Sell a classic car Morgan Plus 4. The Morgan Plus 4 (or +4) is an automobile produced by the Morgan Motor Company from 1950 to 1969.
It is a more powerful and longer version of the company’s previous 4/4 model.
Plus 4 productions was revived in 1985.
After World War II Morgan had re-introduced their 4/4 model fitted with a 1267 cc Standard engine.
This continued in production until 1950 when it was replaced by the larger Plus 4 announced at the 1950 Earl’s Court Motor Show.
The Plus 4 at its introduction was fitted with:
- A 2088 cc engine based on that used in the Standard Vanguard
- A strengthened 4/4, chassis
- A wheelbase lengthened by 4 in (102 mm).
- Hydraulic brakes
In 1953 a higher performance version was announced with the 1991 cc I4 engine as used in the Triumph TR2.
The radiator grille was now surrounded by a cowl that blended into the bonnet.
Front disc brakes became an option in 1959 and were standardized in 1960.
From 1962 the engine was the Triumph TR4 unit, which increased displacement to 2138 cc.
In 1955 the less powerful 4/4 model re-appeared in phase II form.
The 96 in (2,438 mm) wheelbase of the Plus 4 was adopted by the 4/4 when it reappeared in 1955, after which the two cars were for most purposes the same length and width.
Also at the 1962 Geneva Motor Show.
On display at the official Morgan stand the very unofficial Morgan +4 Ashley Sportiva Coupe developed by the then Swiss Morgan Importer.
Body Styles.
Body styles available were a
- 2 seat sports
- 4 seat sports
- luxurious 2 or 4 seat drophead coupé 4 seat coupé 1954-1956 only
One of the interesting quirks of the Morgan Plus 4 was that the engine cowling fitted so closely to the engine that there was no room for an air filter.
Competition use
A racing version, the Plus 4 Super Sports was available from 1962 with a tuned engine and lightweight body.
Performance
A TR3 engined two-seater car was tested by the British magazine The Motor in 1958.
It had a top speed of 100.3 mph (161.4 km/h) and could accelerate from 0-60 mph (97 km/h) in 9.7 seconds.
A fuel consumption of 27.1 miles per imperial gallon (10.4 L/100 km; 22.6 mpg?US) was recorded. The test car cost £1017 including taxes of £340.
Morgan Plus 8
Production
1968 – 2004
2012 – present
Assembly
Malvern, Worcestershire, England
Body and chassis
Class
Sports car
Body style
2-door roadster
Layout
FR layout
Related
Morgan 4/4
Morgan +4
Powertrain
Engine
3.5L V8
3.9L V8
4.6L V8
Transmission
4-speed manual
(1968–77)
5-speed manual
(1977–2004)
6-speed manual
(2012–present)
Dimensions
Wheelbase
98 in (2,489 mm)
Length
146 in (3,708 mm)
Width
57.5–67.0 in (1,460–1,702 mm)
Height
52 in (1,321 mm)
Curb weight
1,876 lb (851 kg)
The Morgan Plus 8 is a sports car built by British car makers Morgan from 1968 to 2004.
It’s 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, 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
Plus 4’s Moss gearbox was carried over and the Salisbury 7HA axle was updated 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
- The wings widened to accommodate larger tires
This was to handle the increased power and the trend for a lower profile and wider tires.
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.
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-liter 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 favor 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.
Engines
The original Plus 8 engines were Rover V8s that became available when fitted to the P5B saloon. 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 center bonnet hinge) used a:
- Rover V8 engine
The Plus 8 was launched in 1968 using Rover’s production engine, a re-engineered version of the Buick/Oldsmobile 215 motor.
It had a compression of 10.5:1 fueled by two SU HS6 carburetors.
The high 10.5:1 CR was only usable because 5* (101 octanes) petrol was then still available.
By 1973, the Rover 3500 saloon was available with a:
- Manual 4 speed gearbox
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 carburetors.
1983
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 it was 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, a 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 4.7L 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 engine.
United States sales
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 by independent dealers, especially Bill Fink, to run on propane as fuel to pass the U.S. emissions regulations.
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.
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.
We have the knowledge and power to execute the deal immediately. If you want some friendly advice or just a chat about how to sell us your Morgan Plus 4 then don’t hesitate to call us at (310) 399-3990 now!
