Malcolm,

We have spoken of that car here in the past.

At HFS' orders, the project was kept under very close wraps. It was not a very successful but it is a great footnote to history. (Actually, that 1930s Ford V8 block looked similar to the Ford V6 in today's Roadster. It too was also a tall '60' V configuration (side valve) but with a downdraft carb of course.)

As well, that engine was the last great personal engineering triumph of Henry Ford (patented in 1932). With its bigger sister (225 cu.in.) it heralded the beginning of the era of the American dream car. It was at that when world auto technology split with the US going V8 and the rest heading towards 4 cylinders (saving that Morgan foray).

However, considering his age at the time (1937), I don't think any of that mattered much to the young Peter Morgan. Imagine yourself at 18 years old behind the wheel of a super heavy Series I fitted with a cast iron V8 that could beat all comers. Sadly, it couldn't stop very well and there was a incident with a fence. (That was it for HFS and he pulled the engine and later sold it.)

Shortly before he died, Peter recalled the car while talking to one of our number.

From the emog archives;

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Subject: EMOG: The First V8 Morgan

Date: 2003-09-16 17:57:00

Sender: Keith Ahlers

To: eMog

Lorne,

How remarkable of you to relate today the story of the pre-war V8 car.

As the sun went down at Prescott I was privileged to enjoy Peter Morgan's company and we discussed the Plus8. Halfway through a conversation about the Rover V8 going into a Plus4, suddenly he said "of course we had done it before, we put a Ford engine into a car before the war".

It was almost as if he was suggesting his father's hand had blessed the

Plus8 by dint of earlier experimentation.

Peter said the Series I V8 was staggeringly fast but impossible to stop.

The project never went any further, until 1967........

Best wishes, Keith

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