Morgan Celebrates 50 Years of its Most Iconic Model with Special Plus 8 Edition

TopSpeed

By Ciprian Florea

Published Mar 7, 2018

It also marks the end of the Plus 8 saga

British coachbuilder Morgan is getting ready to discontinue two of its iconic models with special-edition versions unveiled at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show. One of them is a 50th Anniversary Edition of the Plus 8, the brand's crowning vehicle for a half a century. Unveiled back in 1968 and discontinued between 2004 and 2012, the Plus 8 gets a few special features for its 50th anniversary, before going out of production for good. More than 6,000 Plus 8s have been built so far, which makes this model the most successful in the company's history.

Much like any other special-edition Morgan, the Plus 8 doesn't get notable changes on the outside. There is a new blue lacquered paint reminiscent of the company's first Plus 8 models and hand-painted yellow accents around the front grille, engine hood, and the "two" markings below the bumper. British Racing Green paint is also available and comes with a soft-top, whereas the blue model remains a speedster vehicle only. The race-style white circles on the doors, the white exhaust pipes, and the chrome bumper delete give the Plus 8 50th Anniversary Edition a motorsport-inspired look.

Other extra features include a spun aluminum domed panel on the decklid, light leather wrapping used to seal the external wing panels, simpler graphics for the LED headlamps, and extra engine hood louvers and a leather belt. The number 8 painted onto the front grille harks back to the racing days of the original Plus 8.

The exterior appearance is rounded off by new five-stud wheels. Designed to mimic the original cast wheel of the Plus 8, the new wheels also allow room for larger brake calipers and are finished in a bespoke champagne color. They come wrapped in tires revised to handle the power of the big V-8 engine.

Inside, the roadster gets a plaque with a unique production number and a naturally waterproof black leather. A highly detailed, twin-pleated stitching adorns the seat centers for a motorsport-specific theme. The matte-finished walnut dashboard now includes specially designed dial faces.

Under the shell, the 50th Anniversary Edition sports the same lightweight aluminum chassis and 4.8-liter V-8 engine sourced from BMW. The unit is rated at 367 horsepower and 370 pound-feet of torque, which is identical to the more modern looking Aero 8 model. Tipping the scales at only 1,100 kg (2,425 pounds), the Plus 8 charges from 0 to 62 mph in only 4.5 seconds, to go with a top speed of 155 mph. Transmission choices include the usual BMW six-speed manual and the ZF six-speed automatic.

Alongside the Plus 8 50th Anniversary Edition, Morgan also unveiled a final version of the Aero 8, called the Aero GT, at the Geneva Motor Show.