MALVERN'S Morgan Motor Company is producing more cars than ever before.

The family-owned firm, famous for its hand-made sports cars, produced 650 Plus 8 and Aero 8 models last year.

Company boss Charles Morgan revealed the figure at the International Motor Show at Birmingham's NEC this week, saying the rise was due to investment in the Pickersleigh Road factory.

He said customers who placed orders during the motor show could expect delivery next year.

Sales and marketing director Matthew Parkin said the waiting list for the company's cars was at an all-time low.

"Because of the high production figures we have been able to get cars to their owners faster," he said.

"In some cases that means that cars have been ready before their buyers have been ready to take them, so there's the chance to get one quickly."

Mr Parkin said orders for the Plus 8 car from America, particularly from California, were also booming.

The company is investing £1 million in a programme to gain federal approval for the new Aero 8, with a view to launching the car in the USA in early 2004.

American interest has been fuelled by the Aero 8's performance in this year's Le Mans 24-Hour race.

Mr Morgan said: "I'm pretty certain we'll be back and we'll do even better than this year, when our car was within 20 per cent of the performance of the race-winning Audis."