2009: THE YEAR OF THE SLR ! UK, December 2009 This has been an extraordinary year for the three  Morgan SLRs. Simon Orebi Gann began it with the racing return of the first SLR made, formerly owned by Bill Fink, the legendary US Morgan Agent. After an exquisite restoration, Simon aggressively raced his treasure sharing the driving honours with Rick Bourne. (Click Simon for more) Then, in August, the second SLR owned by Morgan enthusiast and racer, Keith Ahlers, was picked as an entry for the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in California to mark the Morgan Centenary presence. In November, it was announced that the third SLR had been purchased by John  Emberson from the racer- collector Adrian van der Kroft. It was SLR raced and concoursed by the America's Dave Bondon for many years. Click John for more. All three SLRs have now returned home to the UK. We hope to see them all together in the New Year. PRICE INCREASES Malvern, UK, December, 2009 The MMC has increased prices for its parts averaging 6% over 2009. Prices for the model  line may also be increased with an official announcement expected shortly for effect in April 2010. Sources indicate that the price of the very popular 4/4 Sport, the entry level Morgan, will be raised substantially.  OVERSEAS TRADS  Malvern, UK October, 2009 In a May interview with Morgan 100 TV Mr. Charles Morgan, one of the four managing directors of the Morgan Motor Company stated that he was "absolutely passionate" to get the traditional Morgan back into the US. His pick would be the 105 bhp 4/4 Sport. However, Morgan noted that the US must "take its head out the sand" and change its present impact safety laws to make Morgan import there legal again. The Morgan Roadster was refused entry by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA Decision) due to the Company's  failure to source a replacement airbag in the years they had to do so. The non-Classic model, the Aero 8 was granted a 3 year exemption for impact issues in 2005. That exemption ended in June 2008 without an MMC application for renewal. However, the MMC recently assured buyers  that the new $200k Aero Super Sports will be sold in the US. NHTSA approvals have not yet been confirmed. In a later interview for the MCD  Matthew Parkin, another of the managing MMC directors, stated that the trad Morgan will not be returning to overseas markets. There are no current plans to prepare the trad for future compliancy.  news: newsdesk@mogwire.com

US AERO SUPER SPORTS eMog, January 2010 US dealers have been informed that the new Aero Supersports will be fully NHTSA- compliant. Details should be forthcoming. The A.S.S. is presently being displayed at the Detroit Auto Show after showing at the LA Auto Show.  The Company stated that it see a potential 200 sales in US. It shall replace the Aero 8  IV and the Aeromax. Production will be limited to a maximum of 175 units. Click for Brochure. RECORD FOR 2009! Malvern, UK,  January 10, 2010 The Works announced that 2009 reached a year's record for 4-wheel production. 690 units produced! The bulk if these orders were for trad models with the major market being the European Continent. As well, approximately 240 cars  (34% or total sale) were shipped to the UK..  AERO 8 PRODUCTION ENDS Malvern, UK, December 15, 2009 The Morgan Motor Company will cease Aero 8 production. The model line, unveiled in 2000 and first shipped in 2002 went through numerous modifications and four Series versions during its time-line. An estimated 700 customer Aero 8s were produced. The Aero S.S. will replace the  Aero 8 for £130,000. The limited Aeromax production ended with its official 100th unit. BOOK REVIEW: MORGAN PLUS 8 eMog, September 14, 2009 Factory photos, the Haynes name and a quality presentation conspire to give this book the appearance of credibility and value. It is undeserved.  Continued below  opinion: editors@mogwire.com

