1967 DHC “BENE” Makeover – Mad About Morgans

After eighteen years (it’s now 2026, we acquired BENE in 2008) and after many miles touring Bene deserves a major refresh. In addition to the usual, the plan is to convert it to a four seat DHC.

The closer you get to finishing a project, the less it looks like you did anything. 🙁

Current Status: 19 October, 2026

Robin continuing…She has petty much taken over the project. I just help fitting once in a while.

More or Less Chronological Images of Project

Handbrake modification (for more info see: **Options for the Rear Handbrake** in this website.)

And today the body was assembled to the new chassis………… ta da!

Begin the framework for the Four Seat configuration

initial layout and fitting of rear bulkhead

Side Windows

the four seat DHCs built by the factory did not have rear side windows. Melvyn Rutter’s example is shown here. Also note that the spare wheel is covered.

Very pretty ideed, but it’s not what I want…

I’m rebuilding BENE because we USE it so personal preferences take priority over “originality”. After all, there are plenty of Morgan lawn sculptures already out there. The rear side windows I’m planning will always stay in place just like the door mounted windows. We drive hood down unless it is raining straight down. Having the side windows in place will provide a bit more wind protection for those longer jaunts (Rome to Brugge for example) that we occasionally do and will make the back seat more habitable those rare times when it will be occupied. Also; Kathi needs the luggage rack for when we travel (the shoes, you know).

forming top piece of 316 stainless steel around pattern

Top/Hood Bows

Probably the most difficult design task in this conversion is the layout of the top/hood mechanism. It has to be a hybrid of the two seat DHC and the four seat roadster designs. For initial design of the linkage I made a CAD file; it’s easier to move electrons around on a screen than to cut and weld metal.

Seat Belts

Front Seat Belt retractor on new bracket

New supplemental Facet fuel pump added.

Sheet Metal

The factory four seat DHCs had an enclosure over the spare. One reason for that was probably the challenge of making a single piece of sheet metal from the wire opening around the spare, wrapped around the wheel arch and hemmed into the recess at the door jamb. It is about 6′ with fussy fits at both ends. So why not make an already difficult job really HARD? l chose to join the left and right panels, add the wire form opening for the spare and hang the 12′ panel in one shot. Hmmmm……… good luck.

A Little Annoyance

It was only after the differential was installed in the new chassis and the body mounted that the differential pinion seal decided to leak. Normally I would send this job out to be done but… rather than taking everything apart again I bought a new seal from Morgan Spares and did it myself. What a pain!

Done! New seal installed after about 6 hours of struggle

Engine: (a little more annoyance) complete bottom-end refresh

Assembly

Interior:

Make the Hood (top).

Once again I’m choosing the more difficult path. Drophead hoods are not easy to make. They are great for touring because they are already assembled and quick to put up (We always tour with the hood down but when it rains…). Unless we are touring we don’t typically drive in the rain. Why have the bulk of a four-seater hood piled up on back for a run to the hardware store? I decided to do a “hybrid” that works like a normal DHC but that also can be removed for everyday local driving. Instead of the hood being nailed to the body and sewn onto the frames I designed it to attach with turn fasteners and snaps in the manner of a four-seat roadster. As of this writing it is almost finished BUT, being a one-off, untried solution it has been a real struggle. Worth the effort??? We’ll have to wait and see…………