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By Will Andrews
YEAH BABY! Back in the '50s and early '60s Americans were in love with Peter Sellers, lan Fleming's James Bond, the Beatles and The Avengers' Mr. Steed and Mrs. Peel -who all rode in quirky British cars that were fun to drive. Americans also had a love affair with British roadsters. They were fast and fun to drive because they were so unusual. They had musical exhaust systems, and there was a particular kind of "thunk-click" noise they made when you shut the door that captured all of the romance of the road in a single sound. But things changed with the passing of time. The Germans mass-produced well-engineered cars that were very fast. The Italians started making flashy cars that were very, very fast. The Japanese made endearing little cars that were inexpensive and fun to drive. Even the Detroit assembly line juggernauts added sporty Corvettes and Mustangs to their line-up. Safety and emission regulations changed. Marketing methods changed . Many British automobile manufacturers either couldn't or wouldn't adjust. The result today is that most remaining British marques are owned and operated by American or German auto manufacturers. Depending on how much of a purist you are, you might find that lamentable or an improvement. Through it all, there has been one Briti sh car company that has remained true to its roots- a family-owned, and thoroughly British company. The Morgan Motor Company has built only four basic models since 1910, yet Morgan continues to have an ardent following due to its focus on excellent engineering and craftsmanship.
Low, Light and Explosive The new Morgan Aero 8 - a sleek, ultra-light, techno-classic, race-inspired sports car- is the
first new model for Morgan since1968. Actually, the 1968 Plus 8 model was not much more than an update of the Plus 4, a car with a 50-year-old heritage. Don't confuse the Aero 8 with its predecessors, however. It chews up 0- 60 mph in less than 4.5 seconds and has a top speed of 170 mph. This kind of performance puts it squarely in the Porsche and Ferrari class. If that were all that Morgan set out to accomplish, this redesign would be considered a slamdunk. But, Morgan had another pressing issue. Their 36-year-old Plus 8 roadster has a rabidly enthusiastic following and is still generating six-month waiting lists for its 200 car a year production schedule. Morgan knew that the Aero 8 would have to gain acceptance with their classic sports car purist customer base. How do you create a thoroughly modern car, one that would stand the test of time for the next 25 years, and incorporate the look and feel of a classic British roadster? To do that, Morgan turned to veteran racing engineer and vehicle designer Christopher Lawrence. For his inspiration, Lawrence obviously turned to Morgan's extensive heritage.
The First and Last Sports Car In 1906, Henry Frederick Stanley Morgan, a young draftsman of railroad steam engines, left his railway job and opened a garage and bus line in Malvern Link, England. His enthusiasm for automobiles eventually manifested itself in building a 7 horsepower, single-seat, 3-wheeler that was a very successful design. Built on a lightweight rigid frame, its front two wheels had Valu eRi ch Magazi ne 37