Lot 101: Morgan Plus 8 Lightweight

Launched way back in 1968, the Morgan Plus 8 was to remain in production remarkably unaltered until 2004. Wider and longer than the 4/4, it used the same type of flexible frame with sliding pillar independent front suspension and rear leaf springs. Fitted with a 3.5-litre Rover V8 engine it had supercar performance and exciting handling! The engine was to grow bigger over the years, gaining fuel injection in 1984 when a Plus 8 proved quicker to 80mph than a contemporary Porsche 911 Turbo in a magazine road test. Top speed was pegged at about 130mph due to the brick-like aerodynamics... Made at a rate of about 15 cars a week, the Plus 8 always had an eager waiting list, at one point six years long! Dating from 2000, this particular Plus 8 is about as exciting as they come. Clothed in lightweight aluminium bodywork it is powered a 4.6-litre V8 that has been chipped and tuned by a Morgan dealer and has covered just 14,000 miles from new. It sits on new 72-spoke stainless steel wheels with new tyres but the original alloys are also included. Formerly owned by an airline pilot, it has a pearlescent Jazz Blue exterior and Java Green interior that was copied from the menu on Concorde  but then, you already knew that, didn't you? It has many extras that include: sports seats; alpine air horns; stainless steel luggage rack; Sony CD player; fitted luggage in blue mohair to match the hood; sports front bumper (original also supplied); MotaLita woodrim steering wheel; immobilizer and cut-off switch etc. With just two owners from new and a full Morgan service history, it comes with its original build sheets, photographic build record, full set of weather gear and tonneau cover. Said to be in superb condition throughout and thrilling to drive, it looks like the ideal machine to blast around in this summer!