THE Morgan Motor Company of Malvern is celebrating a world first as one of its cars reaches its 70th year.

The Morgan 4/4 has the longest continuous run of any production car in the world.

To celebrate, the firm, based in Pickersleigh Road, Malvern, will be rolling out a limited number of anniversary models, with two cars built to celebrate each year of manufacture - two cars for 1936, two for 1937, and so on.

Styled to mirror the decade they represent, these vehicles offer a unique opportunity to own a piece of Morgan history.

Appropriately named 70th Anniversary, the cars will be subtly changed with period colours, trim and hood styles, vintage dashboard, sheepskin bonnet strap and drilled steel wheels with chrome hub caps.

They have been fully tested and developed to meet all of the latest crash and emission tests and will be powered by a 1.8-litre 125bhp Ford Duractec engine.

Charles Morgan, director and grandson of the company's founder, said: "We are really proud to celebrate this anniversary.

"We have sold nearly 10,000 4/4s over the years. The fact we have kept the essence and the character of the car, while keeping the functioning current, is a testament to the original design, and the skills and ingenuity of our engineers at the factory in Malvern."

The 142 Anniversary cars will be priced at £27,950 including VAT. Production runs from January to November this year.

For more information about the limited edition models, log on to www.morgan-motor.co.uk. The site has a list of which 'years' are available and more than half have already been sold, including the majority of the earlier years.

Mr Morgan added: "I'm not at all surprised by the number of enquiries into the limited edition models. The popularity of the 4/4 is the reason that it has been going so long."

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