Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

clan chieftain · Joined: 05 Apr 2008 Posts: 2041 Location: Motherwell

If you had been on the design team of your car when it was at the planning stage....what would you have done different.
Well with the marina it would have been front wheel drive for a start and McPherson strut suspension. I would have went for the 1500 and 1750 maxi engine. It would have been a much better car.
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The Clan Chieftain

47p2 · Joined: 24 Nov 2007 Posts: 2009 Location: Glasgow

I really couldn't imagine a Marina TC with FWD
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ROVER
One of Britain's Fine Cars

clan chieftain · Joined: 05 Apr 2008 Posts: 2041 Location: Motherwell

I had a 72 TC a couple of years ago and the handling of the beast was chronic to say the least. The later ones were much better once they added antiroll bars. Also changing the front shocks to telescopic improved it even more.
When all the other BL cars of the time were FWD why they went conventional with the marina I will never know. But that is what I would have changed.
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The Clan Chieftain

47p2 · Joined: 24 Nov 2007 Posts: 2009 Location: Glasgow

This was my TC

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ROVER
One of Britain's Fine Cars

clan chieftain · Joined: 05 Apr 2008 Posts: 2041 Location: Motherwell

Very nice coupe. Glasgow registration..Where is it now??
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The Clan Chieftain

47p2 · Joined: 24 Nov 2007 Posts: 2009 Location: Glasgow

Long gone.
I bought it in 76 and kept it for 6 years, by that time the tinworm had just about killed it. I managed to get £250 for it trading it in
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One of Britain's Fine Cars

peter scott · Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 7216 Location: Edinburgh

Uncle Joe · Guest

The big problem that a design team has is making any car suit as wide a range of customers as possible. Therefore, every car is a compromise. In the case of the Marina, if I had been on the design team, I would have made it into a proper performance hatchback, in much the same way as a SAAB 900 Turbo. Ever noticed the style similarities? I would though have kept the rear wheel drive.

Other cars could have had simple changes to improve them. Minis, 1100's for example could have had an aluminium or stainless rear subframe.

clan chieftain · Joined: 05 Apr 2008 Posts: 2041 Location: Motherwell

Good point there Peter. Maybe it was to appeal to the Minor owner at the time though now I dont think so as they are being broken up by minor owners to upgrade their cars. Though the marina was brought out to replace the A60.
It hardly seems right to break one model of car to upgrade another. Probably one of the reasons why minors are running around with 1300 engines and marina front suspension.
That could be a later topic.
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The Clan Chieftain

Old-Nail · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 853

I think with my 2cv the design team had a very particular brief to meet and it took an enormous amount of ingenuity to meet it!

The car was built down to a cost and they succeeded incredibly well as the only changes that I would make would have added money to the production costs which would negate the whole point of the car.

Better under body rustproofing would be my bet, but then again in the climate they were designed for they didn't need it like we do!