Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

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

That one is a bit high. It had new back springs fitted and load levelling rear shockers fitted.Why I dont know as he never towed anything.
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The Clan Chieftain

P3steve · Posted: Sun Dec 16, 2012 7:08 pm Post subject:

I always thought the sweep up over the rear wing gave the estate a rakish look and at least the manufacturers made an effort with style even if it meant the rear doors were different to the standard saloon, one of my pet hates with modern designs is when they leave the rear doors un changed making it look like the estate version is an add on after thought.
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If the world didn't suck we'd all fall off

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

Thanks for the good wishes 'Chief.'

Now, does anyone else remember the......

Marina MARAUDER?

Exercise undertaken by Car magazine as a sort of 'what might have been' feature. AIRC it had van or base model grille fitted upside down to give a droop snoot look. I am sure I have the original mag series somewhere amongst my loft insulation!

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

You need to rake your loft . I have never heard of that one.
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The Clan Chieftain

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

Just looked it up on flickr...looks weird. A couple of months ago there was a Maestro van on ebay with an Ital grille fitted..It looked ok. Cool

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The Clan Chieftain

welshrover · Joined: 09 Aug 2011 Posts: 326

i grew up on marina's my late grandfather had a teal blue one in the seventies .i learned to be a mechanic on that particular car the only thing that went wrong was a rear leaf spring broke and a new clutch was fitted .my mum past her test and had a vauxhall viva SL ,then she had a mark 1 marina in blaze orange .she had that car for 5 years and it never gave an ounce of trouble apart from a bit of rust around the headlights. she sold it and bought one of the first mk1 fiesta's and has had various cars since , but keeps saying she still misses her marina. ive said on a few occasions if she wants another i would keep it roadworthy for her. then she can get rid of the crappy 2 year old punto she's got now Laughing

I then past my test and bought a 10 c.w.t 575 van,i put a 2.0 litre ohc ital estate engine in it with a kent cam. fitted a 1700 box and series 6 oxford diff .disc brakes off the ital
100 mph+ no bother.
homemade inlet manifold that i then fitted an su carb off an e type jag .i then lowered it, coil over shocks back and front and wider steel wheels .
i built it so it looked just like a builders van. but with a difference .

also a friend of mine had a t.c coupe in blaze orange it was a t.c but the twin carbs were two holley four barrels fitted to a chevy small block, the coil over suspension on his car was where i got the idea for mine from. it went fast in a straight line and around corners.it did 140 mph give or take, in standard form just with the holleys fitted, then he thought about fitting a blower on it . i dont know if he ever got around to it as i moved away from the area .he used to have a series 2a with a small block in aswell .that thing would shift, it used to leave rs turbo's for dead .
great days .when the eu kept there noses out of peoples business and let them build their wierd and wonderful machines Rolling Eyes

so you could say i have a soft spot for marina's Wink

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

Favourable replies. Personally I prefer the estate to the saloon or coupe.I can honestly say I have never encountered understeer on it probably because it has the Ital front suspension fitted, not by me but a previous owner. What a difference. Its good to read all the comments. Laughing

So who is next to put their car up for scrutiny. Rolling Eyes

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The Clan Chieftain

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

I was surprised how much Google can tell us about the Marauders. It confirms that there were 2. AIRC put together by competing design teams.

Good news that there seems to be a survivor but the workmanship on the conversion does look pretty suspect to me.

welshrover · Joined: 09 Aug 2011 Posts: 326

i like marina's but the marauder, that thing is UGLY! it looks like it was put together with the tat you get from halfords Shocked

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

I have discovered a Marina down the side of a house less than a mile from here. It was partially hidden behind some bins but I could see it was a saloon with a black vinyl roof, the same colour as Marina Estate's car (Damask Red?) Local "WPU" reg and I think it was on an S plate. I'm sure I saw it on the road once a couple of years ago. Will try to get a picture tomorrow Cool

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Richard Hughes