14 May

2021 MOGSouth Noggin / Cars and Coffee at Amelia Island (21-22 May 2021)

MOGSouth will now have the Noggin on Friday evening (May 21, 2021) at the Surf Restaurant along A1A, 3199 S. Fletcher Avenue, Fernandina Beach, FL.

The location for the Friday evening MOGSouth Noggin is new this year. Last year’s location had certain advantages but there were also some disadvantages.

We will convene the MOGSouth Noggin around 5 PM at the Surf Restaurant.

We haven’t used this location for the Noggin before, but the staff seems excited to have us there.

The menu looks quite good and there appears to be sufficient parking. They have us on their patio (outside but there is covered space if needed) so if the weather doesn’t cooperate, I would recommend bringing a jacket or wind breaker.  Also, I don’t know what the regional virus requirements will be, so do bring a mask.  And, please don’t come if you are feeling ill or have any symptoms.

The Saturday Cars and Coffee event (May 22, 2021) will be held as usual, the Saturday following the MOGSouth Noggin, the day before the big Concours d’Elegance on Sunday, May 23, 2021.  You must have applied, paid your fee and received back an acceptance ‘ticket’ in the mail.   Bring this ticket on Saturday. Without this, they will not let you show your car, however you can attend as a spectator.   

As is the norm, all the Morgans will rendezvous on Saturday morning at 0730 (yes, I know this is early but . . . ), before the Cars and Coffee event. (There is parking in the lot out front of the Surf Restaurant, as well as behind the restaurant. Note: We will only stay a few minutes and then head off to the Cars and Coffee location.)  This will give us sufficient time to drive to the Cars and Coffee event and get parked together in the designated Morgan area. 

If you miss our little convoy (we will leave the Surf NLT 0800 Saturday morning) you may not be parked with the Morgans.

Cheers,
Mark

11 May

2021 MOGSouth Spring Meet – Little Switzerland, NC, 7-9 May – Report from the Field

It was hard to tell what sort of meet we would have given the external influences of the moment.  Well, 50 people and 22 Morgans say a lot!  It was grand!   The weather was cool (in the 40s and 50s) and very much appreciated by those of us escaping the high 80s of Florida. 

The cars behaved . . . for the most part, with only a few Morgan gremlins lurking about.  An intermittent starter problem, a gas guage with a mind of its own, and a few unknown gremlins saving themselves for the trip home.  A lovely array of cars!!  We had three Aero 8s, an AeroMax, two Plus 4 Drop Head Coupes, three Plus 4, 4 Seaters, at least three 4/4s (I think another one might have been lost along the way?), a good number of Plus 8s (one turbo!) and both new (3.7L) and old Roadsters (3.0L).  Even a brand new Plus 4!   As someone said, ‘eye candy!’

Little Switzerland is situated right off the Blue Ridge Parkway and a few high-octane twisty mountain loops that will certainly elevate your blood pressure, in a lovely spot in the North Carolina mountains.   

The Meet was designed to be low key.  No activities were mandated but we did want to stay in compliance with the safety policies of the region and the hotel.   

Mostly, our plans seemed to have worked.  Folks had their choice of drives on Saturday and an afternoon to investigate the lovely mountain vistas, local shops and villages.  Our Hospitality Suite was a separate cabin and, as it the norm, it was full of folks reminiscing about past meets and planning future outings.   We haven’t been all that social of late, so everyone seemed to be in great spirits and happy to be out and about.   

We had a group photo with the cars in the lot and the North Carolina mountains in the background.  All were amazed we didn’t lose a car or two down the hill!  How about those handbrakes? 

The planned outside dinner was rewickered and held in the main hotel dining room.  It was just a tinge too cold for us to hold it outside; but the hotel was accommodating, and they quickly put us inside the main dining room.  That worked out well.   The dinner was exquisite, the views stunning, and banter, lively (and loud)!   There were a few unlucky souls (other hotel guests) in the dining room at the time that had to listen to our Club drivel, but they did not seem to mind too much (or at least they didn’t say). 

