Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Classic Morgans (pre-CX) +8

Hi, I am currently looking for a pre 2004 +8, this will be my first Morgan ( I’ve waited Since 1968 )
Hopefully low mileage, one owner and lots of goodies.
I would be interested to hear people’s opinions, good or bad and any advice on buying.
Regards,
Neil

Hi Neil,
The thing is they’re all different and different things appeal to different people, especially when it comes to “goodies”. It’s taken me a good few years to get my +8 to where it is now and it’s exactly how I like it. Best thing is to try a few if you can, but be warned, the car will pick you , just enjoy the selection process and look forward to many smiles per gallon.

Thanks for the reply. I have been looking on line and at local dealers, seen a few but not yet purchased.
Ideally I like traditional colour schemes that are non metallic, but trying to find a car with low mileage is proving hard.
I am happy to buy privately if anyone knows of a car available.

What do you mean by lo milage?

A car that is driven and maintained may be much better than a neglected stand around.

+1 to steve - the car will pick you...

Niel,
where are you based? I would suggest you join one of the MSSC branches to get support.

Point taken, I have joined the local Mendip branch of the MSCC, great people and very friendly.
Been looking for a while but little out there.

Neil,

There are a couple on the MMC website car finder a 4.0Ltr high spec at 45k with very low mileage, the other Cream one at 35k good mileage but a little accident history but reflected in the price and you get 4 new wings and crosshead for that. The 3.9Ltr is the best unit to get and ideally 1998 onwards you can guarantee the stainless steel firewall and inner wings then. You get the superform wings as well which are better as the earlier cars had spring steel folded into the outer lower edges of the wings and suffer badly with galvanic action in the wet and a smell of salt around is not good and white powder is the giveaway.

I'd be inclined to give Henry a call at Williams and let him know what you are looking for, he is a great guy, I bought my 4/4 Sport from him when they were based in Bristol brand new out of the showroom he is a pleasure to do business with and most helpful. He is a member on here but no time to contribute he is a busy guy with a young family and still races when he can.

Good Luck

p.s. Unless like me it's a V8 or nothing, this Roadster is known to me and also has a high spec and has been nurtured but used regularly Roadster It's at Perranwell also a nice garage to deal with.

I agree the 3.9ltr is a great engine, one from the 90s with low mileage is not as good as one with reasonable mileage. You will know that a Morgan with mileage has been looked after.

Hi Neil, like you I've waited a long time for my first Morgan. Took me 3 years to get my +8, looking on and off. Its a long way from perfect but has been very well looked after with a few oddities. A 25 year old car with just 3000 miles per year would have 75k now, in my opinion anything below that is low mileage.

I'm happy to strip the car and rebuild it if necessary but not everyone is that way inclined. Next year my +8 will be much better than it is now - and its good now! Depends on what you want but I wouldn't put mileage near the top of my 'wish list'.

Yes get on the MMC website car finder and you should get a fairly early heads up, I worried about paying more through a dealer but that simply is not the case with Morgan trads . Be prepared to drive a bit to look at those that pop up, I did in a rental car, and though I was targetting 97 onwards plus 8 looked at quite a few, Morgan dealers of long standing are a good lot and if you let them know your desires you will be in the loop.I wasnt desperate for a low mileage one but ended up with an almost unbelievably low mileage 99 year plus 8 but all appears to be good, the more I use her the more she flows along (14000 two years ago) I put 3000 on in 3 weeks last year. The selling dealer told me it had had two owners which i questioned (it had had 5) I have all the service details since new with mileages recorded, and the car is totally unmolested, i worked myself into a nervy wreck when flying in from the other side of the world to collect her from storage last year to head straight into the big road trip with all the whatifs ...
However all was good, MoG 18 proved that all Plus 8 fans come on when parking (or should) and running down to LeMans with a lovely couple from Kent in another Plus 8 that we met waiting for the ferry at Dover relaxed me even more.
Take your time, dont worry too much about the add ons you can do them, as long as the basic car has been loved and looked after you have a lot of smiles coming-and great reactions from the most unlikely of other road users and pedestrians.