Morgan may not show much interest in developing new models (aside from the retro-futuristic Aero 8 and wacky 3 Wheeler), but it's been refining its "Plus" sports cars for decades in a manner that makes Porsche's development of the 911 seem frivolously quick.
The latest Morgan is the Plus 8 Speedster, which celebrates the company's 100th anniversary. Set to go on sale in June, it makes even the most spartan modern cars look luxurious by comparison.
Morgan says the Plus 8 Speedster recalls "a bygone era of stripped back, road-going race cars." That's a romantic way of saying that it doesn't come with a windshield.
With everything possible removed to save weight and reduce drag, speedsters were in fact a common sight on the roads of yesterday, when turning a sports car into race car often required little more than painting a number on the door.
Safety standards and creature comforts have made this practice obsolete, making the Plus 8 Speedster a very unusual sight indeed.
However, while the hood is held down with a leather strap, underneath it is a modern 4.8-liter V8 from BMW. It produces 367 horsepower, and drives the rear wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission.
Morgan says the Speedster will do 0 to 62 mph in 4.2 seconds, and reach an electronically-limited top speed of 148 mph. That's probably as fast as you want to go without a windshield.
Despite its lack of luxuries, the Morgan Plus 8 Speedster will still command a base price of around $117,800 when it goes on sale later this year. Buyers should also factor in the price of a helmet and goggles.
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