Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[Ellis]

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The Morris Minor was in production from 1948 until 1971 and the Marina for ten years. There are thought to be at least 26000 Morris Minors still on the road in Britain and a mere 745 (in 2006) Morris Marinas.

Why? Was the Marina such a bad car that less 0.1% of those produced are left?
I didn't think so. I drove several including a brand new Marina 1.3 Special in October 1978. SJC 777T was in Pageant blue with a black vinyl roof and bought new from M&K in Colwyn Bay by my cousin and her husband. I drove it back to her home with 17 miles on the odometer. The steering was light, the ride smooth and the engine, though tight was perky.

I was not so impressed with the Marina TC Coupe I had driven two years earlier.

I drove more Morris Minors than Marinas but because I started driving (legally) in 1971 the Minor felt as if it was from a previous generation or age. Low geared with an uncomfortable suspension but undoubtedly better built, it did feel more solid.
The nicest one I remember was a late (J registered) Minor van in grey which belonged to my friend next door in 1973.

Alec Issigonis "got it right" with the Minor.
The Marina was designed by Roy Haynes who had previously designed the hugely successful Mark 2 Ford Cortina although he left BL before the car's development was completed.

Which would you prefer to drive from London to Edinburgh - Minor or Marina?

I believe 175,247 Morris Itals were built. 175 are left on the road.
At least 250 Minor MMs are left.

Why?
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Starting Handle Expert

1964 Jaguar Mark 2 3.4 litre
1962 Land Rover Series 2a 88"
2002 BMW M3 E46 Cabriolet

[Rick]

I think the Minor was introduced when everyone bought British, people felt very patriotic, it drove well and was available in many different variants to suit various roles. Brand loyalty saw people buy them in droves, just because they'd always bought Morris. It had a long production run, and at some point or another most drivers could probably say that they'd owned or ridden in one. It became part of the British culture in a way, like the Routemasters, the Mini, and the London taxi. Many people learnt to drive in them, again endearing them to the public at large. The cutesy looks didn't harm either.

The Marina came along at a time when there was much disharmony in the country as a whole, and whereas the Minor at its launch was a real step forward and innovative compared to previous offerings, the Marina was a not-very-well-built car that, like most offerings of the time, wasn't overly reliable, stylish or charming. It was never going to become part of British culture like the Minor did, plus competition from Japan and other foreign car companies gave it a tougher market to sell in than the Minor had to face, in part because buyers loyal to the brand were beginning to broaden their horizons by the early 1970s, and many loyal Morris buyers were simply dying off and being replaced with buyers keen to find the best car/deal they could, regardless of origin.

Today, the Minor still looks good, and has charm just like the A35 and the Mini, whereas IMHO time hasn't been so kind to the Marina and the Ital's look.

RJ
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[peter scott]

I have absolutely no doubt that I would choose the Marina for a more comfortable long drive. The Minor survives because it was a quirky thing that looked like a jelly mold and people remember them because of past associations with them but they are horribly uncomfortable due to upright seating and high noise levels.

Peter
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1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon

[baconsdozen]

I think the demise of the marina was because it was so bland and boring. It did nothing really badly but nothing really well.
The minor had a few faults like trying to run over its own front wheels when the trunnions failed (as did the odd marna I seem to remember) and it had an exhaust note that reminded you of a flatulent granny but it had character that got more noticeable as it got older. The marina and possibly the allegro had none..
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Thirty years selling imperial hand tools for old machinery(Now happily retired).

[BigJohn]

If BL had made the coupe a hatchback it might have sold well. As a coupe it was neither sporting or practical so a neither fish nor fowl type of car. The Marina had antiquated running gear and handled like a drunken heifer.
I traded a 1973 Renault 4 for a 1977 Marina 1.8tc estate. The Marina had worse seats, giving back ache on a long run, it was a good tug and load carrier but through bends, nah, the little Renault would run rings around it by leaning at alarming angles but staying planted, the Marina just ploughed straight on. The BL build quality was shocking and I think rust came as standard. It was quite quick in a straight line though, and reasonable economical. I think the coupe and estate looked good, but the saloon was plain. There was too much competition about, whereas the Minor had a long run pre foreign imports, which later included the nostalgia vote when still available new. As with everything of the 70's BL rested on its laurels and churned out any old chod and played the "Buy British" card. Just look how long it took them to put a 1/2 decent diesel and suspension under the Land Rover.

[Riley Blue]

The Morris Minor was the perfect car for post war austerity Britain whereas the Marina was just one of many from which a more affluent population was able to choose. It did what it said on the tin but against greater opposition from more manufacturers it didn't stand out.
Which would I want to drive from London to Edinburgh in? Neither really as whichever I chose, I know it would be uncomfortable, slow and tedious. Twist my arm and I'd go for the Morris Minor, spend a week doing the trip and keep to B roads, just for the hell of it.

