Three-quarters front view of a Green, 2002, Morgan Plus 8, on display in the Car Club Zone, of the 2017 Silverstone Classic
The Morgan Plus 8 is a sports car built by British car maker Morgan from 1968 to 2004 and again in revised form between 2012 and 2018. Its instant and enduring popularity has been credited with saving the company and keeping the company famous during the 36 years of its manufacture. Among Morgan enthusiasts, it is deeply associated with Peter Morgan, the owner-chairman behind its design. The development of the Plus 8 was led by Maurice Owen,[citation needed] an engineer taken on specifically for the role. The Plus 8 prototype was based on a modified chassis from the Plus 4, altered to accept the Rover alloy block 215 cu in ( l) V8, purchased from GM-Buick in 1967. Plus 4's Moss gearbox was carried over and the Salisbury 7HA axle was uprated with a limited-slip differential. The chassis was developed in stages to accommodate gearbox changes in 1973 and 1976, the body widened in 1976 to accommodate the widened chassis and the wings widened to accommodate larger tyres to handle the increasing power and trend for lower profile and wider tyres. The original 1968 Plus 8 was 57 inches (1,400 mm) wide and the last was 64 inches (1,600 mm) (with an optional "widebody" at 67 inches (1,700 mm)) For several years in the 1960s the Plus Eight was the fastest-accelerating UK production car.[1] To mark the 35th year of production of its Plus 8, MMC released a commemorative 'Anniversary Edition' in 2003. Following the discontinuation of the Rover V8, production of Plus 8 ended in 2004. A revised Plus 8, powered by a BMW V8 engine, was introduced in 2012. In 2014 Morgan announced a Limited Edition run of 60 Plus 8 'Speedster' models. This limited run forwent the traditional roof in favour of a small fly screen and hidden roll bars behind the front seats. Pitched as an entry level Plus 8 model they went on sale for £69,999. he original Plus 8 engines were Rover V8s that became available when fitted to the P5B saloon.
Size: 5398px × 3106px
Location: Silverstone Circuit, Towcester, Northamptonshire, NN12 8TN
Photo credit: © John Gaffen / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: -quarters, 2-door, 2002, , 3946cc, 8, car, club, company, differential., front, green, limited-slip, malvern, maurice, morgan, motor, owen, peter, roadster, rover, sports, sportscar, v8, view, worcestershir, zone