The key points communicated were the upcoming Club events!   The MOGSouth Noggin at Amelia Island starting at 5 PM (at the Surf Restaurant in Fernandina Beach, FL) on Friday, 21 May 2021, the Cars and Coffee at Amelia Island on the following Saturday, 22 May 2021 (Note: we have an extra acceptance ticket should you need one and want to attend. Contact Mark), the MOGSouth Fall Meet in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina (Last minute change, bumped again due to Covid) , 5 – 7 November (We are part of the Car Club Showcase on Saturday), and the MOGSouth Holiday Party in Peachtree City, Georgia Saturday 4 December 2021.

Also, there is a Road Trip to Key West, planned for 3 – 10 October 2021, starting in Daytona Beach, Florida with the Morgan Dealer’s open house and finishing in Lake Mary, Florida at a party in Liam Fitzpatrick’s Irish Pub.  

This year’s calendar is on the MOGSouth Web Site, www.mogsouth.com.  The web site is not sending emails when new items are posted so you must go to the web site periodically to ensure you aren’t missing things.   Go to the Calendar page and look for events.  If they are underlined, there is more information. Click on the underlined event to go to the link with more details.  We will also try to send broadcast email messages when new things are added. 

Photos courtesy of Richard Ihns (the mountain drives) and Mark Braunstein (the dinner and group photo).

This past year’s events were challenging but we are now having fun.  If you weren’t in Little Switzerland, you missed a great MOGSouth meet, some wonderful scenery and roads, and most likely a lot of your Morgan friends!  I know things come up and sometimes these absences cannot be helped.  Luckily, there are more opportunities to play this year.  

See you there!!

Cheers,
Mark

13 Apr

Exclusive: new 2022 Morgan 3 Wheeler confirmed in testing shot (Autocar 8 April)

Retro-styled roadster looks set for a second-gen revival, and all the signs point to a heavy overhaul

  • 2022 Morgan 3 Wheeler prototype

Morgan has begun testing a substantially overhauled second-generation version of its lightweight 3 Wheeler roadster, as it prepares to wind down production of the current car this year.

Autocar has obtained an exclusive image of a prototype being put through its paces, giving us a first look at how the Malvern manufacturer will update the diminutive 3 Wheeler, which remains similar in its concept and design to the Morgan Super Sports launched in 1933. 

Most obviously, one of the current car’s defining features, its front-mounted V-twin engine, has been removed. Morgan previously confirmed that the outgoing car’s 1998cc motorcycle-derived 82bhp aircooled engine – supplied by American manufacturer S&S – would become non-compliant with emissions regulations in 2021, but has not yet detailed its replacement. Irrespective of output, Autocar understands the engine will continue to drive the rear wheel exclusively. 

It is now two and a half years since Morgan shelved plans for a pure-electric version of the 3 Wheeler, citing problems with its powertrain supplier and vowing to bolster its EV development capabilities by bringing “additional specialist resource in-house”. It remains unclear whether this second-generation car could spawn a zero-emission variant. 

With no engine elements on show, it appears the next-gen 3 Wheeler’s powerplant will be housed, more conventionally, in the bodyshell itself. That means it’s likely to be larger than the current two-cylinder unit and, as is the case with the other models in Morgan’s range, will likely be sourced from a third-party manufacturer. 

BMW currently supplies engines for Morgan’s four-wheeled sports cars, but the smallest is a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder taken from the Z4 sports car, and would almost certainly be too large for the 3 Wheeler’s shell. 

Beyond that, we can see clues as to a subtle redesign for the brand’s smallest model. With the engine relocated, it looks as if Morgan will introduce a more streamlined front end, although the front wheels will remain exposed while the rear wheel is enclosed within the tail of the car. However, the roll cage pictured here is for testing purposes and won’t make production. 

