Morgan Motor Company has teased a birthday version of its iconic Plus 8 – called the 50th Anniversary Edition – ahead of its full reveal at the Geneva motor show.
The V8 sports car has been in constant production at Morgan's famous Malvern headquarters for half a century now, with more than 6,000 of the venerable roadsters being built by hand in that time. Now, a limited run of just 50 will celebrate the occasion.
'The 50th Anniversary Edition is a fitting illustration of the Plus 8’s beauty and finesse, coupled with raw exhilaration and capability,' said Steve Morris, Morgan managing director. 'Performance has underpinned every one of the Plus 8s that have driven out of our factory gates for 50 years and we’re excited to reveal the car in full in Geneva.'
The limited edition will be based on a lightweight aluminium chassis, which helps it have the best power-to-weight ratio of any Morgan that has ever been built, and achieve a 0-60mph time of 4.5 seconds. Weight is a low 1,100kg, while the top speed is 155mph.
Power will again come from a BMW-sourced V8 engine. Rover supplied the engines for the original run of Plus 8s, that was first conceived by Peter Morgan in 1968. The German engines were first used in 2004, the year before Rover's demise. The 50th anniversary Plus 8 will be the final Morgan to feature a naturally-aspirated engine.
'Firmly established as Morgan’s crowning vehicle for fifty years, the Plus 8 continues to pioneer new technology within the classic Morgan bloodline,' said Jon Wells, Morgan's head of design. 'When combined with an uncompromising attention to craftsmanship, luxury and material choice, there is no more desirable gentleman racer.'
Gallery: Morgan Plus 8 50th Anniversary Edition teasers