Quality car.
- Mileage irrelevant if properly maintained.

Any age
- Not really looking for a moss box.

No colour preference.

RHD in the UK please.

Looking for a friend.

Any suggestions?
- Have had a look round the normal places.

I think the best one on the market at the moment is this one:

http://www.morgansinscotland.co.uk/sales_picture2.htm

32,000 pounds. It won't be on the market for long and if I had not just purchased one it would be mine already!

Depends what you're after really but that one ticks a lot of boxes.

Flowman

Nice. Pricey though no?

Good Morgan Plus 8s are commanding strong money in the UK; therefore, if it is in good condition, the price is realistic.

Simon,
I agree. I've been looking hard at +8 prices over the last couple of months and unless that car has a defect or problem which isn't coming through from the info then it should fly out of the door at that money

Not pricey, compared to some that have sold recently it's a very good buy.

From the autumn of 2004 to the spring of 2009 I kept a detailed spreadsheet of Plus 8's for sale. There were always at least half a dozen available in the UK. In that period, I found 32 2000 model year cars for sale. Minimum price was £27,950 for a Corsa Red (SGT) example with 2,000miles recorded. Maximum price was £33,995 (Berrybrook) for a Connaught Green (4.6L) example with 8,910 miles. This one appeared for sale in May05 and was reduced to £29,995 in August05.
Plus 8's are rarely up for sale now and I doubt you'll see a good one below £30k for a long time - if ever. I predict that the Plus 8 will outstrip early Aero 8's before too long. Prices are already on a par.

Hi Paul,

I thought he'd bought that one...is there an issue with it?

Well done DaveW. I like a man who can support my fanciful notions with hard facts!

Anyway, I put my money where my mouth is and bought one. I agree with your assertion that Plus 8s will outstrip early Aeros. In fact it is already happening with several Mk1s for sale at lower than Plus 8 prices.

Maybe you should start a new spreadsheet!

You'll find Cerealsurfer is running one on Aero 8 S1 prices

Welcome to Talk Morgan; we've got it covered.

Interestingly the view of some at the factory is that Aero S1's will become the Moss Box +8 of the Aero family.... I can imagine prices will and have already risen over the past few years.

Would you care to elucidate what



means to those less familiar with the +8

Some who know better will expand further but basically the Moss box +8 is the most desirable and sought after +8 as I understand.

From 1968 (start of production) till 1972 a four speed Moss gearbox was used. A familiar gearbox in the Jaguar MK 11 and early E-types. It only had synchromesh on the top three gears. It was not bolted to the engine itself but effectively mid mounted. It left more leg room than the later Rover four speed and by report the Moss box was tough and precise but needed a refined hand to get the most from it. Later cars became faster, wider and heavier. Some say the Moss box +8 is the purest incarnation. It certainly seems to fetch the most in sale's.

Most sought after and desirable it most certainly is. But call me a heathen - a four speed box with no synchro on first (also used in some XK Jags and early E Types).......... no thanks. I'd rather have a modern five speeder.
The Moss box was an intersting installation though, with the bellhousing & clutch conventionally placed, but then a torque tube with the gearbox mounted directly under the stick - almost between the seats. This layout was common prewar and the flat rads also have this layout (no doubt some vary).

There's a general trend for the first of the line to become most sought after - partly due to survival rates and supply & demand. The MGB suffers from this, despite later cars being much improved, as does the Alfa Spyder (although in this case the first series is probably the best looking). So it's not unreasonable to expect the Aero Series 1 to follow the trend, and who knows - maybe the Roadster Series 1. Fingers crossed.

I'd rather have as late an MGB as possible (so long as I can cover those ghastly deck chair seat covers ), but with the suspension brought back to original ride height... Nice litle switch for the overdrive in the gear knob, just like my Spitfire (can I mention that in the same sentence) and another thing to go awry!

Cheers,

I beg to differ ..I had a 1962 MGB in light blue which was a much more raw uncultivated sports car in keeping with the British tradition.My brother some years later had a GT with rubber bumpers which was so clumsy and wallowy as be a parody of the earlier cars.

We've all got out favourite 'years' for the B but one thing I know a lot of owners were very glad about was the switch over to a 5-bearing crank
G

Hence my comment about returning the suspension to that of the chrome bumper models. My 'K' plate WFK788K (sad isn't it? ) had the 5 bearing crank and overdrive.

On that note, I think we've taken Paolo's post rather OT...

