Further Tease of Morgan Plus 8 50th Anniversary Edition

We published the notice a few weeks ago about the car, but now Morgan Motor Company has released the first teaser images of the much anticipated 50th Anniversary Edition of its iconic Plus 8 ahead of its full reveal at the Geneva Motor Show on March 6.

Further Tease of Morgan Plus 8 50th Anniversary Edition

Named after the famous eight-cylinder engine beneath the car’s hand-built body, over 6,000 Plus 8 models have been built in the last 50 years at Morgan’s Pickersleigh Road home.

The family-owned, bespoke sports car manufacturer will produce 50 of the special-edition models, each to be sold through its existing dealership network. The Plus 8 50th anniversary edition will be a true V8-powered thoroughbred tribute to the model that has been Morgan’s crowning vehicle for 50 years.

The teaser images released by Morgan show a blue lacquered paint finish, reminiscent of the British coachbuilder’s first Plus 8 production model (known as MMC11), with hints of hand-painted yellow accents around the car’s iconic front grill, along the bonnet and on the rear towing eyes.

Born on the racetrack, the Morgan Plus 8 is a special combination of craftsmanship, luxury, and technology. A lightweight aluminum chassis and 4.8-litre BMW engine sit beneath the traditional Morgan body. At just 1,100kg, the Plus 8 is one of the lightest V8 passenger cars in the world and is capable of 0-62 mph in 4.5 seconds as well as a top speed of 155mph.

First conceived by Peter Morgan, the head-turning Plus 8 prototype was revealed to the public at the Earls Court Motor Show in 1968. Approximately 6,000 Plus 8s were produced during this time until the car was discontinued in 2004 when production of the Rover V8 engine ceased.

Further Tease of Morgan Plus 8 50th Anniversary Edition

In 2012, the Plus 8 was reborn into the Morgan range, on a lightweight aluminum chassis with the powerful 4.8-litre BMW engine, as used in the Aero range. With a restyled body, the new Plus 8 was proportionally larger and significantly quicker than any ‘classic’ Morgan before it. The Plus 8 50th Anniversary Edition will be the last Morgan sports car to feature the naturally aspirated V8 engine.

Steve Morris, Managing Director of Morgan Motor Company, said:

This 50th Anniversary Edition is a fitting illustration of the Plus 8’s beauty and finesse, coupled with raw exhilaration and capability. Performance has underpinned every one of the Plus 8s that have driven out of our factory gates for 50 years and we’re excited to reveal the car in full in Geneva.

Jon Wells, Head of Design at Morgan Motor Company, said:

Firmly established as Morgan’s crowning vehicle for fifty years, the Morgan Plus 8 continues to pioneer new technology within the classic Morgan bloodline. When combined with an uncompromising attention to craftsmanship, luxury and material choice, there is no more desirable Gentleman racer.

Further Tease of Morgan Plus 8 50th Anniversary Edition

Note: Press release courtesy of Morgan Motor Company.

Staff

1 Comment

  1. Doubtless a great drive, – I’ve owned a couple of 4.8 Plus 8s, however although it looks similar to the original Plus 8, it’s not really the same car as it has a different feel to it as a result of it being derived from the Aero platform. If you want the ‘classic’ Morgan experience, stick to the Buick / Rover engined cars. Still Porsche have been doing the same thing with their 911 line for even longer!

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