More significant are the apparent revisions to the 3 Wheeler’s chassis. With the front track visibly widened, we get a good look at what seems to be a much more advanced suspension set-up, while the vented brake discs at the front have been substantially upsized, all of which points to a more overt handling focus and potentially a power increase for the 3 Wheeler. 

The new 3 Wheeler is expected to be shown in full towards the end of this year, ahead of an international market launch in 2022. 

12 Apr

Sad News – Pat Harris has Passed Away

It is with great sorrow that I communicate the passing of Pat Harris.  Pat was the ever-present partner of Gene Spainhour for as long as I can remember.  I am sure it is the same for many of you, but for me a MOGSouth meet without Gene and Pat just didn’t seem right.   My heartfelt condolences go out to Gene during this very trying time. 

Pat passed away with her family in Cape Cod.  Pat was a wonderful member of the MOGSouth family and one of those people that makes MOGSouth the great club it is!  For me, she was always the ‘bright light in room’ even when we were outside mucking about with the silly cars.   She could be forceful when necessary, but had a wonderful sense of humor!  She often provided us with the ‘adult supervision’ we occasionally needed!  She was loved by us all and she will be deeply, deeply missed! 

Patricia Waggaman Harris

DOB: 05/29/1949 in Mt. Vernon, Ohio

DOD: 04/02/2021, age 71 in North Falmouth, MA

Born in Mt. Vernon, Ohio to Robert Waggaman and Mary Alice (Shrack) Waggaman. Pat spent a large portion of her childhood in Park Forest, IL before moving back to Mt. Vernon for high school. At Mt. Vernon High School, she met her husband to be, Jeffrey Harris, in the lunch line. Following high school, she attended Albion College in Albion, Michigan where she received a Bachelor of Arts in English. She later went on to earn a Master of Library Science from Appalachian State University in Boone, NC.

Upon graduation from Albion, Pat and Jeff married and eventually settled in Bethlehem, NC where they raised two children, Christopher and Bethany. Pat worked as a librarian/ media specialist for many years, first at West Alexander Junior High School and then at Hickory High School. Pat earned her National Board Certification while at Hickory High School.

Pat had a love of the outdoors including walking, gardening and hiking the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. She loved spending time with friends, pottery, books, chocolate, traveling, and a glass of wine. For the past sixteen years, she embarked on these pursuits and many other adventures with her partner, Gene Spainhour of Hickory. Most of all she loved her four grandchildren.

Pat will be lovingly remembered by her children Chris and Alissa Harris of Falmouth, MA and Bethany Harris and Leopoldo Sasso of Brooklyn, NY, and her grandchildren Hadley, Benjamin, Leopoldo and Clara. She is also survived by her brother Craig Waggaman and sister in-law Linda Waggaman of Radford, VA. Pat was preceded in death by her husband Dr. Jeffrey Harris in 1993.

A celebration of Pat’s life will be planned in the future in Hickory, North Carolina.

Memorial donations can be made in Pat’s memory to the following:

  • Bethlehem Branch Friends of the Library, 45 Rink Dam Road, Hickory, NC 28601
  • The ALS Association North Carolina Chapter, 4 North Blount Street Suite 200, Raleigh, NC 27601
  • Compassionate Care ALS, PO Box 1052, West Falmouth, MA 02574
27 Mar

Morgan Plus 4 an intoxicating mix of old and new (www.irishexaminer.com, 27 March 2021)

Morgan has recently appointed a distributor for Ireland and the company, still on the go after some 111 years, has now unleashed the first in its ‘CX-Generation’

When Henry Frederick Stanley Morgan founded the Morgan Motor Company in the Malvern Hills back in 1910, I doubt very much he thought the company would be on the go 111 years later, still producing unique and bespoke sports cars.

The fact that the company is still fully functioning is a credit not only to Henry Morgan’s vision, but also to that of an Italian-owned investment company which took it over in 2019, promising to expand the operation which is still based in the small British town of Malvern Link.

