Description
By: Michael Scarlett .
The Morgen Plus 8 is a British institution, which remained in production as the flagship of the Malvern - based, family - owned Morgan company for 36 years. The Plus 8 has a dedicated and loyal following of enthusiasts and was built in larger numbers than any other Morgan, with some 6,000 cars produced.
The Plus 8 went through relatively few engineering and cosmetic changes during its four decades of production, the first significant changes coming in 1985, with the adoption of fuel injection in place of carburettors, and rack-and-pinion instead of worm-and-nut steering. Impressive performance has always been a feature of the Plus 8, aided during its life by increases in engine capacity from the original Rover V8's 3.5 litres, firstly to 3.9 litres in 1990, followed by a jump to 4.6 litres in 1998. Understandably, in view of its excellent power-to-weight ratio, the Plus 8 enjoyed a successful motor racing career, notably in endurance racing.
The Plus 8's V8 performance heritage was carried into a new era in 2000 with the introduction of the unashamedly modern Aero 8, featuring a bonded and riveted aluminium alloy chassis, BMW V8 power, and a 21st century interpretation of the classic Morgan styling. Although when first introduced the Aero 8 polarised opinion among Morgan traditionalists and the motoring press, it has earned its place as a modern-day supercar, and its engineering development and racing exploits are described towards the end of this book.
The Plus 8 finally bowed out in 2004, when it was replaced in the Morgan line-up by the Ford V6-engined Roadster, using many of the Plus 8's body parts and Morgan's traditional construction methods. Here is a celebration of the Morgan Plus 8, featuring a wealth of archive and specially commissioned studio photography. The authoritatively written and gloriously illustrated text provides a fascinating insight into the engineering and evolution of this uniquely British sports car.
Michael Scarlett was the very first journalist to conduct a Road Test of the Plus 8, for Autocar in 1968, and knows the car well. After an engineering career in the aviation and motorsport industries, he joined Autocar magazine as a Road Test rookie, graduating to Technical Editor in 1976. He now works as a freelance technical writer and author.
