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Morgan SP1 Debuts at Salon Prive

If you like cars, then you've certainly heard of the Morgan Motor Company. Founded in 1910 in Great Britain and still owned by the Charles Morgan & Morgan Family, the specialty manufacturer is famous for hand-assembled sports cars and the 3 Wheeler.
Morgan SP1 13 photos
Photo: Morgan
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Morgan's current lineup includes three distinct model families: the Four Seater, Aero and that three-wheel contraption you can get with cool Spitfire-inspired decals. But here's the thing that's truly remarkable about Morgan: just like in the early 20th century, some models still use wooden frames, including the one-off SP1 built by the Special Projects Division.

Based on the Aero Coupe, the Special Project 1 debuted at Salon Prive in London and it draws its styling cues from the LifeCar concept. Call it old-fashioned, weird or a piece of yesteryear's motoring, but the fact is that the SP1 is just as individual in the sports car segment as Morgan itself. At the heart of its steel chassis, engineers fitted a naturally aspirated 3.7-liter Ford V6 mill similar to the one that's propelling the Morgan V6 Roadster.

A new suspension setup, a bespoke Engine Management System and custom sports exhaust set this thing apart from the Roadster, but let's be frank here, that exquisite aluminum body is the real showstopper here. That wooden frame we've mentioned earlier is made from Ash Wood and African Bubinga Red Hardwood, and the tonal contrast between these two woods is most apparent in the joints that hold each part of the frame together, purposefully left exposed to be admired.

Last but not least, this specially commissioned vehicle is fitted with an infotainment system that is governed by an iPad tablet PC, for crying out loud! The Apple gadget has been installed in the fascia and is secured by two leather straps. Still, words alone can't describe how special this one-off SP1 is. That's why the video and photos below might offer you a better view of what makes the Morgan SP1 so unique.

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About the author: Mircea Panait
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After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well.
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