Some 220 people are employed in the manufacture of Morgan cars and roughly 850 units are made annually in an operation that is actually a lot more modern than most people think, even though the marque’s characteristic trait — the use of wood in the manufacture of the chassis — is still part and parcel of the company’s raison d’etre.

Although the rose-tinted vision of a Morgan probably involves a Spitfire pilot with a twirly moustache, a silk scarf, and a blonde WAAF speeding along Second World War-era English country lanes, the modern incarnation of the car differs little in appearance but those driving them these days are certainly nothing like the originals.

Down the years, Morgan has made everything from three-wheelers to roadsters to coupes, and they were renowned for such as their sliding pillar suspension and their wooden chassis, made of ash and African Bubinga red hardwood. Over time, the cars grew a modest but well-heeled fan base who adored not only the retro look and manufacturing techniques, but also the lovingly sporty nature of these handmade specials.

Latterly, and especially so since the company’s takeover by Italian investment group InvestIndustrial in 2019, the business has re-emerged as a more focused and modern entity. 

You can add a hand-stitched leather interior, if you so desire. Picture: Dan Linehan

This is underscored by the fact that its current model line-up now has the essential Morgan look, but is underpinned by modern construction techniques — albeit still incorporating an element of wood within.

The company describes the modern models — the Plus Six and the Plus Four — as being the first in its ‘CX-Generation’ which bear a bonded aluminium platform which is much stronger than the traditional chassis. They sport BMW engines and gearboxes instead of the Matchless, JAP, Coventry Climax, Standard, Triumph, Rover, and Ford engines the company used down the years.

Morgan says that despite the look and feel of the new Plus Four, it remains the same as when the model was first revealed almost seven decades ago; only 3% of the components are shared with the outgoing version. 

And, having driven it, I can confirm that the new beast is a whole lot more ready for the modern world than anything that preceded it.

As brand development is now moving along nearly as quickly as one of the company’s products, it is appropriate that this new era for the company is reflecting a push for new markets and customers.

Irish distributor

That is why Morgan has recently appointed a distributor for Ireland (all 32 counties) and why it has reached out to someone with lifelong connections to the industry here and a special connection with motorists who like something different from the norm.

The new distributor is a company called Edgewood Automotive and the man running it is Fermoy, Co Cork-based Wayne McCarthy, the son of the late but legendary industry figure John McCarthy, who ran an Opel franchise, among many other business interests, in the town for decades.

Wayne also ran the Motorpoint operation on the Lower Rd in Cork City for many years; it was a Saab dealership as well as the source for many unusual automotive imports to this country.

He is not only terribly proud of his history in the business, but also noticeably confident about the future of a brand such as Morgan, even given its undoubtedly niche status.

Even though the entry-level Plus Four model will cost north of €100,000 here, it is easy to see why his confidence in the product is not in any way rash. The whole issue here is that while you can order an-off-the-line model, you can also personalise it to the max.

The list of stuff you can add to the car — everything from a hand-stitched leather interior to the bespoke Avon tyres and the specially crafted wire wheels to the brass knock-offs which hold them in place — is extraordinary and will certainly appeal to people who like the word ‘unique’. 

Element of trepidation

There is an element of trepidation involved in taking anything of this nature for a spin — especially around the unfamiliar backroads of north Cork — and the mild expectation is certainly present that you’re about to be subjected to a boneshaker which can trace its roots back to a time not long after the Wright Brothers were first taking flight.

Fire it up and you get a low burbling thrum encouraging you to find out what’s possible here. Picture: Dan Linehan

Nothing could be further from the truth. Lower yourself — you have to, believe me — into the driver seat and you find yourself cossetted by high-grade leather and appropriate amounts of dashboard and centre console wood, of which there are seven options. You look out on the long, hand-louvred bonnet and get a feeling of unadulterated motoring richness.

Fire it up and you get a low burbling thrum encouraging you to find out what’s possible here. And with 255 bhp on offer, what’s possible is nearly alarming. Boasting a dry weight of 1,009kg, the Plus Four is light, but with that four-pot BMW turbo under the hood, there’s no shortage of poke and an eight-speed auto ‘box, also from Munich, helps get that power on the road when and where you want it.

