold to Lee Gaskins, if I remember correctly and the Plus 4, I believe, is still in Kennesaw.

The obituary as posted is as follows.

Robert S. “Bob” Bruce November 10, 1937 – December 30, 2018 Robert S. “Bob” Bruce, Sr., 81, of Kennesaw, died Sunday, December 30, 2018. A graveside memorial service will be held at 3:00 on Tuesday afternoon, January 8, 2019, in the Georgia National Cemetery, Canton. Mr. Bruce was born in Michigan but had lived in Kennesaw since 1972, coming from Miami. He retired from Eastern Airlines as a pilot and was Presbyterian. Surviving are his wife of 59 years, Wynell Bruce of Kennesaw; son, Robert S. (Laura) Bruce, Jr., of Dallas; grandchildren, Rob Bruce, Alicia Bruce, Tyler Bauch, and Austin Bauch; great grandson, J J Bruce.

Collins Funeral Home, Acworth, is in charge of arrangements.   

GRAVESIDE MEMORIAL SERVICE – Tuesday January 8, 2019, 3:00 PM at Georgia National Cemetery, 1080 Scott Hudgens Dr, Canton, GA 30114