You can’t beat the classics

We head to Perranwell Garage – Cornwall’s Morgan and classic car hire specialist – to experience life behind the wheels of a British motoring icon.

As my colleague Spencer and I approach Perranwell Garage on a crisp, sunny winter’s afternoon, we bristle with excitement at the prospect of hiring a classic piece of British motoring history.

“With sleek yachts gently rocking on the water and the timeless elegance of the Morgan parked on the quayside, it takes us back to a scene that we’re certain belongs to a Bond film”

Upon arrival, Perranwell Garage owner, Anthony Scrivener, gives us the grand tour. The first thing that strikes us is the vast and impressive array of classic cars lining the garage floor; some for sale, some for hire, others being worked on by the expert engineers. My eyes are drawn to a pristine and very rare Ferrari Dino, a spectacular car, but not what we’re here for.

Today we’re hiring a Morgan two-seater with a Zetec 1.8 litre engine. Founded in 1909, Morgan Motor Company is very much a darling of the motor industry, and not just here in the UK. Indeed, the Morgan’s iconic design has a worldwide reputation, its magnificent cars still being manufactured today right here in Great Britain.

The company’s ethos towards traditional craftsmanship remains unchanged and, as we’re shown around the car and given a crash course on its finer details and controls, it quickly becomes apparent that we are about to experience something truly special. We take a quick trip up and down the road to get to grips with the classic controls, before being handed a selection of handpicked Cornish driving routes. After that, the car is ours.

Tentative at first – the feel and control of the Morgan are somewhat alien compared to modern cars – we soon realise that this fabulous automobile, in reality, is extremely easy to drive. And it’s clearly been maintained to a meticulous standard too, with the clutch, brakes and accelerator responding beautifully. It’s not long before I feel confident driving this most classic of British cars, as if I belong to the 1930s when this exceptional vehicle was first conceptualised.

For our first stop we head to Mylor Harbour. With sleek yachts gently rocking on the water and the timeless elegance of the Morgan parked on the quayside, it takes us back to a scene that we’re certain belongs to a Bond film. We stop for a bite at Mylor Café, but it doesn’t satisfy our appetite for what the Morgan still has to offer so we hit the road again, this time for a flyby through Falmouth. As you can imagine the Morgan garners looks from everybody we pass, young and old, each admiring its sleek lines and archetypally British design.

Next we stop off at Swanpool and Maenporth, drinking in the view, before taking to the country lanes, and it’s here that the car really comes to life. Driving around Cornwall beneath blue skies is pleasant in any vehicle, but in a classic car like the Morgan, it’s truly an experience. And this is precisely what Perranwell’s Classic Car Hire service is all about, giving motoring enthusiasts the chance to enjoy these iconic cars the way they were meant to be enjoyed.

Navigating the Cornish coast and countryside, in a car so far removed from the modern world of motoring, is an experience without parallel. And it’s something that I, for one, could quite happily get used to. So, with a selection of Morgans and MGs to choose from, superb rates for hire and a handpicked selection of routes to make the most of your rental; if you’re a lover of classic cars or you know someone who is, I would not hesitate to recommend contacting Perranwell Garage.

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Whether you’re looking to purchase your first Morgan or upgrade to a different model, the expert Perranwell Garage team is an authority in Cornwall on all-things Morgan.