Morgan Motor Company (Malvern Link)

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www.morgan-motor.co.uk/about_morgan/2000.html
www.morgan-motor.com/factorytour/

March 2000 saw the surprise unveil of the all new Aero 8 at the Geneva show. One of the most radical cars on display, it literally stole the show with journalists fighting for press packs at the end of the unveil. Morgan was on the front page of everywhere.

Successes in the US market with the +8, and numerous developments for type approval kept the small but dedicated technical team at morgan hugely busy. Frontal impact tests, then the more strict 40% offset frontal, side impact, rear impact for the US not to mention Federal emission standards, Euro 3, then Euro 4 which all contrived to keep the company at full tilt just to comply. The last big effort was the engine change and addition of ABS and Airbags for the second development Aero 8 which was launched for the US market at the LA Autoshow and the New York show.

The +4 ceased production in 2001 when the Rover T16 engine became unavailable from Rover. This model was not re-introduced until September 2004, and continues today fitted with the superb Ford Duratec 2 litre which develops 145 Bhp.

The final +8 was producued in April 2004, stopped only because the Rover V8 would no longer meet the emission standards. Morgan fitted that engine for longer than anyone else, including Rover and Land Rover themselves!! A big party was had at Prescott Hill Climb in Gloucestershire, with over 1000 Morgans in attendance and over 600 runs up the hill. A great day.

How though can you replace an Icon like the +8. With the Roadster of course. With the same body and similar chassis to the outgoing +8, the Roadster benefitted from many years of technological engine development. Using the 3.0 litre engine from the ST220 Mondeo/Jaguar S type this lightweight package offers +20% more power, similar torque and a fabulous rev range. 0-60 takes just 4.9 seconds so the newcomer is faster, more fun and thanks to the lighter engine and better packaging, a better balanced motorcar.

2005 saw the unveiling of the spectacular AeroMax Coupe at the Geneva show. Wowing the crowds with its outrageous looks, this one off coachbuilt car used Aero mechanicals clothed in a stunning aluminium coupe. Such was the response, that the Morgan Factory are still considering series production.

So what of 2006. 70 years of the 4/4 thats what! 1936 saw the first 4 wheeled Morgan, and to celebrate the company has announced a run of 142 Morgan 4/4s. 2 of these will each celebrate 1 year of manufacture ie. 1936 will have 2 numbered cars, 1937 etc etc.

With a number of styling queues from yesteryear, inlcuding steel wheels with proper hubcaps, fold flat screen, wood rim steering wheel, special instruments and a styled hood, these cars are selling fast. With yet another first, the Morgan website shows actual factory availability of these unique and desirable cars.

For several years, we have missed the 4 seater in the range. We are delighted that the new version has been such a success. Available with both 2 and 3 litre versions, the factory have been building these at the rate of around 2 per week since July this year.

bit of wikipedia;

A Morgan three wheeler is driven by Peter Sellers in the movie The Party.
A Morgan four wheeler was used throughout the Mel Brooks film Silent Movie.
The movie Speechless featured a 1957 Plus Four Four-Seater, and the movie Now and Forever, set in Australia, had a 4/4 1600 Four-Seater.
Perhaps the biggest hit among movies featuring Morgans was The War of the Roses in which several cars were used to depict Mr. Rose's Plus Four roadster.
In the episodes Kill Ari (1) and (2) of the television series NCIS Dr. Mallard is seen driving a Morgan roadster which he restored himself, although it is a four-wheeler, not a three-wheeler.
In the novel Have His Carcase, a technical aspect of the three-wheeler Morgan formed part of the plot (though it would be a spoiler to reveal why it had to be such a Morgan.)
In the Monk episode "Mr. Monk is at Your Service", Clara Buchanan was murdered by her son, who then staged a car accident in a Morgan to cover up his crime.