Talk Morgan Forums Community Welcome Forum Saying hello!

Hi all,

My search has just begun for a Plus 8. I have owned a very special Marcos Mantula V8 for 12 years and due to that I have never owned a Morgan as they were too close in concept. My Marcos is now sold after only having been driven ONCE last year and so my search can begin; I had fallen out of love and am looking to fall in love again!

I have my eye on two white/cream cars with red leather, the probem being I don't know what questions to ask! So hopefully you'll help me... Wires are essential for me, anything else i should be looking for?

Is a galvanised chassis critical? What does 'long door' mean, literally as it sounds? And if you get a long door car, does it have a galvanised chassis as part of that? How long does the wood tend to last, when would it be due for replacement, or did it start to be treated after a certain year?

How upgradeable is the engine on a mid-90s Plus 8? My Marcos had a brand new hand built 4.6 engine which made the car too much of a handful to drive so I won't be doing much to a Plus 8. But what can gee it up a little?

Thanks in advance, look forward to learning!

Hi Marcosand welcome to the forum.

For starters how old are the two cars you have an eye on?

The +8 started life in '68. Narrow body with a Moss gearbox. In the early 70s (around '72) the Moss box was replaced by the Rover 4 speed and i believe the chassis was wideened by a couple of inches. By the mid 70s the 5 speed Rover replaced the 4 speed. The engine throughout this time was the 3.5 litre carburetted Rover.
In the mid-80s Morgan treated all wood frames with Cuprisol as standard. I can't remember exactly when fi was introduced on the 3.5. Nor when the 3.5 grew to 3.9. Subsequently this became 4.0 (still same engine size but a change from the earlier hotwire fuel injection).
In '97 +8s had galvanised chassis, stainless bulkhead and longer doors, as standard. The 'long door' models came about to move the top of the bulkhead forward by 2" to comply with yet more safety rules. The doors are longer by 2" and this does make ingress/egress slighly easier. The V8 eventually grew to 4.6 litre, before being withdrawn around 2005 - would not meet future emissions regs (but you'll know that form Marcos history I suspect).
The engines can be tweaked - best to look at some of the specialists in that area - Google should help.

Where in the UK are you?

Thanks Graham - I'm based in West London.

The cars are 1994 and 1995; one is ally body and wings, one is ally body and steel wings. Is the all ally car superior (or in other words, did it cost more originally)?

Were pre-97 cars optional to have a galvanised chassis, long doors and stainless bulhead? Am I better off seeking this later spec out, or is is possible that

Currently I am looking at nothing but particuar colours with wires as all seem to have been very well looked after (according to their adverts) so there is little to distinguish between them without knowing the details of what could/should be there.

Anyone on here own a Plus 8 in Porsche Oak Green by the way? If so we met on the ferry to LM about 11-12 years ago and I thought it was the best colour I had ever seen on a Morgan

Hi Marcos, welcome to the forum.

Welcome Marcos

After forty years without a Morgan I have just purchased a 2001 4/4. I did a lot of research into the newer Morgan’s pros and cons, and found the Web a good source; in particular is the GoMoG site.

The ‘Morgan 100 Years’ by Charles Morgan & Bowden is a good year by year description of development and new builds, a good section on the Plus 8. Also ‘Morgans to 1997 is also a good Publication.

A must – Join the ‘Morgan Sports Car Club’


2001 4/4 4 seater

Hello Marcos and welcome to this friendly forum.
It´s easy to fall in love with Morgans.
I have been for 30 years.
Use to have a 1959 +4 and a 1954 TR2 but decided to sell both and opt for a newer one.
Actually I wanted a +8, not least for the sound but was told that a Rodster should suit me better (not a very technical guy).
This resulted in a 2004 Roadster in Royal Ivory which now is my new baby.
Good luck in your search!
Ken in Sweden

Hi Marcos, welcome to TM and the world of Morgans!

Thanks for the welcome chaps - looking forward to getting involved!

Getting married this year so the 'rationalisation' has begun... Marcos is sold, 911, '72 Alfa Spider, '81 Esprit turbo still to go.

Incredibly, she sees the purchase of a Plus 8 as a sensible propostion which will keep me happy. Perhaps odd to set your heart on a car you've never even driven but it will be the fulfillment of a dream

Do Plus 8s have discs brakes at the rear around the mid-90s? Some of the pictures seem to show drums..!

Drums at the rear are standard, and all that's needed for the road. A conversion is available....££££.

Drums it is then.

In terms of bodywork, is all-aluminium preferred to steel wings? In my head it is more exotic, but practicaly speaking is the steel more heardwearing?