Rare Car Archive

Makes › Morgan United Kingdom › Aero › Aero 8 Series 1 · Rare production

Morgan
Aero 8 Series 1

First-generation Aero 8 with BMW V8; lead says around 210 Series 1 cars.

Still being researched: identification guide. Everything shown is checked against the cited sources. Know more? Send us a source.

IDENTIFICATION CARD · MORGAN AERO 8 SERIES 1
No licensed photograph yet. Photographs are published only when their licence permits it.
?ProductionNot yet verified
0Chassis documentedin this archive
?SurvivingNot yet verified
Contents
  1. 01Overview
  2. 02Production & history
  3. 03Specifications
  4. 04Colours & options
  5. 05Individual cars
  6. 06Reference

01Overview

At a glance

Built
Not yet verified
Years
Not yet verified
Engine
Aero 8 GT3: dry-sump 5.0-litre BMW V8 · 4,400 cc / 4.4 LFactory: 4.4 L
Power
213 kW / 290 PSFactory: 286 hp · converted
Top speed
257 km/hFactory: 160 mph · converted
Body
Not yet verified
Designer
Not yet verified
In this archive
Not yet verified
Surviving
Not yet verified

Sources and any conflicting figures are in the sections below.

Why it matters

The Aero 8 was Morgan's break with its steel ladder-frame tradition, using a bonded aluminium chassis and a BMW V8. At its launch it was the most powerful and most expensive Morgan made.

How rare is it?

Six separate kinds of rarity – never combined into one number.

Model rarityNot yet assessed Production figure not yet verified.
Specification rarityNot yet assessed
Colour rarityNot yet assessed
Individual rarityNot yet assessed
Historical rarityNot yet assessed
Survival rarityNot yet assessed

Each kind of rarity is rated separately and never combined.

02Production & history

Production

Every figure says what it counts.

No production figures recorded yet.

History

Charles Morgan decided in 1996 to build a modern Morgan. The aluminium chassis was originally designed by Jim Randle, and its development was led by Chris Lawrence. The body was shaped by Charles Morgan himself, working largely by reverse engineering as the parts were made.

The car was announced for the 2000 Geneva show, with British deliveries due from the end of that year. More than 500 people had placed orders before any had driven one.

Variants

How each version differs from the standard Aero 8 Series 1.

No variants documented yet. Have a source? Contribute it.

03Specifications

Technical specifications

Engine

Engine manufacturerBMW1 Independently researched
Engine familyNot yet verified
Engine codeNot yet verified
LayoutAero 8 GT3: dry-sump 5.0-litre BMW V82 Independently researched
Displacement 4,400 cc / 4.4 LFactory: 4.4 L1 Independently researched
BoreNot yet verified
StrokeNot yet verified
Compression ratioNot yet verified
ValvetrainDOHC, 32 valves1 Independently researched
Fuel systemBosch Motronic 7.2 engine control with port fuel injection1 Independently researched
Power 213 kW / 290 PSFactory: 286 hp · converted1 Independently researched
Power atNot yet verified
TorqueNot yet verified

Transmission & drivetrain

ManufacturerGetrag1 Independently researched
Gearboxsix-speed manual1 Independently researched
Gears61 Independently researched
Driven wheelsrear1 Independently researched

Chassis, body & dimensions

Chassisbonded aluminium chassis of 32 alloy panels, bonded and riveted1 Independently researched
Front suspensionrocker arms and inboard coil-over shock units1 Independently researched
Rear suspensionwide control arms with floating coil-over shocks, no anti-roll bars1 Independently researched
BrakesAP Racing brakes, no ABS1 Independently researched
SteeringNot yet verified
Body constructionaluminium body panels mounted on a solid ash frame1 Independently researched
Wheelbase 2,530 mmFactory: 99.5 in · converted1 Independently researched
Length 4,090 mmFactory: 161 in · converted1 Independently researched
Width 1,750 mmFactory: 69 in · converted1 Independently researched
Height 1,090 mmFactory: 43 in · converted1 Independently researched
Front trackNot yet verified
Rear trackNot yet verified
Kerb weight 998 kgFactory: 2,200 lb · converted1 Independently researchedThe article says the car 'weighs' 2200 lb without naming dry or kerb weight.
Dry weightNot yet verified

Performance

Maximum speed 257 km/hFactory: 160 mph · converted1 Independently researchedApproximate figure from a magazine test.
0–100 km/hNot yet verified
0–60 mph 4.5 s1 Independently researchedApproximate figure from a magazine test.
Fuel tankNot yet verified

“Not yet verified” means no source has been checked for that value yet. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap.

04Colours & options

Factory colours & interiors

Original paint and trim, with the number of cars in each where a source gives it.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Factory options & codes

Codes are shown exactly as written by the manufacturer.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

05Individual cars

Chassis register

Every documented car, with its colours, history and where it is now. Open a row for the full record. Known chassis are not automatically authenticated originals.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Competition history

Every race result of the individual cars, in date order. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Auction & sale history

Documented public sales of the individual cars. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

See one in person

Museums where an example of this car can be seen.

No example is documented on public display yet. Have a source? Contribute it.

06Reference

Identification guide

How to tell an original from a replica or later conversion.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Sources

Each number links to the exact facts it supports.

  1. 1
    Morgan Aero 8 first drive review Level C Car and Driver
    • powered by a 286-hp BMW V-8
    • Its 286 horsepower comes from the 4.4-liter BMW V-8 engine
    • DOHC 32-valve V-8
    • Bosch Motronic 7.2 engine-control system with port fuel injection
    • Its 286 horsepower
    • six-speed manual Getrag gearbox
    • front-engine, rear-wheel-drive
    • 32 aluminum alloy panels, bonded and riveted together
    • rocker arms and inboard coil-over shock units
    • wide control arms replace the cart-sprung rear axle
    • there are no anti-roll bars
    • The big AP Racing brakes are highly effective
    • mounting them on a wooden frame
    • the natural-colored ash in and around the cockpit
    • Wheelbase: 99.5 in
    • Length: 161.0 in
    • Width: 69.0 in
    • Height: 43.0 in
    • Since the Aero 8 weighs only 2200 pounds
    • a top speed of about 160 mph
    • 0 to 60 mph in about 4.5 seconds
    Accessed 2026-11-13
  2. 2
    Racecar Engineer Aero 8 GT3 feature Level C Racecar Engineering (Wayback capture)
    • dry sump, 5.0-litre BMW V8, producing around 420bhp
    Accessed 2026-11-13

Keep exploring

More from Morgan

See all 28 cars by Morgan →

United Kingdom More from United Kingdom

134 other makes from United KingdomACAiredaleAlan Mann RacingAllardAlvisArabArashArielArmstrong SiddeleyArrowsAscariAston MartinAtalantaAtlantisAustinAustin-HealeyBedfordBentleyBerkeleyBluebirdBMCBondBrabhamBristolBritish LeylandBroadspeedBrookeBrough SuperiorCampbell-RailtonCaparoCaterhamChevronConnaughtCooperCrayfordDaimlerDavid BrownDawsonDeLoreanDuttonAll makes →