Top speed is a shade over 240km/h and the 0-100km/h dash is achieved in just 4.8 seconds, which is 0.4 of a second quicker than the option with the six-speed manual gearbox. These figures suggest a certain fleetness of foot and they are not wrong because the rate of progress here is pretty savage.

That being so and what with the car also being rear-wheel drive, you might jump to the conclusion that you’ll be applying the opposite lock on a fairly regular basis — depending, of course, how far you dial up the inner hooligan — but unless you’re very bold or very dumb, that does not have to be the case.

In fact, the car is nothing like as tail-happy as I anticipated and even on dampish roads, there was nothing of the sphincter-tightening nature I expected. I thought I might be heading for Castlelyons looking mainly out the passenger window, but there was none of that.

Neither was there much blood-rushing when the brakes were applied. Once upon a time, Morgans were noted for their reluctance to stop, but now there is a proper ABS system onboard here and any thoughts you may have had of a fishtailing, smoke-wreathed roadster can be dismissed.

This is indeed a beauteous beast and while some might find the retro look a little naff, those who appreciate the hand-built craft on offer, as well as the modern chassis and drivetrain, will look to the individuality and distinctiveness that Morgan sells and they will embrace that fully.

This is a car with great history and now, also, a great future. It melds the old and the new into a fascinating concoction of thrills and heritage with a large dash of exclusivity. 

That’s a blend that’s definitely intoxicating.

Colley verdict – The cost: From €106,000, The engine: A muscular two-litre petrol turbo, The specification: You can have pretty much anything you desire, The overall verdict: A classic, Star Rating: *****

20 Mar

GatorMOG at TPC Sawgrass, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL (March 2021)

Eight spectacular cars (all GatorMOG Morgans) visited the pristine links at the famed TPC Sawgrass course in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, this past week.  Golf enthusiasts will recognize this course as it was just on television, hosting the Tournament Players Championship, a PGA Tour event with a $15M purse!  A purse bigger than the US Open!!  Wow!  We just went for lunch? 

First off we visited with Peter and Lynda McManemy in Ponte Vedra Beach.  Their home is stunning with views of the intercoastal waterway with a large lanai for lounging.   This is the Florida life style!  Peter plays the TPC weekly and says his game is improving??   This is a game for the gods.  I gave it up years ago realizing my inabilities.  My hat is off to Peter!!     

The folks in our gaggle came from all over northern and central Florida.  A few of us convoyed together while others carved out their own routes to Ponta Vedra Beach.  For those in the convoy (I was one), we traveled the highways, top down and enjoying the mild Florida weather.  We did have to playing dodge ball with the eighteen wheelers some but otherwise it was just a spirited but somewhat dull drive.  The folks that traveled the back roads and coastal roads reported a much better trip!    The age of the cars ranged from 1980 to 2020. 

The run to the TPC from Peter and Lynda’s home was trivial.  Just down the lane!!  We rolled in and placed a few of the cars at the front of the Club House and the rest of the cars went into reserved spots in the parking lot.  Quite the operation!!  I guest they knew we were coming? 

The lunch was served outside on the Clubhouse’s lanai.  Breath-taking views of the 18th hole with the skyboxes (tournament spectator tents) still up.   

It was obvious that the tournament had just occurred as the club aura still had that bit of electricity in the air! But surprisingly the grounds were impeccable . . . they showed no signs of the very large spectator crowds of the previous week.   

I guess the most famous of holes at this golf course is the 17th with its putting green surrounded by water.  Peter alluded to amateur players that are so fixated on hitting the green, just once! They would repetitively pitch their golf balls into the water just to have success with one!!  Yes, all for bragging rights!!

It seems that an ambitious young diver now scours bottom of the water hazard around the green once a year claiming the found golf balls to resell!  Good work if you can get it!!

