Description
Kelham Hall | Newark, Nottinghamshire
Viewing: Tuesday 9th September from 12pm
Auction: Wednesday 10th September from 9am
Location: Main Street, Newark, Nottinghamshire NG23 5QX
1974 Morgan Plus 8
No Reserve - Entered from the Dering Collection
Registration No: SAE 888M
Chassis No: R7735
MOT: Exempt
Entered from the Dering Collection, the property of a gentleman racing driver
Converted to a five-speed gearbox in 1981
A remarkably well-preserved machine with desirable period upgrades
Although Rover's attempts to acquire Morgan in 1966 had proved fruitless, it nevertheless granted the sports car manufacturer access to its newly acquired, ex-Buick, lightweight aluminium V8 with a view to cementing a supply contract. Hired by the Malvern works to assess the powerplant's merits, race engineer Maurice Owen lost little time in shoehorning one into a Morgan Plus 4 chassis. With trials of the resultant prototype successfully undertaken in 1967, the Plus 8 débuted at the following year's Earls Court Motor Show. Built along familiar Morgan lines, its ladder frame chassis was equipped with independent 'sliding pillar' front suspension, a leaf-sprung rear axle and front disc and rear drum brakes. Supported by an ash frame, its swooping bodywork looked as traditional as ever but gave no clues as to the new model's performance potential. Initially equipped with a four-speed Moss gearbox but later Rover four- and five-speed units (the latter from 1978), Autocar magazine found even the earliest Plus 8 capable of 0-60mph in 6. 7 seconds and 124mph, making it the fastest accelerating British-built car in period. Today, Plus 8s are much sought after as they continue to be regularly at the front of the pack at historic race meets.
One of the best-documented Morgans we have ever consigned, this well-preserved 1974 Plus 8 boats ownership history from new and several period upgrades. Some historic V5s and V5Cs suggest that the first registered keeper was the unusually-named Norman Kit N Ma (Norman Kit and mother?) of Euxton, Lancashire. In July, 1976, it passed to its meticulous long-term owner, Edward Grey Hodnett of Antrobus, Cheshire, who kept it until well into this century.
Mr. Hodnett appears to have been an incorrigible fettler, and he accumulated a vast file of invoices and technical drawings dating back to the very beginning of his ownership, including several from the Morgan Motor Co. His purchases from the factory included a luggage carrier (£25. 75 in 1976) and a new black steering wheel (£20. 86 in 1980). Mr. Hodnett covered some great distance during his early ownership, as indicated by a complete MOT record from 1977 to 2009. The mileage in 1977 stood at 11, 656 and had reached 37, 615 by 1983.
In 1981, the Morgan was upgraded with a five-speed gearbox (with its own copious folder of technical information) and in 1983 and 1984 it underwent a major chassis and body overhaul with Rutherford Engineering. The work included welding, ash frame repairs, repanelled doors, an interior retrim and a respray in British Leyland Pale Ivory. The ash frame was modified to take demister nozzles. The mileage was then reset, but Mr. Hodnett continued to drive the car extensively until the mid-1990s, after which it was kept in continuous but more sparing use.
Since the Morgan was bought by the vendor, a well-known gentleman racing driver, it has been primarily a static exhibit in his collection, and will require light recommissioning. Besides the many invoices and old V5s and MOTs, the history file also includes a Plus 8 Owners Handbook, a copy of the July, 1978, Morgan Sports Car Club Miscellany, a c. 1990 Morgan brochure, Plus 8 Assembly Instructions, and literature from Salisbury Transmissions.
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Parking and entry into the auction is free for auction attendees with a catalogue, available at the door.
Catalogues can be purchased for £20 (admits 2 people).
