Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Morgan Aero 8, 2012< Plus 8, SuperSports, Coupe & Aeromax Export USA Aeros

Were the early Aeros exported to the USA?
If so when did sales stop?

I'm curious to know as, I understand, once a car is 25 years old it is classified as a classic and it can be imported and used relatively easily. If so then from 2025 demand for Aeros will increase and prices should firm up...... Only 10 years to wait!

Peter, are you thinking of buying a car with a boot as an investment?

No, just curious....

My understanding is that the regulations changed regarding US homologation for vehicles and once Morgan lost their ability to sell the product as a low volume manufacturer (this allowed them to circumvent the homologation process), it became impossible (financially non-viable) to gain the necessary certification.

I believe this was the case but it was awhile back, so please don't take that as fact.

I actually asked Steve Morris about the possibility of US homologation for the new Aero 8 and he said it was out of the question.

Yes - all true.
So we stopped getting the Aero 8's in 2007(I believe...) and to be fair there weren't huge numbers brought in even then. We got 33 Aero Super Sports and 11 Max's(I doubt there are more than 20-40 Aero 8's Stateside as well). The new Aero 8 isn't going to be coming Stateside except(I reckon) maybe one for the auto shows later in the year should Morgan make a display at Pebble or similar.
It's a real shame, but I suspect you're right. There will likely be a large market opened up with the ability to import from across the pond. My only real qualm with the whole deal is the lack of use some of these Aero's get, and subsequently what little depreciation they take on! (which is great for the owners, but terrible for prospective buyers) It is unusual to see an Aero with more than 5-10K miles of any age(going back to early S1's brought over). They are simply niche enough automobiles that even the owners that have them don't drive them. There are two 2010 Super Sports at MogWest that have under 2,500miles and are listed for roughly what you could buy a new one for today!

Thanks for clarifying the position.

I agree with you that many of the Aeros and Max are little used, which is a real shame. My Aero based Plus 8 certainly isn't going to end up like that: it is a year old today and the odometer shows 17500 miles. I'm adding miles at about 800 a month.
So when it is 25 it will have a BIG mileage!

Will just be nicely run in by then Peter!!

Most of the stateside Aero 8s came into the US in 2005. Then there were a number (I have heard of 6-8?) of the 2008 'Aero America' cars that came in. Then there were a few of the Super Sports and Coupes under waivers. I have never seen a Max in the US, but understand some (around 12 or so, I believe) did come in. The new Aero is not coming, with no waivers in sight.

Trads are illegal as well, with the last being the 82 (As I understand it, only 82 airbags were certified for the US . . .) S1 3.0l Roadsters. The only legal Morgan in the US at the moment is the M3W.

Cheers,

I was chatting to a gent in a car park in Fort William last year - he arrived on a coach tour. Was from the USA. Can't remember which State. A pal of his had a Trad much newer than '82, which he had bought new and imported to US after a period of time. He said though that when the car is sold it must be exported again and cannot remain Stateside...
Not information I can verify unfortunately.