The Morgan Plus 8 is a sports car built by Morgan from 1968 to 2004 and again in revised form between 2012 and 2018. Its instant and enduring popularity is credited with saving the company and keeping it famous during the 36 years of its manufacture. Among Morgan enthusiasts it is closely associated with Peter Morgan, the owner-chairman behind its design.
Morgan Plus 8 at a glance
| Maker | Morgan Motor Company, Malvern Link |
|---|---|
| Production | 1968–2004 and 2012–2018 |
| First engine | Rover 3.5 L V8, from the Buick 215 |
| Chassis | modified Plus 4 chassis |
| Gearbox | Moss four-speed, later Rover units |
| Axle | Salisbury 7HA with limited slip |
| Width | 57 in at launch, 64 in later, 67 in widebody |
| 1983 engine | Bosch L-Jetronic injection, up to 204 bhp |
| 1996 option | Rover 4.6 L V8 |
| 2012 engine | 4.8 L BMW N62B48 V8 |
| Speedster | 2014, from £69,999 |
| Anniversary edition | 2003, 100 cars |
Based on one source. The Speedster and the 2012 BMW-engined car are versions of the Plus 8 described in the same article.
History of the Morgan Plus 8
Origins, 1968
Development of the Plus 8 was led by Maurice Owen, an engineer taken on for the role. The prototype was based on a modified Plus 4 chassis, altered to accept the Rover alloy-block 215 cu in (3.5 L) V8, bought from GM-Buick in 1967. The Plus 4’s Moss gearbox was carried over, and the Salisbury 7HA axle was uprated with a limited-slip differential. The original car was 57 inches wide; over the years the body and chassis were widened, reaching 64 inches, with an optional widebody at 67 inches. From the 1960s through the 1980s the Plus 8 was, by the account of the motoring press, the fastest-accelerating British production car between 20 and 80 mph.
Engines and editions
The production car used Rover’s re-engineered version of the Buick 215 with a compression ratio of 10.5:1 and two SU HS6 carburettors. A four-speed manual arrived with the Rover 3500 in 1973, and carburettors gave way to Bosch L-Jetronic injection at the end of 1983, when power reached up to 204 bhp. From 1990 a 3.9-litre version was sold as the 4.0, and in 1996 the Rover 4.6 L became an option. The LeMans Edition of 2002 and the 35th Anniversary Edition of 2003, built in 100 examples with a walnut dashboard and mesh behind the grille bars, marked the end of the Rover-engined line.
The second life, 2012–2018
Following the end of the Rover V8, Plus 8 production stopped in 2004. In 2012 Morgan introduced a new Plus 8 powered by a 4.8-litre BMW N62B48 V8, placed on an Aero chassis with Aero suspension, axles, brakes, steering, gearbox and altered wings. It was sold alongside the Aero 8 until the Aero line-up ended in 2020. At the same Geneva show Morgan showed the Plus E, an electric version with a Zytek motor of 70 kW. In 2014 came the Plus 8 Speedster, an open car without a roof in favour of a small fly screen and hidden roll bars, pitched as the entry-level Plus 8 at £69,999.
Design and features
- Rover V8 power: a light alloy engine that transformed the traditional Morgan chassis.
- Company-saving model: its long popularity is credited with keeping Morgan in business.
- Continuous widening: the body grew from 57 to 64 inches, with a 67-inch widebody option.
- Injection and larger engines: electronic fuel injection in 1983 and 3.9- and 4.6-litre units later.
- Aero-based revival: the 2012 car used a BMW V8 and the bonded aluminium Aero platform.
Morgan Plus 8 versions
- Plus 8 (1968–2004): the original Rover-engined car in several widths and engine sizes.
- LeMans Edition (2002): exterior features recalling the 1960s Plus 4 Le Mans winner.
- 35th Anniversary (2003): 100 cars with a walnut dashboard and Le Mans-style gear knob.
- Plus E (2012): electric prototype with a Zytek 70 kW motor.
- Plus 8 (2012–2018): BMW V8 on the Aero chassis, sold alongside the Aero 8.
- Plus 8 Speedster (2014): roofless edition from £69,999.
The Plus 8 was replaced by the Ford-engined Roadster, and its later version shared the platform of the Aero 8. More cars are in the Morgan collection.
Video: Morgan Plus 8 V8 sound
Video on YouTube.
Sources
- Morgan Plus 8, English Wikipedia: design, engines, editions, US sales
