THE Morgan Motor Company is marking the 35th anniversary of its Plus 8 sports car with a special limited edition of the model.

Since its launch in 1968, more than 6,000 Plus 8s have been built and almost all of them are still in active service.

Powered by a Land Rover V8 4.0 engine, the 35th Anniversary Plus 8 is a top specification car with a number of special trim features to identify its status.

As production of the current model is scheduled to cease during the first half of 2004, the Anniversary Edition will have an additional collectible value for Morgan fans worldwide.

Matthew Parkin, sales and marketing director, said: “The Plus 8 has become in many ways the definitive Morgan sports car. With a high power to weight ratio, exhilarating performance and handling and a bonnet that seems to reach to the horizon, this is the car that earned Morgan Motor Company the well-deserved accolade of producing the first and last of the real sports cars.”

Mr Parkin added: “This will be the last chance for anyone who has dreamed of owning a Plus 8 to own a really important piece of Morgan heritage.”