Season’s greetings from PCVC to all classic vehicle enthusiasts, wishing you all a good Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year.
Our Classic of the Month is the wonderful 1987 Morgan Plus 8 belonging to Sue and Richard Griffiths. The car is hand built in the traditional coach building manner, with body panels fixed to an ash wood frame. The car only weighs 900 kilograms and is powered by a fuel injected 3.5L V8 Rover engine which produces exhilarating acceleration.
How did this iconic British, open topped, sports car come to reside here in sunny Cyprus? This is Richard`s story.
“I had fallen in love with these beautiful cars when, as a schoolboy, my local bus used to pass by a Morgan dealer showroom. Many years later, there I was in the middle of a desert when a friend commented that you only had to put down a £50 deposit to order a new Morgan. So in 1979, when I was next on leave in the UK, a cheque was written (after visiting several Banks), and an order made.
Seven years, yes, SEVEN years later, I received a letter from the Morgan Motor Company advising that they were about to start building my car. A visit to their factory in Malvern resulted in the agreement of the specification, including the Royal Ivory colour scheme.
In January 1987, I was now living in the UK, and the car was delivered to me via the same Morgan dealership. However, as I had just bought a house, I didn’t have a lot of spare cash. No problem, I thought, I can always sell it for more than it cost (a quirk of the long waiting list), but when driving it home I decided that I had to drive it for one summer at least. 40 years later I still have it and I still love it!”
Richard and Sue’s Morgan Plus 8 will be displayed with our other classic vehicles at PCVC’s meetings throughout December. For further details check our Facebook page or our website (www.paphosclassicvehicleclub.com) or telephone 97760997.
