Morgan Plus 8
This 1990 Plus 8 will satisfy those looking for vintage thrills with modern convenience, reckons Charlie Calderwood
This is a very nice, original, unrestored and low-mileage example of one of Morgan’s most iconic models. Although 31 years old, it still presents extremely well with what the accompanying history suggests is the car’s original bodywork. The low mileage has no doubt helped with that. There are a few stonechips on the nose cone and front wings, and also some light scuffing around the doors and windows from panel movement, but otherwise, its dark blue paint is excellent. The alloys are also very good, with just some very minor flaking on a couple of them. The car wears Yokohoma A539 tyres all around, but while they have good tread, they are 18 years old so we’d advise replacement. The hood and side screens are also in good shape.
All of the gauges work, as do all the switches, though we noticed that the colouring of the warning lights in between the speedometer and tachometer have faded a little. The grey leather seats show the odd mark and crease, with some small patches of colour loss on the driver’s seat bolster, but they are still very useable.
The leather steering wheel is in very good shape, complete with a now fairly unfamiliar red script Morgan logo. The rest of the leather in the cabin is pretty good, though the sill coverings are a bit scuffed from people getting in and out. The dashboard is in great shape, though there is a hairline scratch in the rear-view mirror.
Though the V8 fired easily from cold, we did find it a little reluctant to start from warm on what was an unusually hot spring day. Some feathering of the throttle soon settled it down however, and the engine was happy to idle perfectly well from thereon, its temperature remaining steady.
Operating the heavy clutch can easily lead to kangarooing starts on anything but a perfect surface, but with a degree of delicacy this can be overcome and the car offers impressive performance. This car steered and stopped well too, while the suspension didn’t give off any untoward noises, and felt as supple as a sliding-pillar Morgan is ever capable of being.
This car has four downdraught Weber carburettors, which are fed via K&N air filters. They are tuned well, and provide a pleasant intake noise to boot, though they may have contributed to the hot start issues we briefly had. Everything else in the engine bay appears to be standard and in good condition. Braided fuel lines are good to see, we couldn’t find any leaks and ancillaries, such as the alternator, look reasonably fresh. Service and MOT records from new accompany the car, as do all of its past tax discs, suggesting a fastidious and organised previous owner.
The fact that this is a Nineties car rather than a sought-after Moss-gearbox Sixties Plus 8 might lack some of its period appeal, its condition and specifications surely make it a more user-friendly car.
Those looking for a Plus 8 in the traditional mould, even if they initially went looking for an earlier car, should consider this example seriously.