[peppiB]

I have had 3 marinas, all bought almost new and all rusted away within 5 years. The ride was like a trip on the ocean wave, and my son who went from being a baby to 6 travelling in the things was very car sick.

Minors were built for long journeys. I regularly use mine for trips from Newcastle to the midlands. OK it sits at 60 mph on the motorway and the noise prohibits the use of a radio but the thing is ultra reliable and comfortable (keeping the rubber webbing on the seats renewed is half the battle)

I bought mine from very near to Landsend and drove back to Newcastle in a single 10 hour trip

London to Edinburgh would take me about 9 to 10 hours - again attainable in a single trip

[poodge]

My brother had a 1978 1.8 marina,and it's biggest failing was the electrical system.Too complicated to fix yourself,yet woefully unreliable.The engine was a good grunter,but other than that,I was glad to give it back after borrowing the thing for a couple of weeks.
The only major problems I had with Minors were usually related to the dodgy fuel pump.Being too poor to buy a new one,I struggled on for nigh on 2 years with that particular problem.Then the front collapsed,and i got rid of it.It's replacement,a series III Minx,never had the same charisma as the Minor though.

[Keith D]

The Morris Minor was an icon in Oz during the fifties. People either bought a 6 cylinder Holden or a 4 cylinder car that would probably be a Morris Minor. They were very successful in Australia and they are popular and plentiful to this day. In the fifties, Australia was extremely pro British.

When the Morris Marina was released in Oz, it was very similar to the UK vehicle to look at, but was fitted with either a 1500cc or 1750cc OHC four. These engines were rather poor when compared to the higher performance Japs then available. BL service was appalling and quality control during manufacture in Sydney, was almost non-existent. To compete with the 6 cylinder Holden, Falcon and Valiant, the car was also offered with a 2250cc 6 cylinder OHC and called the "Big Red". Although lively, it was not a success!

My father bought a 1750cc coupe brand new and regretted it almost from day one! The Lucas alternator lived up to all the Lucas jokes with a vengeance. The diodes were actually in the windings and when charging at a high current had nowhere for the heat to go. Consequently the diodes popped and the alternator was trying to put AC into the battery. BL actually re-wound the alternator twice to have the same thing happen again. After the warranty expired, I got my local auto electrician to fit external diodes on a large heat sink and the problem was solved! The front shock absorbers were totally unfit for purpose and these were replaced under warranty several times. BL recalled the car back several times within the first year! (My father was always a very carefull driver and certainly never abused a car)

I would cheerfully drive a good Minor around Australia. I wouldn't drive an Australian built Marina down to the local shops!

Keith

[Richard H]

Marina for me. I don't like the Minor driving position and the Marina is far more modern to drive.
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Richard Hughes

[clan chieftain]

Funny though how the minor boys want marinas to upgrade their cars. That is another reason why the marinas are few and far between.....or are they? They keep turning up. And the reason the Itals are scarse are that marina owners are upgrading engine and suspension from them. Whoever had my estate before me fitted Ital front suspension to it. There are only about 60 Itals on the road....Horrible design anyway with square lights and plastic bumpers.
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The Clan Chieftain

[Ashley]

When the Morris Minor was introduced in 1948, it was a revolutionary car and a revelation to drive. It wasn't very fast, it just about did 60mph, but it cornered as fast and drove as well as racing cars of its day.

Alec Issigonis was a genius and everything about the Minor, IMO shows that genius as well as any others of his designs and it made more money than all of them. This despite the MD hating it and Leonard Lord crapping on it when he took over as BMC's boss.

Therefore it's an extremely old design, but a wonderful one and something very special that we as a country can be proud of. I still love the look of them and I smile when I see one on the road because they are so pretty, but I agree they are uncomfortable, noisy and bumpy compared to later designs.

I'd buy an open top one at the drop of a hat if I had money and somewhere to keep it, but I remember new Marinas and, sorry to say this, but what crap they were compared to other cars of the era. They do nothing for me.

[V8 Nutter]

I could never see the attraction of a Minor they are noisey, uncomfortable, they rotted almost as fast as they could be welded. Even when they were new they looked out dated. The side valves wouldn't pull a greasy man out of bed

The Marina was rather bland and boring, but they were pleasant enough to drive. The problems were poor quality control, typical of British Leyland at the time. They insisted on using Austins foundry techniques which almost guaranteed most Marinas would be oil burners and the front suspension left a bit to be desired.

[Ironhead]

i see an Ital most mornings heading towards Lincoln on the A46..not hanging about either!