The "slanted" Morgan Aero 8, or "the secret of the English lawn"

Many people are irritated by modern cars, made as if from a carbon copy or on a Xerox. Monotony of color, body similarity. Shooting a sparrow is hopeless: you will end up in a crossover anyway. Solid unification: manufacturers from all continents use 5-6 global platforms. Simple engines are in great demand. Styling solutions - and those are not distinguished by originality. Therefore, "Mercedes" for us is a brother of "Infiniti". We are silent about the "Chinese" - they are all relatives.


Maybe the explanation is that everything has already been invented in the engineering sector? Once upon a time, the auto companies' own style, unusual model designs were a chance for a breakthrough, a trump card in the battle for the market.

Meanwhile, the desire for exclusivity in the appearance of vehicles is ineradicable in the soul of a motorist. Well, then turn around, look at the roadster "Morgan Aero 8". The manufacturer is truly original, does not change the once chosen style, direction and principles for 115 years.

Morgan Motor Company

The business, founded in 1910 by Henry Morgan, is not exactly what you'd call a car company. It's more like a cozy family business. It's like a good craft workshop in the backyard of a large house in Malvern Link, England.


There are no factories with tower cranes, no automated conveyors or robots. Everything is done by people with the rough hands of fitters, mechanics, assemblers. Specialists lovingly smooth out every detail before attaching it to the machine.

Here the older generation teaches the youth how to work: how to hold a plane or other tools correctly, how to manage the household thriftily. Do your work, son, conscientiously, diligently. Be diligent and careful, keep your promises, etc.

This is how the Morgan clan lives. Over the past period, three generations of the company's owners have changed: the organizer Henry himself, his son Peter, grandson Charlie. It is clear that the gentlemen have no calluses on their hands from the plane. But they hold the reins of power firmly and confidently.

Manufacturer concept

Every year the family produces about 850 cars – exclusively sports cars, impeccable quality. Assembly is done manually. They keep up with progress, but stubbornly do not produce their own engines. They do not build research laboratories, do not patent discoveries. They do not use chipped machines.


Everything at the Morgans is the old fashioned way:

✅ fasten the wheels with a central nut
✅ install independent spark plug suspension in front
✅ saw and plane oak, maple, aspen, ash for frames and bodies
✅ do not recognize electronic panels
✅ welcome manual transmission
✅ reject anti-roll bars

But! Morgans have 30 shades of paint. And the interior is decorated in 000 colors. The salons are covered with the finest Connolly leather, like a royal "Bentley" or benches in the Houses of Parliament of Great Britain.


In short, Morgan cars are classics and pure conservatism. The owners adhere to traditions so tightly that you can count deviations on your fingers. For example, once, in the second half of the last century, Peter succumbed to fashionable influence and made a body from fiberglass. But this was no longer a true Morgan: the Plus Four Plus model was released in a run of 26 copies and then discontinued.


The brand's cars are not cheap, which is normal for small-scale production. Prices start at 110 thousand euros. Prepayment is often 100%. But there is no shortage of clients. In the 60s, there were cases when applicants waited for orders for 10 years. Morgan rejected offers from Standard Triumph, Rover and other third-party companies to buy and merge. An amazing family!

Activities before the birth of Morgan Aero 8

By and large, the company released 90 basic models over the first 3 years. The rest are “variations on a theme,” modifications, restylings. Call them what you like.


Briefly about the Morgan company's generations:

✅ 1910-1935. The first was a 3-wheeled sports car with a leading rear wheel. In the 30th, 45 underhood "horses" of the V2 engine accelerated the car to 121 km/h
✅ 1936-1950. The rally model "four quarters" followed - 4/4. The index stands for "four cylinders on four wheels". The herd did not increase much in number - 46 hp. But the appearance acquired those very "family" features that unmistakably indicate respectable Morgans. This is a "waterfall" radiator grille and long, smoothly falling front wings. Always 2 doors, a roadster body or a coupe with a folding top
✅ 1951-2000. The turtle-like slowness became completely unacceptable. It was time to perk up the dynamics. They installed 100 hp engines. They integrated headlights into the fenders, bent the radiator grille. They stubbornly left the wooden parts in the body and frame and rolled on.

But at the turn of the century, stricter safety requirements forced a reconsideration of family traditions. The company slightly redirected its vector of movement.


Critics called these concessions "fundamental changes." Oh, right! Radicalism is not the Morgans' style.

Morgan Aero 8 Review 2001-2010

Traditional construction methods, authentic solutions – this is sacred. Everything is handmade: the same wonderful “waterfall”, flat windshield with three short windshield wipers, elegant front wings with running boards separated from the body. At the back, submitting to the demands of modernity, a “duck tail” spoiler was installed.


They didn't refuse wood, even if it was a stake on the head. The spatial frame was built from ash. True, they didn't use a solid mass, but individual boards covered with aluminum panels. Headlights...

Let's remember: Morgan does not produce auto components. The optics for the Aero 8 were borrowed from the Volkswagen Beetle. The headlights were swapped and installed on the inner sides of the front fenders. The public immediately noticed the "squint" of the model, and ridicule was directed at the serious manufacturer.

In 2005, the "ophthalmologists" from Morgan's workshops corrected the defect. They installed lighting fixtures from the Mini: the roadster became "bulging-eyed". But the spears of the press and critics flew over the heads of the businessmen: a mosquito can also sting an elephant.


Dimensions of the car with a wheelbase of 2525 mm and a weight of 1145 kg:

✅ length - 4120 mm
✅ width - 1770 mm
✅ height - 1200 mm

The sports car on 18-inch wheels was produced at a rate of 14 units per week. It passed 47 tests for strength, safety and environmental friendliness. The price tag was $120 thousand.

Motors, chassis

The rear-wheel drive platform of the model has independent suspension on wishbones with springs and shock absorbers. Anti-roll bars still remain on the list of despised elements.

But it is not good to ignore the ABS and EBD systems, DTS traction control. As well as not providing the user with cruise control, air conditioning, heated windshield. Also included in the package are EPS, various sensors (tire pressure, for example) and an audio system.


The BMW V8 DOHC petrol engine is mounted longitudinally at the front with the following characteristics:

✅ volume – 4398 cm³
✅ power – 286 hp at 5,5 thousand rpm
✅ peak torque – 430 Nm at 3,7 thousand rpm

Performance: acceleration to 4,6 km/h in 257 sec, top speed XNUMX km/h. The brakes are disc brakes.

Let's conclude our story about Morgan Aero 8 with words of gratitude to the company for the magnificent examples of old-school cars. Thank you for preserving traditions, commitment to style.

Yes! About the secret of the English lawn: it has been mowed and watered for 300 years. You know, such an analogy with a classic British car came to mind…