Cheers,

My mum had to sell her MGB GT when she was pregnant with me - I still don't think she has forgiven me!

There's a 35th Anniversary +8 on Pistonheads at the moment. Probably the top end of the market but it's beautiful. When my girlfriend graduated at Oxford there was a bloke with a +8 outside and I had the briefest of chats before getting warned off! Lovely, lovely cars and I can only see the good examples appreciating.

What is it about V8s that makes them so desirable, I wonder?

Back to the point Paolo! The Plus 8 I recommended is now sold, I think that proves that it was worth its money!

It is normally the case that the good ones sell within a week. Some sell before they even appear on the dealers' websites. So you need to keep your ear to the ground and keep looking (I mean daily) at what's on offer.

That's what I did and it took about a year before I eventually managed to bag one. So good luck, but you've just missed a good car.

Sound, innit!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OyDdIdQEYH4
( OK, this is a 'Vette- but I couldn't resist the noise)

Mind you, a straight- six Lagonda engine isn't far behind:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8bK5Xobm68&feature=related
G

Definitely the sound, and the torque. You can't beat wafting around effortlessly on a wave of torque with that burble in the background.

There's something about big-block American V8's too

Brian,
As you know, you're preaching to the converted here

regards,
G

I gave this +8 the once over last night. It's very nice but I think the asking price is highly speculative at £49,500. If I was on the look-out now, although this car ticks most of my boxes, I doubt that I could justify this price, which falls well within Aero8 money.

Dave,
I also had a look at it last night. My thoughts are very much the same as yours- nice car, has all( or most) of the selling points but it is over-priced as it stands. ( £40k more realistic?)
G

Having watched the prices for awhile, I'd agree that if it was mint, £40,000 would be more realistic... even then, that may be a little too high for a later model Plus 8.

If you want to look at some astronomical prices for Plus 8s then have a squint at these examples currently for sale across Europe:

http://fr.autoscout24.be/Details.aspx?id=109221626
http://fr.autoscout24.be/Details.aspx?id=180321062
http://fr.autoscout24.be/Details.aspx?id=179732762&asrc=fa
http://fr.autoscout24.be/Details.aspx?id=176842839

For some reason putting the steering wheel on the wrong side does very strange things to the price!

Not being a huge believer in Limited Editions adding value to a car (particularly with trads where the LE tag actually makes the car more common). I would have thought that even 40k would have been a bit OTT?

But, as always a car is worth what someone is prepared to pay for it. I am intrigued that private sellers of trads often ask more for their cars than the dealers do. I wonder if that chap in Miscellany some months ago managed to get £49k for his Roadster?

(Not too sure why I am trying to talk down +8 prices when I have an '02 +8)

Brian

Don't think you're talking it down Brian, simply being reasonable.

There is no doubt that a well cared for Plus 8 will command strong money; however, circa £50k asking is about £15,000 over market value (based on recent sales).

Furthermore, I'd concur with the LE status - this doesn't automatically equate to an inflated price. Add to that the colour - dark purple with mulberry leather and hood is an acquired taste - and I simply do not see a Plus 8 just shy of £50,000.

The £49K Roadster has been sold - but that doesn't mean for £49k.

I'm glad it's not just me re the Plus 8 price. I thought it might be my Yorkshire credentials showing through........

BUT - I really like plummy purple with the red interior. If I were to spec a new Trad, BL Black Tulip (non-metallic) would be on my short list. It never came with a red interior option on an MGB, but looks well with Tan, or what BL called Ochre (yellow).

Mmmmmmm.

LE badging doesn't add anything really, although I do like the LM62's. Would I pay more for one??? No - I'd pay more for a minter though, whether LE or not.

As an aside......It's also interesting that there are a couple of 4 Seater Roadsters on sale at well over £40k................

There are also some damned good ones at a deal less:

http://www.morgans4sale.co.uk/md50fram.htm


I will declare an interest here- I'm a MD customer

G

Oops, sorry. The 'other' Roadster at Mike Duncan's is a 2-seater, 2004 car at 32K) The 4-seater which is still there ( Feb '08 car, very nice spec) is 44K

In either case, IMHO, these stack up as a better deal that the Pistonheads +8

Apologies to Dave W for getting my figures wrong

G

This one must set a few records:
http://www.morgan-motor.co.uk/dealersites/lifes-motors-ltd/used/3287

It isn't cheap but it does look nice.

I can see the rev counter bouncing around but the speedometer does not appear to move!!