1996 Morgan Plus 8. July 07

"Ah!", I can hear you mutter. "Ten years of writing these reviews and he has finally totally lost it" (as opposed to just plain 'lost it' - they tell me that happened some years ago).
But let me explain! The original owner of this fine vehicle was a resident of that most mismanaged of countries - Zimbabwe. Being a chap who liked to plan ahead, in 1989 he placed an order for a Morgan Plus 8. Seven years later, it was delivered.
He drove it there for six years and, by then, saw what it has taken our brain dead cricketers a further five years to see, ie. Zimbabwe was not the friendliest place to be. So, he came to Australia and he brought the Plus 8 along with him.
But back to the $83,792,814. With a weekly inflation rate of 2,000 % in Zimbabwe, the sticker price of the Morgan, had it stayed in Harare, would have been in the squillion dollar region. All of which leads me to say that the $A119,000 being asked here doesn't sound so bad when you consider the alternative!
Now Morgan, of course, have been around forever (well, since 1911 actually). They've seen wars, depressions, stock market crashes and the loss of the Ashes. And through all that time they have barely changed. Oh, an odd new engine here and there and an extra wheel was added in 1936 of course. But still, the ash frame, hand beaten bodywork, sliding pillar independent front suspension and a half-elliptical spring rear axle remained a constant.
You'll know the legends; third and fourth generation's sons and daughters still using the same tools as great granddad. Or the same treadle sewing machine that Nan used in 1938.
(Now I'm not going to destroy the legend totally, but new Aero models do actually use things like CAD programs, quite sophisticated vacuum pressing techniques, and a whole host of modern technology. That said - the Aero is a story for another day - the traditional body style still lives on and is still produced in the sheds out the back with the 1938 sewing machine and great granddad's tools.)
But talking of new methods, I happened to be in the UK when the BBC ran a reality show called "Troubleshooters". The program involved a rather pompous bloke by the name of Sir John Harvey-Jones visiting businesses and telling them what they were doing wrong. You know; things like "stop making mini skirts - it's only a passing fad". Stuff like that.
Well, in Morgan's case, it was "Drop the 'old car' look, automate the factory, sack half the workforce and double production" (-the sort of things that the Private Equity buyers were going to do to Qantas).
The sub-text, of course, was that Jones did not really understand the Morgan market. The reason there was a waiting list of customers was precisely because they wanted the hand beaten bodywork, they wanted the hand-stitched leather, and they even wanted to be on a five-year waiting list.
The outcome of the Morgan Troubleshooters episode was an increase in back orders, no change in production methods and a tee shirt that turned Sir John Harvey-Jones into "Sir John Hardly Knows". His reputation gone in one half-hour doco! Serves him right, I say!
But back to our squillion dollar Plus 8. After six years in Africa and five in Australia, it has clocked up a total of 13,000 kms and, as you would expect, presents in as-new condition.
The selling dealer is an expert on all things Morgan and has made one or two modifications to overcome what he perceives as shortcomings ex-the Morgan factory.
A steering damper and roller bearing conversion helps in the steering department and other minor mods have brought the car up to a later model specification.
For those who haven't driven a Morgan, it isn't quite what you might expect. The initial perception may be along the lines of "Oh! this is 70 year old technology", but that's not what you feel once you're in a Morgan. Sure the suspension is firm and the steering won't be confused with a Porsche Boxster, but it's not uncomfortable or daunting in any way.
You get the best fun out of cornering by using your right foot as much as your hands, so a "tail out" in a Morgan is far more likely to be controllable than in any German sportscar, what with their DSC, DBC, DTC and CBC systems (I didn't just make up those initials. Read a BMW brochure - they're all in there!).
This Plus 8 is fitted with a radio/CD that comes with a remote control (true!), because the radio location means it's too hard to reach from the drivers seat. It also has a host of nice bits like engraved centre lock nuts on the chrome wire wheels, and blue mohair for everything, including the spare wheel cover.
This car has just about every extra available on the (extensive) Morgan extras list. Leather seats, walnut dash, chrome wire wheels, etc.
The dealer has fitted new tyres all round, not because the old ones were worn, but because he considers 11 years is plenty old enough for a set of tyres.
Now that the Plus 8 is no more (replaced by a 6 cylinder Morgan), these cars are moving into investor territory and they don't come any better than this one.
Trevor West

WHAT, WHERE, WHEN & HOW MUCH
Model: Morgan Plus 8
Year: 1996
Dealer: Global Classic Cars
28 Mt. Barker Road
Mt. Barker, SA, 5251
Ph: (08) 8391 6044

Price: $119,000
0-100 kph: 6.5 seconds
Best point: Magnificent condition
Worst point: They aren't made anymore
Recommendation: As good a Morgan as can be found anywhere in the World
Trivia: Following is a verse from 'The Morgan Poem' published in The Light Car and Cyclecar, April 1926 Don't slam the clutch into action. Don't put oil where there's dirt. Wipe it all carefully, With a rag or piece of your shirt.