AERO ART Cincinnati, October, 2009 The Cincinnati Art Museum surprised Richard Shepherd-Barron, the British race driver who drove the winning Morgan Plus 4, TOK 258, over the LeMans finish line in 1963. To Richard's delight, the Museum greeted him with a warm reception and the Morgan Aero 8, displayed as part of the Museum's public presentation. He commented that it was great to see the Morgan displayed in an art museum for the first time. The Morgan Aero 8 is on loan from the collection of Kathy and Jack Rolf as is on display until January 11, 2010. The moment was arranged by Chas Wasser, auto aficionado and friend. Shepherd-Barron was visiting the U.S.after addressing the Centenary gathering at Mog MidWest from the Auburn Cord Dusenberg Museum in Auburn, Indiana. PARLIAMENTARY RECOGNITION  London, October 29, 2009 The British House of Commons congratulated the Morgan Motor Company on reaching its 100th anniversary, applauding the company's workforce for their skills, dedication and the important contribution that they make to the West Midlands economy. The remarks cap a year of British official recognition of the Morgan Centenary, beginning with the Factory visit of Princess Margaret in April, 2009. FIRST SLR RETURNS TO UK RACING! UK  January 10, 2010 The first SLR, owned by Simon Orebi Gann returned to racing in the UK in 2009 after undergoing a stunning restoration. Piloted by Orebi Gann and the legendary Rick Bourne, the debut year was undistilled excitement. You will find the full Morgan Wire story Here and another from Octane Magazine. REVIEW: MORGAN EXPLORATION by Neil A. Miller eMog, September 14, 2009 Morgan books are normally rare but the Morgan Centenary year has been an exception. There has been many offerings cobbed together to take advantage of devotee enthusiasm. Frankly, after reading these frustrating disappointments, I pre- expected this one would be another. I could not have been more wrong!! Continued below.

BOOK REVIEW: MORGAN EXPLORATION 
(continued)

The book is not another promotional piece or expression in Centenary opportunism, it is anything but. It is also not one of those hard-to-produce and reliable tomes chock full of vital and accurate minutiae. (I rely on those!)  It is something completely different and unexpected. A lyrical journey through the large slice of the life of the Factory...sketched in amazingly vivid stokes.

The writer is one of us, a Morgan enthusiast. However, he is also an accomplished professional photographer. He expresses himself as John Sheally does, in beautiful impactful images. If you feel a picture is worth a thousand words, this book proves it on every page. Each plate is sublime and never-seen before..taken over 40 years of Works-love. Each page stands on its own. The anecdotes and quotes of the Factory are insightful and fun.

It is a MUST-HAVE for any mogger. It will make your heart sing. Take it one page at a time.

DETAILS:

MORGAN EXPLORATION
photographs and writing by Neil A. Miller
Published by Milmar, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
Printed in Verona, Italy by Editorale Bortolazzi-Stei
ISBN 978-0-615 27508-6

MAY BE PURCHASED:
http://www.neilamiller.com
http://www.amazon.com
Morgan Motor Company UK
Morgan West US
Morgan Spares US
Pitstop Bookshop info@pitstop.net.au in Australia 

COMMENT EXAMPLES;
 

BOOK REVIEW: MORGAN PLUS 8 (continued)

I like to think that Morgan books start with good intentions. However, many of the 2009 literary contributions to the Morgan community have shaken that belief. It is not simply that they have been written to cash in on Centenary enthusiasm, but they take great license with fact and history either through intent (history belongs to those that write it!) or simply a lack of sufficient research and knowledge of the subject. These push readers to a false lore and technical errors that will plague future restorers and marque lovers in the future. Morgan Plus 8 does so more than most.

The book has some fine points. There are some exquisite anecdotes and details alleged contributed to the writer contributed by Mark Aston. Mr, Aston was a very active and pivotal director of the company for many years. There is also a detailed and interesting new version of the birth of the Aero 8, with pictures of the original design. 

However, good snippets do not outweigh the rest. To convey an example of how deeply these run, it will be noted that the SAME car (only its registration plates change) is mistakenly presented as examples of different Plus 8 models more than a decade apart! Aftermarket parts are presented as Factory fare or the reverse, components attributed to the wrong era and changes explained with the wrong reasons. The book's believers will have poor enthusiasts swapping in and out parts in abject confusion for years hence, waving their copy at all who try to help them. 

For no reason one can find in the title, a full third of the book has nothing to do with Plus 8s at all but has been given over to a history of the Aero 8 and a happy view of its racing record replete with over 70 Aero PR shots.  This is all very interesting but...er...why? 

One is left with the impression that the author, a free-lance writer-for-hire, ran out of the little Plus 8 copy he knew of or could find elsewhere easily and did not go further. The book falls woefully short as a guide. What there is  presented in a tone that varies between the supercilious and condescending.

The Morgan Community DOES need a thorough treatment of Plus 8s. The production variations and options for this model it are unending and need sorting. The car is the most iconic of all Morgans and Peter Morgan's signature car. Its residual value keeps rising in every market...underlining the deep need of a restoration and upgrader's bible for it. This book has only made that need more urgent. 

Morgan Plus 8 by Michael Scarlett
Amazon.com  or Haynes 
or seller's store on ebay.uk and .com