By Colin Wood
Jan 15, 2020
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Morgan,
Morgan Plus 4
Seventy years. That's how long the Morgan Plus 4 has been produced. Even though this chassis run is about to end, Morgan is opting to celebrate the legacy of the process through 20 copies of a 70th anniversary special edition. Most notable of these special editions is that "the chassis has been painted in gold, to highlight its significance." Other cosmetic additions include special "Platinum Metallic paint," dark gray wire wheels, blacked-out trim, and individually numbered plaques for each example.
Under the hood, these 70th Anniversary Editions get a bump of power from 154 brake horsepower (156 horsepower) to 180 brake horsepower (182 horsepower) thanks to Aero Racing, Morgan's in-house performance division. Aero Racing also adds a custom exhaust with a black exhaust tip.
All 20 are priced at £60,995 (about $79,50). Though if you were hoping to get one for yourself, all have already been spoken for.
Read the full press release below:
As production of Morgan’s steel chassis draws to a close, a special Plus 4 celebrates 70 years of Morgan’s most popular model.
In 1950, the first Morgan Plus 4 rolled off the production line at Pickersleigh Road. Over the next 70 years, it would develop through myriad iterations, but always prove a hit with buyers.
Now, production of the steel chassis – on which the Plus 4 has always been based – is to finish. It begs the question: how to celebrate not just seven decades of the Plus 4, but the ending of its time-honoured construction, too? Morgan’s design team has put pen to paper, and this result is this, the Plus 4 70th Anniversary Edition.
For the first time in the company’s 111-year history, the chassis has been painted in gold, to highlight its significance. A celebration of 70 years is, of course, a platinum anniversary, so what’s more appropriate than Platinum Metallic paint? That’s complemented by satin dark grey wire wheels, a motorsport-inspired front valance, and exterior black pack including a black stone guard, A-pillars and sidescreens
Inside the car, the finest grade of leather has been sourced, while specially embroidered headrests differentiate the edition. A Ravenwood veneer dashboard, dark grey box weave carpets and satin black Mota-Lita steering wheel have been handpicked for the model, as well as a leather-trimmed steering cowl and door handles, heated ‘performance’ seats, footwell lighting. An exclusive commemorative Photographic Build Record, mohair hood cover, and sidescreen storage bags are also included with the car. To mark the cars out as some of the last steel-chassis Plus 4 models, each one features an individually numbered plaque.
The changes don’t end here, though. Under the bonnet, the model gains an engine map configured by Aero Racing, Morgan’s in-house motorsport specialists, raising power from 154bhp (115kW) to 180bhp (134kW), and taking its 0-62mph (0-100kph) acceleration time down to less than seven seconds. Alongside this, the cars are fitted with an Aero Racing sports exhaust, finished with a ceramic-black tail pipe, allowing the engine to truly sing.
Jonathan Wells, Morgan Head of Design, said: “As the design team creating the Plus 4 70th Anniversary Edition, our aim was to create a classic look, yet one that exudes the significance of what it represents. A mix of premium tones, high-quality materials, and exquisite details reflect the essence of the venerable Morgan Plus 4, and provide a fitting tribute to the steel chassis that has formed its backbone since it was launched in 1950.”
Just 20 cars will be built, priced at £60,995 inc. VAT in the UK, however, deposits have already been taken on every car. A small number of late-production Plus 4 and Roadster models remain in the Morgan Dealer Network, and Morgan recommends that those interested in purchasing one contact their nearest Dealer at their earliest convenience.
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