Cars

The Morgan Plus 8 was born in 1968, at first almost as an “experiment”: Morgan decided to install the brand-new 3.5-liter aluminum Rover V8 under the long hood of its Plus 4. The result is dazzling: a featherweight of around 900 kg and a power output of around 160 hp. The car retained the narrow chassis of the Plus 4 and its 1910 front suspension with slides. It’s rustic, but very fast, with lively handling.

In 1969, the car was still virtually identical to the 1968 model. Adjustments were minor: a few minor improvements to cooling and brakes, but no major changes. It remained an overpowered Plus 4, with pre-war styling but the performance of a contemporary sports car.

In 1970, Morgan began to make the car more reliable. The dashboard was redesigned, and new switches and instruments appeared. The Moss gearbox remained unchanged, but the mechanical assembly became more robust. The first slight modifications were made to the chassis, to support the torque of the V8.

In 1971, a few equipment changes were made: slightly redesigned seats, improved heating and waterproofing of the hood, but still no major structural changes. The Plus 8 retained its narrow track and slim spoked wheels.

The 1972 model was the full maturity of this first narrow generation. The Rover V8 3.5-liter engine with SU carburetors developed around 155 hp, and the car kept its weight under 900 kg. The Moss four-speed gearbox remains standard. This 1972 version is often considered the pinnacle of the “original” Plus 8: lively, raw, extremely light, with the artisanal charm of the first series and intact styling inherited from the Plus 4.

In 1973, the Plus 8 continued almost unchanged, but received a few discreet improvements to the brakes and running gear. Aesthetics remained unchanged, with the slim bodywork and curved fenders squeezed around the wheels.

In 1974 and 1975, Morgan began to prepare for a wider chassis, as modern, wider tires demanded more space and stability. A few reinforcements were added, and some models already received slightly wider wheels, but the overall silhouette remained the same.

Delivered new in Germany on February 14, 1973, it has since covered just over 81,000 km. It is therefore a rare version with left-hand drive and metric instrumentation. It is in very good condition and has benefited from an engine tune-up increasing its power to +/- 170 hp. It comes with a soft top, side windows and tonneau cover.

The car drives very well, the engine is torquey and powerful, and the running gear is in very good condition.