You wouldn’t expect a small car maker like Morgan to have a special projects unit, but they do. And they turned up at this year’s Salon Prive with an all-new product called SP1 or Special Project 1. The car is inspired by the 2009 LifeCar concept vehicle and remains loyal to Morgan’s 105-year old tradition of using wood in its construction.

Design-wise, Morgan Special Project 1 looks fairly similar to the Plus4 and Plus8 models with a bit of Aero thrown in for good measure. It features a rigid steel chassis, a coachbuilt wooden frame (a mix of Ash Wood and African Bubinga Red Hardwood) and aluminum body parts.

Despite its retro looks, Morgan Special Project 1 is pretty up-to-date underneath. The customer who ordered this car gets a 3.7 liter V6 Ford engine, new suspension setup, a bespoke Engine Management System and custom sports exhaust, as well as an infotainment system, driven through an iPad that has been installed in the fascia and secured by dual hand-stitched leather straps.

Morgan hasn’t revealed yet how much the SP1 has cost its owner, but they say it was the perfect way to launch Morgan Special Projects and that they are ready for more challenging orders.