Another exciting newcomer to the kitcar scene is the Morton Mongoose, a mid-engined, Lotus Seven-inspired sportscar. The car may be new but the people behind it certainly aren’t.
Ed Morton is a kitcar enthusiast of longstanding who has previously had a go with a couple of other projects, which although very promising, didn’t catch on.
However, his new Mongoose has been created in association with the gifted designer, Robin Hall (FBS Census, Edge Devil, Mika Meon and Wells Vertige) of Hall Engineering, who has come up with a very sexy-looking, yet amazingly affordable package.
Photo by Pete Slater
The Morton Motor Company wanted to revisit the classic Lotus Seven concept with a mid-engine design that optimises the vehicle’s weight distribution between each wheel which enhances grip. Plus, a true mid-engined design helps with a communicative steering.
A mid-mounted engine locates the vehicle’s major masses as close to the car’s rotational axis as possible, thus minimising resistance to changes in direction thus bringing a lower polar moment of inertia.
Plus, as Robin says: “To put it another way, it’s easier to turn a dumb-bell if the crossbar is shorter.”
“More weight over the driven wheels means faster starts and better traction through corners, even without a limited slip differential (although this is an easy upgrade),” he continued.
The donor is the Ford Fiesta Mk6 (2008-2012), which has the Sigma rather than EcoBoost engine. Best make sure you check with Ed Morton before buying one if you are unsure.
Regardless of all that, the Mongoose truly is a single donor vehicle, so in adition to the Sigma 1.4-litre or 1.6-litre Sigma engine although other Fords such as Zetec 2-litre or Duratec 2-litre can also be used.
In addition you’ll be using the IB5 gearbox, wiring harness, ECU, handbrake assembly while the gearchange is a rod arrangement and supplied in the kit package which costs £8500 inc VAT.
We’ll be doing a roadtest as soon as Ed and Robin are ready – watch this space. In the meantime, find out more from www.mortonmotorcompany.co.uk ENDS.