Discussion
Hi all,
Beginning the search for a Plus 8. I have missed out on a 2002 car that I wanted and my backup choices seem to be from the mid 80s and mid 90s, from pictures all look superficially the same. Looking for white or silver with a red interior (although the interior is easy enought to change with a friendly trimmer).
Were there significant differences that are worth searching out later cars for, as they are all in the region of 30k. My current favoured car is a 1995 model, anything missing there that would be on a 2002 for example? Wikipedia etc are sketchy on details at best. I'm thinking in terms of body material (are they all aluminium or was that optional) do some have galvanised chassis and some not. When did the long door come in and are the short door cars suitable for a 6' driver?
Would the wood require replacing at this age if not done already or does that vary on condition and use?
Thanks!
Beginning the search for a Plus 8. I have missed out on a 2002 car that I wanted and my backup choices seem to be from the mid 80s and mid 90s, from pictures all look superficially the same. Looking for white or silver with a red interior (although the interior is easy enought to change with a friendly trimmer).
Were there significant differences that are worth searching out later cars for, as they are all in the region of 30k. My current favoured car is a 1995 model, anything missing there that would be on a 2002 for example? Wikipedia etc are sketchy on details at best. I'm thinking in terms of body material (are they all aluminium or was that optional) do some have galvanised chassis and some not. When did the long door come in and are the short door cars suitable for a 6' driver?
Would the wood require replacing at this age if not done already or does that vary on condition and use?
Thanks!
Hi Yeti,
I see you are a fellow geo, what do you specialise in?
Back on topic; I have had 3 Morgans, one of which was a +8. I am 6 ft 3 and fitted in my '78 +8, though my head did brush the roof on the few occasions I used the roof. Tonneau gets more use!
Mine had been rebuilt at great expense with a lot of what would now be period mods. Probably the best way to buy one, let someone else spend the money first!
If I was buying one again I would probably go for another special, or if in standard spec then an early 90s 3.9 pre-cat on alloys. The later 4.6's were not always well sorted straight from the factory but may have been fettled by owners by now.
They are normally well looked after. Issues I have seen on cars I looked at have been reaction of the wire in the wing beading, sagging doors, rust in engine bulkhead on 80s cars. The +8 does get quite hot in summer, so an updated rad and fans are useful mods, or they can boil.
Happy to answer by pm any other questions, otherwise talkmorgan is a great resource. Good luck!
I see you are a fellow geo, what do you specialise in?
Back on topic; I have had 3 Morgans, one of which was a +8. I am 6 ft 3 and fitted in my '78 +8, though my head did brush the roof on the few occasions I used the roof. Tonneau gets more use!
Mine had been rebuilt at great expense with a lot of what would now be period mods. Probably the best way to buy one, let someone else spend the money first!
If I was buying one again I would probably go for another special, or if in standard spec then an early 90s 3.9 pre-cat on alloys. The later 4.6's were not always well sorted straight from the factory but may have been fettled by owners by now.
They are normally well looked after. Issues I have seen on cars I looked at have been reaction of the wire in the wing beading, sagging doors, rust in engine bulkhead on 80s cars. The +8 does get quite hot in summer, so an updated rad and fans are useful mods, or they can boil.
Happy to answer by pm any other questions, otherwise talkmorgan is a great resource. Good luck!
Yeti,
I had a '71 Plus 8 for a very long time -- loved it, miss it, and will own one again. Join the Morgan Sports Car Club-- it's a great source of info. Also, there are many very good books on Morgans, many of which include info on buying one. There are very specific-to-Morgan things to know, so it's very well worth reading up on them. When they're good, they're wonderful. A bad one can be truly terrible. IIRC, chassis galvanizing became optional around 1986, and the factory started treating the ash body frames with Cuprinol around the same time. There should be plenty of room in the short-door cars (pre-'98), but they are obviously not as easy to get into/out of.
I had a '71 Plus 8 for a very long time -- loved it, miss it, and will own one again. Join the Morgan Sports Car Club-- it's a great source of info. Also, there are many very good books on Morgans, many of which include info on buying one. There are very specific-to-Morgan things to know, so it's very well worth reading up on them. When they're good, they're wonderful. A bad one can be truly terrible. IIRC, chassis galvanizing became optional around 1986, and the factory started treating the ash body frames with Cuprinol around the same time. There should be plenty of room in the short-door cars (pre-'98), but they are obviously not as easy to get into/out of.
Hi
I have owned a 3.9 long door +8 since new (1999) before that when the kids were little I owned a 4 seater 4/4 from 1989( waited 5 years or thereabouts for both cars, The advice I was given was to join the club and go along to your local monthly meeting( called a Noggin), this was the best advice I was given because you meet a cross section of people ie Polishers, Tweakers, historians , perfectionists, the list goes on , one thing they have in common is a passion for these cars ( in my case it can be a love/hate relationship. so simply tell them what you are thinking & I can mtell you there will be all sorts of opinions - it will be up to you to pick the stuff you want to use in your search .
personally I would advise you to go for a post 1994 model simply because this was when the SUPERFORM WINGS were introduced these are much better than the original 3 part wings as they don't suffer from Paint Starring caused when the wheels throw up a stone, I wouldnt be too concerned about the ash frame unless it is from an era earlier than the mid 80's when they started to cuprinol them. As long as you do your own servicing ( easy peasy) they are the cheapest cars on the market to maintain, its also the only car I have ever driven thats caused me to let out a scream of pure joy while traveling at high speed along a B road
So thats it , your starting point. Good luck
Alan
I have owned a 3.9 long door +8 since new (1999) before that when the kids were little I owned a 4 seater 4/4 from 1989( waited 5 years or thereabouts for both cars, The advice I was given was to join the club and go along to your local monthly meeting( called a Noggin), this was the best advice I was given because you meet a cross section of people ie Polishers, Tweakers, historians , perfectionists, the list goes on , one thing they have in common is a passion for these cars ( in my case it can be a love/hate relationship. so simply tell them what you are thinking & I can mtell you there will be all sorts of opinions - it will be up to you to pick the stuff you want to use in your search .
personally I would advise you to go for a post 1994 model simply because this was when the SUPERFORM WINGS were introduced these are much better than the original 3 part wings as they don't suffer from Paint Starring caused when the wheels throw up a stone, I wouldnt be too concerned about the ash frame unless it is from an era earlier than the mid 80's when they started to cuprinol them. As long as you do your own servicing ( easy peasy) they are the cheapest cars on the market to maintain, its also the only car I have ever driven thats caused me to let out a scream of pure joy while traveling at high speed along a B road
So thats it , your starting point. Good luck
Alan
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