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The iconic HFS Morgan design has been updated with 21st Century technology and classic aircraft styling cues to bring back a more carefree era when driving was fun and every journey an adventure.

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• Pure fun! Morgan three-wheeler pics       

Is it a car, a pod racer - or a fighter plane? It's none of those; it's a genuine Morgan three-wheeler - not a replica! - and it's the most fun you can have with your clothes on.

The three-wheeler - immortalised by Peter Sellers in “The Party” - was built, with a variety of big V-twin motorcycle engines, from 1909 to 1953. Now the iconic design has been updated with 21st Century technology and classic aircraft styling cues to bring back a more carefree era when driving was fun and every journey an adventure.

It all starts with a long-stroke, pushrod engine from American custom builder S&S, churning out 85kW and loads of low-revving torque. That's mated to a five-speed Mazda car gearbox, which makes this the first Morgan three-wheeler with a reverse gear, and final drive is by toothed belt to a reinforced rear tyre.

The car weighs only 500kg so performance - especially when you're sitting in an open cockpit only 150mm off the deck! - is electrifying: 0-100 in 4.5sec and a top speed of 185km/h.

The tubular-steel chassis and aluminium body have been reinforced to meet modern safety standards, with full roll-bars for driver and passenger - the 2011 three-wheeler is street-legal in Britain and in the US!

But some things haven't changed - the three-wheeler still holds long-distance speed records for one-litre cars set in the 1930's so the bullet-shaped, aircraft-style body is unchanged.

A leather-padded cockpit complete with aircraft-style instruments adds to the open-cockpit flying feel.

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A leather-padded cockpit complete with aircraft-style instruments (including a starter button that looks like a bomb release, complete with safety cover) adds to the open-cockpit flying feel, as does the fact that every extremity of the car is visible from the driver's seat making the three-wheeler remarkably easy to drive - you really do fly it with the seat of your pants.

The Morgan three-wheeler will make its debut this week at the Geneva motor show and will be available later in 2011 with prices starting at £25 000 (R280 000) before tax - and there's a long list of extra-cost options to push that up even further, including a polished engine, stainless steel tailpipes, cowl and polished cowl, headlights and roll hoops.

Special graphics packs will also be available to accentuate the classic aircraft theme, including RAF or USAF roundels, oval racing numbers and stripes, a fearsome shark nose, chequered winner's bonnet, official national flags and the Morgan wings.