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Morgan Roadster

Still based on an original 1930’s design but lightly modified over the years, the Morgan Roadster is still the original bare-bones sports car. Each Morgan Roadster is hand built in Worcestershire, England with an ash-wood frame sitting on a ladder-style steel chassis. Flowing down the length of the car are long flowing running boards which finish the beautiful styling which has kept the Roadster popular all these years.

Although it is not a practical everyday car with no real security, there is still a long waiting list to buy the classically styled Morgan and they fetch high used values. The latest updates see new, smaller, more efficient engines without reducing performance. The design is pared-down, but there is modern thinking underneath the timeless, handcrafted bodywork.

Morgan Roadster Details

Production Dates1970-current
Length 4010 mm / 158 in
Luggage Capacity 102 litres / 3.6 cu ft
Fuel Tank Capacity 50 litres / 13.2 US gal
Warranty 2 years or 999,999 miles
Service Intervals 6,000 miles

Morgan 4/4 1.6 Sport

Thanks to its lightweight structure the 4/4 is agile and surprisingly economical.

Specifications

Fuel type Unleaded Petrol
Engine type Straight 4
Engine Capacity 1595 cc
Power 112@6000 bhp
Torque 131@5750 nm
Transmission type 5-spd manual
Kerb Weight 795 kg / 1753 lb
UK Retail Price from £39,309

Performance

Max speed (manual) 115 mph / 185 kph
0-100kmph (manual) 8 seconds

Economy and Emissions

EU Combined Fuel Economy (manual) 44.1 mpg / 6.4 L/100km
CO2 Emissions (manual) 143 g/km

Morgan Plus 4 2.0 Litre

Specifications

Fuel type Unleaded Petrol
Engine type Straight 4
Engine Capacity 1999 cc
Power 156@6000 bhp
Torque 201@4500 lb.ft
Transmission type 5-spd manual
Kerb Weight 927 kg / 2044 lb
UK Retail Price from £43,389

Performance

Max speed (manual) 117 mph / 188 kph
0-100kmph (manual) 7.5 seconds

Economy and Emissions

EU Combined Fuel Economy (manual) 39.8 mpg / 7.1 L/100km
CO2 Emissions (manual) 164 g/km

Morgan Roadster 3.7 V6

The Morgan Roadster replaced the long-lived V8 powered Plus 8 model when engine supplies ran short for the Rover/Buick unit which no longer passed European emission tests. The replacement was the Ford 3 litre V6 used in the Jaguar S-Type which although a little more refined still offered a good deal of grunt in the lightweight car. The latest update uses the Ford Cyclone V6 which ups the power once more. Acceleration is breathtaking and comes as quite a surprise for a car born in the 1930s. Driving performance is fun but hardly comparable with modern sportscars. Security and practicality are nonexistent so this is best kept as a weekend car.

Specifications

Fuel type Unleaded Petrol
Engine type V6
Engine Capacity 3721 cc
Power 284@6000 bhp
Torque 352 nm
Transmission type 6-spd manual
Kerb Weight 950 kg / 2094.4 lb
UK Retail Price from £54,669

Performance

Max speed (manual) 140 mph / 225 kph
0-100kmph (manual) 5.5 seconds

Economy and Emissions

EU Combined Fuel Economy (manual) 28.8 mpg / 9.8 L/100km
CO2 Emissions (manual) 240 g/km

Morgan Plus 8

The Morgan Plus 8 Roadster is reborn with a BMW V8 engine replacing the old Buick/Rover lump. It turns the classically styled car into a bit of a hot rod with an engine note that is one of the most tuneful of any car in production.It combines the classic style with more modern tech than just the engine. Under the (still wood framed) hand beaten bodywork is the larger chassis from the Aero 8. It is 11mm wider than the standard Morgan chassis and made from bonded and riveted aluminium. It provides a stiffer and lighter platform which means the overall weight is just 1100kg. So light on its feet and with no shortage of horsepower the Morgan Plus 8 should be quite a handful but the suspension setup and automatic gearbox keep things composed. The wider chassis also provides a more roomy interior. The Morgan Plus 8 provides a true Morgan driving experience but with some of the best characteristics of a modern car hidden away underneath.

Specifications

Fuel type Unleaded Petrol
Engine type V8
Engine Capacity 4799 cc
Power 367@6300 bhp
Transmission type 6-spd auto
Kerb Weight 1100 kg / 2425 lb
UK Retail Price from £85,461

Performance

Max speed (manual) 155 mph / 249 kph
0-100kmph (manual) 4.5 seconds

Economy and Emissions

EU Combined Fuel Economy (auto) 23.3 mpg / 12.1 L/100km
CO2 Emissions (auto) 282 g/km

Information last updated

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