The Morgans out front were a definite attraction.  Folks with large golf club bags stopped to stare. I guess they must have been wondering where they they’d put those clubs, if they had a Morgan? 

Some just stopped and never moved? Not sure what they were wondering? ‘Now where did I park the SUV??’

We had to shoo away a good number of gawkers just to get a photograph with only the cars.   We moved them all to the front of the Club House for a photo op!  Getting the cars positioned just right in front of the fountain was a challenge.  We had a move a few cars around to avoid similar colors side by side, but in the end it came out quite well. 

Just a fleeting moment in time . . . commemorating a wonderful afternoon in Florida. 

Here’s to many more!!

Cheers,
Mark

10 Mar

2021 MOGSouth Spring Meet – Little Switzerland, NC (May 7 – 9, 2021)

Folks this year is a little different from normal.  The MOGSouth Noggin and Cars and Coffee event at Amelia Island, in March, is usually our first get together of the new year.  However, the Covid-19 Pandemic changed things and the Concours at Amelia Island and the associated Cars and Coffee event were moved to the latter half of May.  This means our Spring Meet, at Little Switzerland, NC will precede the Cars and Coffee event by a few weeks. 

As you all know we attempted to have the Spring Meet at Little Switzerland in May of 2020 but, like many other things, it got postponed until this year.   We have renegotiated the dates for this year’s Spring Meet (to replace the cancelled event) with the Switzerland Inn, Little Switzerland, NC.  The new dates are now arrival on 7 May 2021 and Departure on 9 May 2021.   Make sure your schedules show these new dates!!   From the MOGSouth perspective, this meet is going to happen.  The only thing that will cancel it outright is the Switzerland Inn’s unavailability or a regional mandate that would preclude us holding the event in NC. 

We were told that the Switzerland Inn was going to roll over your existing 2020 reservations to the new 2021 dates; however, I would call them at (828) 765-2153 just to be sure this rollover happened.  If you didn’t have reservations in 2020 and need to make new reservations for the new 2021 dates, you will have to call them at (828) 765-2153. As I understand it, you have to call. You cannot make reservations on line.  

In setting up the meet this year, we have obviously been mindful of the ongoing and evolving Covid-19 situation.  As more people become vaccinated and local regulations change according to the most recent guidance provided by local and national authorities, the exact details associated with masks wearing, social distancing, etc. for our meet will likely change as well.  MOGSouth will comply with all Covid-19 compliance requirements as mandated by local authorities in place at that time.  The Switzerland Inn is also committed to a high standard of compliance with all the local rules and regulations. 

Having said that, I am sure everyone understands that most folks in the Club’s membership are in the higher risk categories with respect to the Covid-19 Virus, so please don’t participate in this or any club event, if you are concerned about your own personal safety or if you personally feel ill or have symptoms, etc.  Please, don’t put others in the club at risk!  And, of course, you need to do what is best for your own health.

Again, it is not my place to be dictatorial in any way and given this, I won’t tell you what to do or what not to do.  These decisions must be made on your own!  You are smart . . . smarter than most and can make up your own mind!  

I guess my job is to simply provide you with the opportunities.  You have to decide which ones make sense for you, given your own situation.  Now, I will accept that I need to craft these opportunities, best I can, in such a way as to make them as safe as possible with respect to the virus and I have tried to do this.  

The good news is that, as I see it, our car events are not the worst thing you could do.  Driving about in open cars is far less risky than many other activities.   We are outside, we are socially distant, we are about as good as we can be.   (If you want to wear a mask while driving?  Wear a mask!)  However, there are some activities of our “typical” meet that warrant additional attention given the virus.  These include the group meals and the hospitality suite. 

First let’s address the group meals.  The Friday dinner and all Breakfast meals are typically on your own anyway, so this comment is primarily targeted at the Saturday meals.    Saturday lunch is currently envisioned as a ‘box lunch’ so you can simply pick up your meal and go wherever you would like to eat.  (You may need to wear a mask when you pick up your box lunch depending upon local policy.)  We have asked that the Saturday evening dinner meal be outside in the Switzerland Inn’s outside dining facility, weather permitting.

