RE: Morgan Aero 8: PH Carpool
Discussion
Nerfbat said:
I love these, and fully intend owning one in the not-too-distant future.
Good lad! 
Recommend the Supersports if you can find one.This is my one:
http://www.autogespot.co.uk/morgan-aero-8-superspo...
(I really must stop driving and actually take some photographs of my own!)
pppppppppppppppp said:
I just can't get my head round why they went with those headlamps. Other than that and the illegal number plate I like this.
In 2007 they replaced the Beetle units (cross-eyed look) with MINI units - they look rather better Rumour is they wanted those from the start but BMW couldn't/wouldn't spare them - so they went for New Beetle items instead (given they use a lot of BMW bits, this both makes sense and doesn't!?)
Whatever tho - they uncrossed it's eyes in 2007
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Thank you for all the comments, it is indeed a true Marmite car.
Ref the lights, originally it was designed to use the Mini lights, but BMW were not happy to have Morgan launch their car ahead of the mini with the lights.....hence a switch to Beetle lights and them ending up with the unique face. The series 1 and 2 cars all had these, then reverting to later newer mini lights onwards.
Series 1 cars have a narrower cockpit, easily identifiable by the "half dash" and only 2 wipers, series 2 cars onwards were federalised for USA and had wider cockpits, full dash, 3 wipers and a larger boot. + an engine spec change, different gearbox, wheels, brakes.....in fact quite a different car.....softer and less raw. The car has the same chassis and footprint, but the angle of the bonnet and the width at the A and B pillars are wider, meaning the rear arches and running boards are narrower. The rear boot lid is also higher with a duck tail (USA crash legislation) meaning the cars look taller and narrower. Series 1 cars also had a tiny rear screen at an angle, giving rise to the term "gangster roof" as it looks very low with little to no rear visability.
Side exit pipes turned up on series 2 cars, and can be retro fitted but they do leave quite a big space at the rear. Packaging of cats and silencers under the running boards is tight, and occupants regularly burn their legs on the exhaust getting out. Mine has a custom system but still has the rear exits, a little louder at full chat, but silent when ideling.
Ref the lights, originally it was designed to use the Mini lights, but BMW were not happy to have Morgan launch their car ahead of the mini with the lights.....hence a switch to Beetle lights and them ending up with the unique face. The series 1 and 2 cars all had these, then reverting to later newer mini lights onwards.
Series 1 cars have a narrower cockpit, easily identifiable by the "half dash" and only 2 wipers, series 2 cars onwards were federalised for USA and had wider cockpits, full dash, 3 wipers and a larger boot. + an engine spec change, different gearbox, wheels, brakes.....in fact quite a different car.....softer and less raw. The car has the same chassis and footprint, but the angle of the bonnet and the width at the A and B pillars are wider, meaning the rear arches and running boards are narrower. The rear boot lid is also higher with a duck tail (USA crash legislation) meaning the cars look taller and narrower. Series 1 cars also had a tiny rear screen at an angle, giving rise to the term "gangster roof" as it looks very low with little to no rear visability.
Side exit pipes turned up on series 2 cars, and can be retro fitted but they do leave quite a big space at the rear. Packaging of cats and silencers under the running boards is tight, and occupants regularly burn their legs on the exhaust getting out. Mine has a custom system but still has the rear exits, a little louder at full chat, but silent when ideling.
405dogvan said:
Rumour is they wanted those from the start but BMW couldn't/wouldn't spare them - so they went for New Beetle items instead (given they use a lot of BMW bits, this both makes sense and doesn't!?)
I was told Morgan wanted to use Mini lights but BMW refused as the Mini wasn't yet released.405dogvan said:
In 2007 they replaced the Beetle units (cross-eyed look) with MINI units - they look rather better
Rumour is they wanted those from the start but BMW couldn't/wouldn't spare them - so they went for New Beetle items instead (given they use a lot of BMW bits, this both makes sense and doesn't!?)
Can Mini lights be retro fitted to pre-2007 cars?Rumour is they wanted those from the start but BMW couldn't/wouldn't spare them - so they went for New Beetle items instead (given they use a lot of BMW bits, this both makes sense and doesn't!?)
Indeed, cannot be retro fitted as the mounts in the wing are both complicated and different shapes.
That said, the bespoke nature of these cars means you can get new wings made with the lights, and I suspect the wireing and CANbus can be overcome.
That said, the bespoke nature of these cars means you can get new wings made with the lights, and I suspect the wireing and CANbus can be overcome.
Edited by markcoopers on Wednesday 29th July 19:16
Thinkbluesky said:
The opportunity to design a stunning evolution of the old Morgan shape has been completely missed - I feel embarrassed every time I see one of these, beauty sells, but maybe this isn't the driving force behind this car!?!? And yes, I could do better, much better.
Go on then 
I've had a series 3 Aero (first of the Mini Light version) and a series 4. I have the series 5 on order but have managed to acquire the rarest aero, the GTN which is a series 1 but with the Alpina 4.6 litre V8 engine and side exit exhausts. Only 11 were built. They started life in the main part of the Morgan factory but were finished off by the racing division.
I'm looking forward to giving it a nice run out shortly to be able to give a proper comparison.
Series 3 Aero
Series 4 Aero
Aero GTN
I'm looking forward to giving it a nice run out shortly to be able to give a proper comparison.
Series 3 Aero
Series 4 Aero
Aero GTN
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