Morgan is a British family-run business that was established in 1910. Each car they build is built by hand, which makes them unique and distinguishing in the entire automotive industry. The ‘Morgan family’ does not want their production to be automated, their team of approx. 200 seasoned craftsmen create masterpieces that exude British craftsmanship and personality.
Morgan initially only built tricycles, as the taxes in the UK on tricycles were considerably lower than on automobiles. In 1910, they brought a single-seater trike to the market. Only a modest number of orders was made, nevertheless, Morgan decided to produce a two-seater variant. This two-seater sold a lot more models, which caused him to continue his business.
In 1936, the company repositioned itself and began the production of four-wheel driven vehicles. Under the pre-war was a four-cylinder inline engine delivering just 34 horsepower. This early Morgan car was named ‘4/4’, referring to the four-cylinder engine driving four wheels. Over the decades, new models were based on this Morgan's first four-wheeler. New engines were used, though, the basic design remained very similar.
This prestigious British car brand became a status symbol that acquired global fame. Today, Morgan is still a well-known car manufacturer. Their artisanal approach is unique, and they are virtually the only ones who manufacture cars entirely by hand.
Morgan Plus 8
The Morgan Plus 8 was manufactured from 1968 to 2004. Right from day one, Morgan's intention with the release of this handcrafted powerhouse was crystal clear: they wanted to establish themselves as the manufacturer of luxurious sports cars, though consistently in the form of convertibles. Tipping the scales at a mere 800 kilograms, it exhibits an extremely nimble and agile behaviour, gracefully dancing on the rear-wheel drive powered by a V8 engine that seems to have been artfully nestled in the front, almost as if it was carefully placed with a shoehorn beneath its winged hood.
Staying true to tradition, the Plus 8 presents an exterior appearance strikingly similar to that of its predecessor – a case of history repeating itself. Moreover, the Plus 8 is built upon a refined iteration of the Plus 4's chassis. Throughout its entire production span, the Plus 8 retains that timeless pre-war allure, and it's only after a prolonged gaze that one might be able to estimate its year of production. Under the hood, beneath the hood wings, more progressiveness is present backstage. As the successor to the Morgan Plus 4, the Plus 8 proudly flaunts an extra row of four cylinders – now a V8 – initially crafted by Buick and Rover. When Rover stopped the production of the V8 engine in 2004, there was a brief cameo by a BMW V8. Over the decades, the V8 engine's capacity gradually increased from 3.5 litres to 4.8 litres.
Reportedly, the Plus 8 was the lightest production car equipped with a V8 engine during its production run, leaving its competitors trailing behind on the racetrack.
Morgans are highly coveted and they seem hold their value excellently, since each Morgan is individually handcrafted, every single one a unique specimen. Despite its long-lasting production run - the longest of any Morgan model - only 6,000 Plus 8’s were produced, which also has a positive effect on its value.
Technical information:
Body work
Mechanics