The Hospitality Suite is planned in a separate cottage on the Switzerland Inn property, with a large outside patio with numerous picnic tables.   We will set up our Hospitality Suite with beer, wine, soda, etc.   We will do this outside, if necessary.  If the weather is problematic, we will have to react in some way, so do bring a rain slicker or an appropriate jacket and maybe an umbrella.  (FYI, the weather in the area during May is typically nice . . . well, that is if you trust the internet?)  I would also recommend bringing your own lawn chair just in case.

Just staying in a hotel may be problematic for some.  That cannot be mitigated by the Club; however, I am assured by the Switzerland Inn, that they have gone overboard in cleaning and sanitizing the rooms.  You may want to bring your own sanitizing spray or wipes just in case.  However, if merely the act of staying in a public place like a hotel is problematic for you, I am sorry.  There is really nothing I can do about this issue and if you choose to avoid the meet, I and others, will certainly understand.  

 Cheers,

Mark

21 Feb

The 2022 Morgan Plus 8 GTR Track Car Happened Because Morgan Refused to Let Unused Chassis Go to Waste

The Bristol Bullet was set to be a Morgan Plus 8-based retro drop-top powered by a BMW V8—except now we’re getting nine 2022 Plus 8 GTRs instead.

Founded in 1945 primarily to keep the Bristol Aeroplane Company’s crew busy after the war, Bristol Cars went from using pre-war BMW technology to producing some of the most quintessentially British motorcars ever made, all hand-built to Rolls-Royce-rivaling standards. Bristol maintained a single dealership on the corner of London’s Kensington High Street and Holland Road, and this conservative attitude towards sales slowly and steadily pushed it into bankruptcy by 2010. The group that bought Bristol’s assets promised a new speedster by 2015, powered by a BMW V8 and limited to 70 units to celebrate Bristol’s 70th anniversary.

“Project Pinnacle” led to a drivable Bristol Bullet prototype presented at the 2016 Goodwood Festival of Speed, only for the new venture to go silent afterwards and into liquidation in 2020. Yet back in 2015, the new Bristol company purchased rolling chassis from Morgan for the Bullet—specifically, the Plus 8 bonded aluminum platform fitted with a 370-horsepower BMW V8. As with Les Edgar’s revival of TVR, the Bristol rebirth looked great until it didn’t. 

2016 Bristol Bullet prototype at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.

The Bullet itself made perfect sense. A hot limited-edition speedster with BMW powered just like the original Bristols, except styled somewhat like a late 2010s restomod AC Cobra. Given the size and enthusiasm of the British collector car market, the entire 70-car run could surely sell out in no time. 

With its suitably long hood, fine leather inside the two-seater cabin, AP Racing brakes and German V8, the Bullet could have been a proper dream machine.

Two years ago, the Morgan Motor Company had to move on to a new aluminum platform that used turbocharged straight-six BMW engines to keep up with our times. However, when nine of its old Plus 8 rolling chassis went up for sale when Bristol closed, Morgan quickly realized that nine track-focused specials based on that older tech could be built for 2022. The resulting Plus 8 GTRs would feature a naturally aspirated V8 under a new aerodynamic Plus 8 body that pays tribute to Charles Morgan’s mad “Big Blue” endurance racer from 1995. 

As Morgan put it: “The project has only been possible because of the recent availability of a number of Plus 8 rolling chassis, which have been re-acquired from a third party following a discontinued project.”

Big Blue was Morgan’s test bed for the then-new bonded aluminum chassis that made the Aero 8 and other roaring V8 sports cars possible. This new run of nine 2022 Plus 8 GTRs will be what the Bristol Bullet couldn’t, only with a roof and the rest of Morgan’s bold design.

2022 Morgan Plus 8 GTR – MORGAN MOTOR CARS