We talk to Douglas Ng of NB Auto about his journey with Morgan Motor Cars: Got Wood?
Douglas Ng of NB Auto tells us about his journey with Morgan Motor Cars: Got Wood?
Singapore - Deeper in this issue, you can read all about the time we brought out a one-owner 1978 Morgan 4/4 1600 to meet a 2022 Plus Four, but we’ve also taken the opportunity to catch up with Mr. Douglas Ng, the early-30-something head honcho of NB Auto Pte. Ltd.
(Click HERE to jump straight to the article featuring the Morgan Plus Four and 4/4 1600)
In case you’re wondering, NB Auto Pte. Ltd. doesn’t just represent Morgan Motor Cars in Singapore, but also maintains a storage facility for your collectible automobiles, so as you can imagine, Douglas’ view at the office every day is a petrolhead’s fantasy.
TopGear Singapore (TGS) : Why did you decide to take on the agency to represent the Morgan Motor Company in Singapore?
Douglas Ng (DN) : I chanced upon photos of the modern Morgan cars at the Geneva Motor Show and was struck by how stunning they looked. I got even more intrigued after watching the first video reviews, from the way the car is constructed and drives to its rich, century-old heritage, as well as the fact that it remains (partially) family owned right up to today!
The new CX architecture of the latest Morgan sportscars distinguishes it from the traditional Morgans. I wanted to enhance brand awareness for Morgan in Singapore, as well as curate owner experiences that ties-back to its legacy of unadulterated open-air driving.
TGS: What do you appreciate about the Morgan sportscars?
DN: The design and aesthetics of the new Morgans set it apart from the rest of the other car brands. To this day, the aluminium panels are hand beaten and mated to an ash wood frame – a tradition that has been upheld since the very beginning.
The Morgan Plus Four is even fitted with wire wheels that are still offered brand new by the factory today. No two Morgans are ever alike as each car is built to the owners’ specifications and there is a vast array of customisation options available.
A modern Morgan is essentially a brand new car with the latest BMW underpinnings, yet still remains exquisitely hand-made. As the saying goes, “They don’t make them like this anymore!”
Morgans aren’t just cars. They are rolling art on wheels and all about embracing the top-down, roaring roadster lifestyle with its accompanying visceral driving thrills
TGS: What do you have to say to people who think it is a waste to spend such a big amount of money on an 'old looking' car?
DN: Morgans aren’t just cars. They are rolling art on wheels and all about embracing the top-down, roaring roadster lifestyle with its accompanying visceral driving thrills – a welcome novelty given the automobile industry’s current push towards electrification.
The fully customisable, hand-built nature of the car means you are truly commissioning a one-off sportscar that is here to stay for generations. Don’t believe me? Just take a look at the 1978 4/4 you borrowed for the feature: the father bought the car new in the UK, but the son is now its caretaker.
PHOTOS Clifford Chow
