Morgan Plus 8 50th Anniversary (2018)

Morgan Plus 8 50th Anniversary

Morgan Motor Company is celebrating its iconic V8-powered Plus 8, with a 50th Anniversary Edition. The family-owned British marque has officially unveiled the Morgan Plus 8 50th Anniversary Edition at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show.

The Morgan Plus 8 50th Anniversary Edition pays homage to one of Morgan's most celebrated models. Production will be limited to just 50 examples, each one hand-built and carrying a unique model number.

First conceived by company owner at the time, Peter Morgan, the head-turning Plus 8 prototype was revealed to the public at the Earls Court Motor Show of 1968 and was powered by a Rover V8 engine with a Moss gearbox. Over the following half a century, approximately 6,000 Plus 8s have driven out through the gates of Morgan's Pickersleigh Road home.

The Morgan Plus 8 50th Anniversary is a fitting combination of craftsmanship, luxury and technology. A lightweight aluminium chassis and 4.8-litre BMW engine sit beneath the traditional Morgan body. At just 1,100kg, the Plus 8 is one of the lightest V8 passenger cars in the world and is capable of 0-62 mph in 4.5 seconds and a top speed of 155 mph. The Morgan Plus 8 50th Anniversary will be the last Morgan vehicle to feature the naturally aspirated BMW V8 engine.

The limited-edition Plus 8 50th Anniversary Edition will cost from £107,500 excluding local market taxes.

Colours

The Plus 8 50th Anniversary Edition is available in two striking colours and two specifications - blue 'speedster style' with an open cockpit, or green 'traditional convertible' with a soft-top.

Throughout Morgan history, significant prototypes and some of the most successful V8 race cars have all been painted blue. The most famous racing version, MMC11, was known for its distinctive blue paint, and this is reflected in the 'speedster-style' open cockpit version. The Plus 8's colours were selected to celebrate this tradition.

A true British sports car, the Morgan Plus 8 50th Anniversary edition will also be produced in British Racing Green - the most popular colour associated with over 109 years of Morgan Motor Company. The green models will be specified with a soft-top.

Each car will be individually liveried by Morgan's craftspeople with graphic work applied beneath the lacquer for durability and as a clear signifier of the special nature of the vehicle. Each Plus 8 50th Anniversary Edition is also finished with a unique number on the exterior back panel of the car.

Other accents on the car celebrating Morgan's motorsport pedigree include towing eyes in yellow, sporty white brake callipers and, most noteworthy, ceramic-coated twin-cannon-style white exhaust tips. The exhausts have been specially made to amplify and refine the dramatic V8 soundtrack. Further white and yellow accents feature on both the blue and green variants of the car.

Wheels

Morgan's in-house design team specially commissioned new five-stud wheels for the Morgan Plus 8 50th Anniversary Edition. These were design to reflect the forms of the original cast wheel commonly equipped to Plus 8's throughout the years. The 50th Anniversary edition wheels are refined to handle the increased power of the BMW V8 engine beneath the hand-crafted body.

The surface of the wheels has evolved to maintain strength and allow room for the large brake callipers whilst not only maintaining strength, but also the 'deep dish' so rarely seen in modern vehicle design. The wheels are finished in a specially created soft celebratory champagne colour.