Jay Leno’s Garage is a website run by the man himself, and features a weekly webisode series that he produces and hosts. On last week’s episode, Jay had on his friend Jason Len of XKs Unlimited to discuss and drive the 1970 Morgan Plus 8. 

H.F.S. Morgan and his father (second from right) at the Brooklands race track, where Morgan won the Cyclecar Cup.

For those of you unfamiliar with Morgan Motor Company, it was founded in 1910 and named after its founder H.F.S. Morgan. It got its start from manufacturing small yet revolutionary vehicles called cyclecars or, as Morgan called them, Runabouts. Over time, the company’s popularity grew from both shrewd marketing tactics (like getting the car in the storefront of the popular Harrods store) and a simple but sound design which made it possible for less-affluent folks to experience “motoring.” New capital fueled development to produce two-seater models, while winning gold medals and setting world records increased popularity.

After WWI, Morgan continued to build its flagship Runabout two-seater, never needing to make any fundamental changes–a testament to Morgan’s genius design. The Aero (1920) and Super Aero (1927) reflected demand for ever-faster vehicles, and continued to deliver on the racetrack. To meet broader demands for more practical vehicles, in the 1930s Morgan produced the “Family” model, the first four-seater to be offered by the company, as well as a delivery truck model.

Morgan 1950 Plus 4

Though the Roundabout had been popular for years, Morgan recognized its time was coming to an end, and decided to invest in producing four-wheeled cars. Following that decision, the company introduced the “4-4”–four cylinders, four wheels–in 1936. Combining a robust chassis with a light body, the two-seater Roadster was once again a Morgan phenomenon. In 1950, the Plus Four (“plus” for a larger engine) debuted, with a 2088 c.c. Vanguard 68hp engine. It proved its worth, both on the track and on the market, as it is still in production to this day, thanks to its classic appearance and strong design. 

Seeking to continue its prodigious line, as well as rekindle diminishing buyer interest, Morgan expanded the Plus 4 to the Plus 8 with the installation of the Rover 3.5L V8 engine, giving the already agile Plus 4 a huge boost in acceleration and speed. The body shape was kept almost the same as the Plus 4, making a small addition to the width of the body to allow for more space between driver and passenger. 

In the video, Jason Len’s Plus 8 has a 275hp 3.9L block engine with a 5-speed transmission. “Forged piston, special cam, special oiling system, special induction system, barely legal,” according to Len. Interestingly, the car uses a magneto, which Len favors over a battery for its inherent reliability (Len adds that he uses magnetos in all his other cars as well). And, true to its racing roots, the car has a stopwatch holder on the left side of the steering column; on the right, there is a tachometer, fuel pressure, oil pressure, voltmeter, and other essential gauges. Truly a beauty of a car, and one not to be messed with.