First unleashed onto the roads of Britain in 1968, the Morgan Plus 8 Sports Roadster quickly outclassed many established prestige vehicles, becoming the fastest accelerating production car coming out of the UK. Part of the secret was the newly developed aluminum V-8 215 cubic inch (3.5 liter) engine built by Rover. Weighing in at only 318 pounds (144 kg) this powerful V-8 was lighter than most iron-block 4 cylinder engines of the time.
The traditionally styled Morgan Plus 8 hardly did this speedy engine justice as aerodynamically it barely managed speeds past 125 mph. Although, for an open cockpit vehicle, this was usually quite sufficient. It made up for that long-haul lack by being able to accelerate from 0-80 faster than even its contemporary, the Porsche 911 Turbo. A Moss 4-speed manual transmission synchromesh gearbox completed the set by creating a ride both smooth and connected to the feel of the road.
Built by hand in 1970, the Plus 8 ($Auction) you see here can be yours if you’ve got around 60K to spare. This vehicle has its original Rover V8 engine (168bhp), comes with new exhaust and new brake callipers, and is finished in Brilliant Green with a black leather interior. [via]
