Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[badhuis]

The issue, I am not saying problem, with the Marina was that it was just a mediocre car. Nothing, really nothing special. That was fine for most people, and still is fine today for most people. It did what it had to do, not much more.
But for car lovers, and we all are on this site to a certain extent, it does not have much interest. Saying that it was reliable does not help, again that is fine for most people but does not enhance its attraction for car lovers.

Styling was not very remarkable, too common. Maybe the 2 door coupe is liked by some people but that alone is not enough to make it a car one really would want. Technical is was old fashioned. Etcetera.

Still there are many people that do love mediocre cars like the Marina or here in the Netherlands, cars like the Opel B Kadett. I genuinely have some trouble understanding why anyone can be enthusiastic about cars like that.
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a car stops being fun when it becomes an investment

[Ray White]

I wouldn't say I was enthusiastic about the Marina; although when it was new and shiny and I was given it as my first Company Car (ostensibly as a reward for outstanding sales results) I was delighted. It meant I didn't have to use my own car - the Austin A55) - for work.

Absolutely right; there was nothing special about the Marina; it was a 1.3 saloon in grotty green with horrible brown plastic interior and didn't do anything particularly well... but it was a presentable enough workhorse - and more to the point I didn't have to pay for it!

It wasn't until I was given my wine red Lancia with incredible 'herringbone' interior that I realised what was meant by a "driver's car". My eyes were opened!

[Penman]

I believe the Marina was supposed to be an attempt to compete in the Rep-mobile market.
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Bristols should always come in pairs.

Any 2 from:-
Straight 6
V8 V10

[Ray White]

[ukdave2002]

[Penman]

I can't remember if they actually produced a Marina L model, but we used to joke that along with the Cortina L and the Granada L they were all special editions for the Bristol market.
If you don't follow the joke you haven't heard about the intrusive final L that Bristolians put on words ending with a vowel.
It is said that the original port of Brigstowe became Bristol because of the intrusive L.
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Bristols should always come in pairs.

Any 2 from:-
Straight 6
V8 V10

[Ray White]

[Ray White]

[lowdrag]

I had one of the first Marina 2-doors ( would not in any way describe it as a coupé) as a company car. On day 2 I ran it into the back of a lorry, purely because he had far better brakes than I. Drums from the Moggie Minor, and no servo, my employer refusing to fit a servo on cost grounds - £40. It was the most terrible car frankly. Creaks and groans, vinyl seats, handling like a boat, and not one thing to recommend it. It was a dark non-metallic blue. Several years later I was issued with the "upgraded" version, you know, the one where the curved dashboard faced more the passenger than the driver, where the creaks and groans had been modified to increase the intensity of annoyance for the driver, in a colour that was colloquially known as puke beige (I think officially as harvest beige) and where the radio faced the passenger. There was not one thing I can think of that was pleasurable - in fact so much so that my fox terrier took an intense delight in eating the seats. Naturally, the wipers were, in both versions, designed for export and left a swathe of the screen unswept on the driver's side. I rest my case, m'lud.

[Ray White]

To say my Boss was mean was an understatement; he was as tight as a Duck's ar@e...and that's water tight.! When it came to replacing the Marina he tried to palm me off with a used Fiat Panda!

He gave the Marina - complete with see through rear wings - to his son...who did the right thing and wrote it off on the first outing!!

[mikeC]

I've come to the conclusion that I have a very low expectation when it comes to cars!

I had a 1.8 Marina as a company car towards the end of the 1970s, and it was replaced by a 1.6 Cortina Mk4. Apart from the looks, the Marina won hands down in every respect - it was better built and more reliable, faster with much better handling and generally a much more pleasant car to travel in. Did I have a particularly good Marna and/or an dreadful Cortina? Probably both, but today I would certainly consider a Marina but wouldn't give the Cortina a second chance.
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in the garage: 1938 Talbot Ten Airline
Recently departed: 1953 Lancia Appia, 1931 Austin Seven, 1967 Singer Chamois, 1914 Saxon, 1930 Morris Cowley, 1936 BSA Scout, 1958 Lancia Appia coupe, 1922 Star 11.9 ... the list goes on!

[Ray White]

[Rick]

I see the Minor finished at £1201 (no reserve auction) which looks like a decent buy for someone.

I much prefer the early Series 2 to the previous "highlight" MM - I had a '52 MM which someone had installed a later 1098cc A Series into. The conversion I didn't mind, but it was always hampered by the low gearing of the original MM rear axle I found, so an early S2 (early dash, cheesegrater grille) would be my favourite era of saloon I think.

RJ
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Rick - Admin
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[Ray White]

[Crashbox]

Somewhat surprised the A-series engine fitted in a Series MM Minor. One of the alterations from the MM to the Series 2 was to the cross-brace on the bulkhead, which was flatter/straighter on the MM, but needed to be replaced by a curved version for the Series 2 and later cars so it crossed above the taller OHV 803cc and later A-series (948cc/1098cc) engines.
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1989 2CV

1932 Morris Minor S.V. Two-Seater