Morgan Plus 8

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Morgan Plus 8
Morgan Plus 8 @01.JPG
Morgan Plus 8
Overview
ManufacturerMorgan Motor Company
Production1968 – 2004
2012 - 2018
AssemblyMalvern, Worcestershire, England
Body and chassis
ClassSports car
Body style2-door roadster
LayoutFR layout
RelatedMorgan 4/4
Morgan +4
Powertrain
Engine3.5L V8
3.9L V8
4.6L V8
Transmission4-speed manual
(1968–77)
5-speed manual
(1977–2004)
6-speed manual
(2012–present)
Dimensions
Wheelbase98 in (2,489 mm)
Length146 in (3,708 mm)
Width57.5–67.0 in (1,460–1,702 mm)
Height52 in (1,321 mm)
Curb weight1,876 lb (851 kg)
Chronology
SuccessorMorgan Plus Six

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.

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 (3.5 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 4.8-litre 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.[2]

Engines[]

4.0 litre V8 engine in a 2003 Morgan Plus 8 35th Anniversary Edition

The original Plus 8 engines were Rover V8s that became available when fitted to the P5B saloon.[3] Morgan was actually the first of a succession of sports car makers- including the likes of TVR and Marcos- to use the engine.

The prototype Plus 8 (identifiable by two small bonnet bulges near the centre bonnet hinge) used a Rover V8 engine and the Plus 8 was launched in 1968 using Rover's production engine, itself a re-engineered version of the Buick/Oldsmobile 215 motor (renamed the 3.5 L by Rover) with a compression of 10.5:1 fueled by two SU HS6 carburettors. The high 10.5:1 CR was only usable because 5* (101 octane) petrol was then still available. By 1973, the Rover 3500 saloon was available with a manual 4 speed gearbox and this engine/gearbox configuration was adopted by Morgan although the compression dropped to 9.25:1 with a resulting drop in power. With the adoption of an improved version of the engine developed for the Rover SD1 in 1977, compression increased to 9.35:1 and power increased slightly. After 1981 the engine was fueled by two Stromberg CD175 carburettors, .

At the end of 1983, the company offered an EFI version using a Bosch L-Jetronic based system. With the added power (204 bhp (152 kW; 207 PS)) and low weight, the Plus 8 was, according to the magazine road tests of the day, able to best a Porsche up to 90 mph (140 km/h). In 1990 a 3.9 L version of the engine was fitted and that used the Lucas 14CUX fuel injection system.

In 1996, the Rover 4.6 L engine became an option, still using the Lucas fuel injection system. From 2000, all Morgan Plus 8s were fueled by the GEMS system as used on the Range Rover P38a between 1994 and 1999.

On the 2012 Geneva Motor Show, Morgan introduced a new edition of the Plus 8 roadster, powered by a 4.8L BMW V8-Engine. At the same show, Morgan also introduced an electric version of the Plus 8 roadster - called the Plus E - which is powered by a Zytek 70 kW (94 bhp) 300Nm electric motor.[4]

United States sales[]

For almost two decades during the 1950s and 1960s, North America took the greater bulk of Morgan production. Popularity in the UK and Europe had greatly fallen during that era. The era ended with the advent of the strong emission and structural laws. Luckily, the failure of the modern looking +4+ and the arrival of the powerful Plus 8 rekindled interest in the home market in the whole line.

In the US, a way was found to keep importing Morgans after 1974. From 1974 to 1992, all imported Morgans (of which 98% were Plus 8s) to the United States were converted to run on propane as fuel to pass the U.S. emissions regulations.[5][6][7]

When the Rover Group re-certified their V-8 engine for use in the Range Rover SUV sold in the U.S., Morgan made a gasoline-powered +8 available with the same engine in the same tune and with the same anti-emission devices.[citation needed] As safety regulations continue to change, Morgan was again challenged in 2006 to meet the new structural requirements announced by the NHTSA in 2000. A request for an exemption to the law on airbags was refused and the importation of traditional (classic) Morgans ceased.[8]

Gearboxes[]

  • 1968–72 Moss gearbox, a 4-speed manual transmission with synchromesh 2nd, 3rd, and 4th
  • 1972–77 Rover 3500s, 4-speed all-synchromesh manual transmission used in the Rover 3500S saloon
  • 1977–95 Rover LT77, 5-speed all-synchromesh manual transmission
  • 1995–2004 Rover R380, 5-speed all-synchromesh manual transmission
  • 2012 6-speed manual transmission (6-speed automatic transmission optional)

Gallery[]

  • 1969 model

  • 1993 model

  • 1976 model, with the uncommon hardtop and aftermarket wheels

  • 2003 model

  • 2012-2013 model

  • 50th Anniversary Edition MMC 11“ at the Geneva Motorshow 2018

References[]

  1. ^ Simister, John (24 March 2009). "Morgan 4/4 Sport v Lotus Eco Elise". Evo.co.uk. Retrieved 25 June 2011.
  2. ^ "Morgan Plus 8 Speedster Review". Carwitter.com. carwitter.
  3. ^ "Fuelling the passion" (PDF), Octane, pp. 71–76
  4. ^ The New Morgan Plus E Retrieved 2014-08-27.
  5. ^ "Reprint of Car & Driver article, January 1977". Morgancars-usa.com. Retrieved 25 June 2011.
  6. ^ "AUTOS ON MONDAY/Collecting; The Mystique of the Eccentric Morgan - New York Times". Nytimes.com. 5 April 2004. Retrieved 25 June 2011.
  7. ^ Lorne M. Goldman. "madeintheusa". Gomog.com. Retrieved 25 June 2011.
  8. ^ "NHTSA Denial of application for a temporary exemption from air bag provisions of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 208, Occupant Crash Protection". Federal Register. Retrieved 25 June 2011.

External links[]

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