Morgan Plus 8, 1980
Morgan Plus 8 I
Morgan Plus 8 I•
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Chassis No.: R8757
Engine No.: 10A38871
Registration: RYD 183V
Searching for new engines in the 1960s, Morgan concluded a deal with Rover for supply of its all aluminium 3.5 litre V8, thus creating a car that combined vintage charm with Cobra-like 'grunt' - the Plus 8. Morgan's Plus 4 chassis, strengthened and extended, formed the basis of the new car, while the existing Moss four-speed gearbox also was retained. After a successful debut at the 1968 London Motor Show, production commenced at the rate of 15 or so cars per month.
While the traditionally styled Morgan's brick-like aerodynamics restricted top speed to around 125mph (more than fast enough for most people driving an open car) the Rover V8's 168bhp and 210lb/ft of torque made for supercar league performance through the gears. The Morgan Plus 8 was immediately popular and remained in production for 36 years.
This wolf in sheep's clothing was built in 1980 already boasting a 3.5 litre Rover V8 and was owned from 2007 by an enthusiast and mechanically trained Morgan fanatic. The owner decided to part restore and upgrade his beloved Plus 8 culminating in 2012 with a fully restored and uprated lightweight Morgan Plus 8. Over £18,000 was spent on parts alone on what is best described as a fast road example ideal for hill climbs.
The comprehensive works included a full body respray, lightweight alloy body and wings with accompanying Heritage Certificate together with a new bulkhead, new ash sill boards (treated), windscreen, light pods and lights, body rubber gaskets all round, new floor boards, mahogany dash, fuel tank, soft top, tonneau, hood cover and side screens. The 3.5 Rover engine has been fully rebuilt and blueprinted with four barrel holly carb and stage two cylinder heads coupled to a Krazy horse cam and AP race clutch with a lightened and balanced flywheel.
Needless to say this Plus 8 is suitably swift but also benefits from new front springs, shock absorbers (gas adjustable to the rear) new stainless steel king pins, king pin bushes and steering box coupled to a new wiring loom and all new brake lines, overhauled calipers, new brake master and slave cylinder.
Apart from the rumbling V8 lurking under the bonnet, any random passer-by would assume this to be a quaint English sports car; however any modern day sports car wishing to try its luck away from the traffic lights is likely to end up red faced. This is a fabulous combination of style and power all wrapped up in a car that has only covered 3,200 miles since the comprehensive list of works fully documented in the accompanying history file.
All we can say is - hold onto your hats!
