Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

Peter_L · Posted: Tue Dec 11, 2012 4:02 pm Post subject:

I never saw the appeal of the Marina, to me it had an air of being put together with whatever bits were available at the factory. Now of course, love them, hate them or just ignore them, it is good that there are those who cherish and maintain them.

Having just critcised the what-not out of the Marina, I did in fact drive a Marina van on on a daily basis, when I worked for the Yorkshire Water Authority. I had it from new and used it for just over two years, I don't recall any major problems with it. It didn't quite have the comfortable driving feel of the Escort van that it replaced, but then they weren't really intended to be used for road racing.

were they.. Embarassed

52classic · Joined: 02 Oct 2008 Posts: 493 Location: Cardiff.

It's time someone stuck up for the Marina! I certainly do, they remind me of my Sales Rep days in early seventies.

1.3 Coupe in 'super' trim spec would be my choice, Green Mallard or Teal Blue please. I remember my best 'issued' one was a 1.8 Estate in a pale grey colour, quite nice with dark red trim! That was when I was expected to organise video sales presentations - On V2000 format if you please!

Always liked the face lift version with the curved dash but didn't quite 'get' the Ital which struck me as hopelessly old fashioned and reminded me of an Eastern Bloc remnant.

I'd have one now as long as I could attack it with some period accessories. Webasto roof and Cosmic or better still, Dunlop D1 wheels would be my starting point.

I do have a memory of 'trading ' an interesting one but I'll get my act together and make a separate post for that.

Rick · Site Admin Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22820 Location: UK

badhuis · Joined: 20 Aug 2008 Posts: 1476 Location: Netherlands

The Marina has nothing I particularly like (same applies for Maxi, Maestro, Allegro, Princess, all Fords, Vauxhalls, Japs). It does not have anything special, it is a boring car to look at and the interior is too cheap seventies plastics.
Plus it is a middle sized saloon - not small and not big. I have always fancied either big (Jaguar, Westminster) or small (Imp, Herald). Something like a Dolomite is nice, has good styling but then I still would always go for an outer end of the scale like a Herald or 2000.
And why would you ever choose something boring or bland? You only live once.

52classic · Joined: 02 Oct 2008 Posts: 493 Location: Cardiff.

Rick, I think the idea was to have some 'chick' in the passenger seat to work the radio for you..... That'd be a curly perm and platform high heels then!!

Get back to reality!

Here's the Marina Memory I wanted to share with you and the story goes that back in the day I had a 'bit of a deal' going with a local finance company to bid for repo cars. That often involved a 'drive by' to value it when there was an alert that payments were getting behind.

So I was invited to bid for this Marina, a curved dash one as it happened, in red and looked to be in really nice shape. A condition of sale was that the car must not be driven away but I was still surprised when my cheekily low bid was accepted.

Borrowed a trailer, got it home (no keys of course) but the horrors of my bargain soon unfolded because the the ex owner had spent hours, possibly days 'doctoring' the car so that it would be no use to anyone!

It started and ran but had been intentionally cobbled into a death trap.
Try caliper mounding bolts replaced with timber dowels, bellhousing bolts replaced by MFI fixings so that clutch application separated gearbox from engine! Any multi plug that could be fitted in the wrong socket had been changed over and almost every bolt on the car undone or tampered with in some way.

To me all this was but another challenge so armed with a Haynes manual I put it all back together spending lots of time but little money. The result was a great car but I drove it around for a few months before selling it on 'just in case!'

Richard H · Joined: 03 Apr 2009 Posts: 2150 Location: Lincolnshire, UK

Peter_L · Posted: Fri Dec 14, 2012 8:08 pm Post subject:

Quote: "Caliper mounting bolts replaced with timber dowels, bellhousing bolts replaced by MFI fixings so that clutch application separated gearbox from engine! Any multi plug that could be fitted in the wrong socket had been changed over and almost every bolt on the car undone" Endquote

You mean they didn't leave the factory that way... Laughing

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

Go to the top of the class 52classic Laughing

All the comments are good fun and good reading Laughing

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Geoffp · Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2012 11:00 am Post subject:

20 years ago I wouldn't have touched one with a 10 foot pole, but now if I were offered one I would probably take it, even though I would prefer something more sporting. Perhaps new cars have got so bland and uninspiring that even the Marina grows ever more desirable. Smile

Geoff

P3steve · Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2012 6:32 pm Post subject:

I recall that they were not the most exciting cars but you have to remember there was a lot of other cars around at the time that were no better. The ones we serviced would go on and on while the "cant do no wrong" Cortinas would eat cam shafts and tramp all over the road as there rear axle bushes had gone after only a few thousand miles, its to easy to forget this when we think of the all conquering Fords. Yes I would have one as its a good an example of mid seventies motoring as any thing else that was around at the time.
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Ironhead · Joined: 28 Mar 2010 Posts: 458 Location: Leicestershire

i'd love a Marina van!

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

I had a Marina TC when I was 19 years old, they were never as bad as the motoring press made out and the TC was no slouch getting away from the traffic lights. If I could find an unmolested original example today I would have no hesitation in adding it to my fleet.
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Richard H · Joined: 03 Apr 2009 Posts: 2150 Location: Lincolnshire, UK

If anyone North of the border fancies a tidy Marina estate there's one just in at Upullit in Inverkeithing. It's taxed and MoT'd and they are after £600 for it apparently.

http://autoshite.com/phpbb3/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=15630
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clan chieftain · Joined: 05 Apr 2008 Posts: 2041 Location: Motherwell

Thats my mates old estate he now has a Singer Gazelle. The paintwork is poor and it will need a couple of front wings but it is solid underneath and has a reconditioed 1700 engine fitted. Not for me though. I have never liked Champagne Beige.
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clan chieftain · Joined: 05 Apr 2008 Posts: 2041 Location: Motherwell

It is for sale at www.upullit.co.uk. They sell a lot of modern stuff. They are car breakers.
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