Winning bid
£27,500

1976 Morgan Plus 8 Sports Lightweight model

Highlights 

• Exceptionally rare model
• Original and unmolested throughout 
• Widely used Rover V8 power plant 

The Appeal 

Morgan cars themselves are coveted by car enthusiasts the world over for their timeless design, usability and engaging driving experience. This particular example has the added bonus of being just one of 19 made making this exceptionally special in the Morgan community. The car has a very original feel with bucket loads of patina, particularly on the interior, giving character and a story of a full life. 

Powered by the famous Rover 3.5 V8 used in a huge array of platforms including TVR, servicing and maintenance won’t be too much of an issue, making this still a very useable classic for text lucky owner. 

The History and Paperwork 

• Good MOT history
• V5 present
• Large amount of paperwork 
  • MOT exempt
A large paperwork trail comes with this Morgan which is good evidence of attention to servicing and general requirements of the car over the years. 
The Morgan has however sat unused for a few years, the last MOT test being in 2017 where it the only covered a few hundred miles before being parked. We haven’t been given reason to believe the Morgan was parked up for any mechanical reason so likely it is just in need of a fresh test before hitting the road.

 
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The Interior 

• Original & Unmolested
 • Clear & clean gauges 
• Nice patina 
We really liked the look of this interior, although the leather is in need of a thorough clean and some localised repairs, there is nothing that seemed excessive or really detracted from the overall character of the vehicle which evidently has been loved and well used. Particularly we noticed the instrument cluster was in fantastic condition along with the switch gear that showed signs of use but nothing excessive. 
Looking across the simplistic dash you have the importance bit, the RPM gauge right in front of the driver. To the left the temperature and fuel gauges and finally, left of the speedometer, all made by SMITHS and in that classic white on black finish with the Morgan logo proudly centre of the temperature gauges. 
The seats appear to be the original cream leather, these are somewhat in need of a clean due to the nature of the open top this is not unusual, and would likely come up well. They are in good shape with some small cuts/tears in places as can be expected but nothing that affects use or comfort. Similarly the transmission tunnel covering could use a good clean, but ultimately is in nice order and still fits well around the construction of the car. 
Door cards and dashboard similarly are in good order and are cleaner than the rest needing for nothing, with the trim still fitting tightly with little to no damage or real wear and tear.
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The Exterior 

• Beautiful glossy black paint 
•Headlights & spotlights
• Tidy and shiny brightwork 
Of course there’s no doubting this is Morgan with the plentiful louvers adorning the long, bi-fold bonnet, the triple wipers and those huge wheel arches, this truly is a beautiful car. 
Finished in a very well suited gloss black, the finish is good and shiny. We can only assume the paint is not original as some of the finishing has a little more ‘Orange peel’ finish to it in some of the tighter areas but this is not unusual for an aftermarket finish. Nearly all the aluminium panels are perfectly straight with the exception of a small ding atop of one of the arches and a possible repair defect just above the fuel filler, nothing much for a car of this age and can be easily overlooked given the fabulous overall aesthetics of this Morgan. 
Looking around the chrome and brightwork, all this is in very good shape, the bumpers are near blemish free with the odd tiny ding and mark as one might expect. The chrome headlamp surrounds too are fantastic from the main beam surrounds to the Lucas hi-beam sealed units, all are in no need of any attention and the same goes for the wonderfully large, slatted grille. 
One of the things that sets this car apart is the Millrace wheels finished in black with silver/polished highlights. Unusually different from the usual wire spoked wheels more common of this era of Morgan, these suit the car down to the ground with the matching colour scheme and sportier look to match the performance of this special car.
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The Mechanics  

  • New 3.9L Rover V8 engine fitted 7000 miles ago.
• Low mileage
• Matching tyres all round
• Clean and tidy engine bay 
  • Car recently serviced
  • The car has a tendency to slip out of reverse gear
Sporting the fabulous and popular Rover 3.5 V8 in a 155bhp state of tune, this Morgan will be no slouch! This mated with a 4 speed synchromesh gearbox makes for an engaging and mechanical drive leaving the driver fully in touch with the cars behaviour. A modified version of the Plus 4 chassis resides beneath the curves of the body, and aluminium panelling keeps it light on its toes too. 
A part stainless exhaust system is fitted to the rearmost part of the exhaust and this has had recent mountings. The exhaust itself does have some surface corrosion, not much bad though, typical of a mild steel option and not unusual for a car that has stood a little while. The underside does though look very good indeed, the chassis legs still painted black with protection. 
A look about under the bi-fold bonnet reveals the large aluminium Rover V8. Nice valve covers dress the engine well along with the K&N filters feeding the SU carburettors. Everything seems to be in order and in its rightful place with the usual spots of paint flaking, all easily remedied if so desired. Some of the hoses including the oil feed and return have been replaced with long life braided fittings which we thought was a nice touch and a nice attention to detail. 
A full set of Avon tyres with good tread adorn the Millrace wheel set. 

Summary 

Undoubtedly a beautiful car, and a special and rare example, this will be a sure fire win with any car enthusiast. Although this car has not seen the road for a while it would not need much TLC to be back on the black stuff again. 
With low miles this is definitely ready for more use and is a sure fire investment for someone who loves maintaining their own car and with a love for driving. 
Notice to bidders
Although every care is taken to ensure this listing is as factual and transparent as possible, all details within the listing are subject to the information provided to us by the seller. Car & Classic does not take responsibility for any information missing from the listing. Please ensure you are satisfied with the vehicle description and all information provided before placing a bid.
As is normal for most auctions, this vehicle is sold as seen, and therefore the Sale of Goods Act 1979 does not apply. All bids are legally binding once placed. Any winning bidder who withdraws from a sale, is subject to our bidders fee charge. Please see our FAQs and T&C's for further information. Viewings of vehicles are encouraged, but entirely at the seller's discretion.

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Auction Details

  • Year1976
  • MakeMorgan
  • ModelPlus 8 Sports Lightweight
  • ColourBlack
  • Odometer29,735 Miles
  • Engine size3947cc
  • Seller TypePrivate
  • CountyLondon
  • CountryUnited Kingdom
  • Auction ends

Bidding history

17 Bids

mitch-r••••
Bid
£27,500
24/08/22
mitch-r••••
Bid
£25,000
24/08/22
mitch-r••••
Bid
£20,000
24/08/22
peter-m••••
Bid
£17,250
24/08/22
graham-••••
Bid
£17,000
24/08/22
zx40.af••••
Bid
£15,500
23/08/22
graham-••••
Bid
£15,000
20/08/22
Dduqu••••
Bid
£12,000
18/08/22
Jhuwtho••••
Bid
£11,000
18/08/22
Bluecer••••
Bid
£10,000
18/08/22

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