THE Morgan Motor Company has launched its campaign for a bronze sculpture commemorating nearly 100 years of British-owned sports cars handbuilt in Malvern.

Third generation-owner Charles Morgan proudly displayed a model of the proposed statue featuring his father, Peter and the his grandfather and founder of the company, Harry with a classic 1958 Morgan 4/4.

The company hopes to raise £250,000 from donations to build the full size sculpture and display it in Great Malvern to mark the centenary of the company in 2009.

Charles Morgan said: "This is a huge honour for the Morgan family. Harry Morgan was arguably the inventor of affordable motoring.

"He brought motoring into the reach of normal people instead of only the extremely wealthy."

The bronze sculpture has been designed by Les Johnson - a fellow of the Royal Society of British Sculptors - and shows Harry Morgan handing over the keys of the classic motor car to Peter.

The scene is symbolic of the ownership of the company being passed from one generation to the next.

The campaign to have the company recognised with a sculpture next to Abbey Archway, Great Malvern, was the brainchild of Morgan enthusiast Roger Moran, who has contributed £20,000 of his own money towards the project.

Mr Moran said: "This particular model was chosen because it is so iconic. But if you look at modern Morgans, the changes have only really occurred under the bonnet."

The Morgan Statue Foundation is seeking the remainder of the funding from individuals or businesses who would be interested in marking 100 years of motoring history.

For more information visit www.morgan-statue.org or email info@morgan-statue.org