Reply With QuoteThats the same horrible green as the one I used to own 40 odd years ago.Originally Posted by sish101
It constantly broke down, though it was always repairable (to a degree).
I've been enjoying this series of videos. Chaps resurrecting a rare Morris Marina GT.
https://youtu.be/KHeScwqsKvg?si=VIxxhNnOyDvbsoXH
Sent through the ether by diddling with radio waves
Thats the same horrible green as the one I used to own 40 odd years ago.
It constantly broke down, though it was always repairable (to a degree).
not ashamed to say i had a 1972 marina 1.8 coupe ( not gt) at one time :-)
yorkshire lads ? sometimes they dont seem get a lot done for all the banter , spent more rime discussing tea than the repair this last episode, LOL
i have suscribed
As an 18 yr old in 1976 I was keen to get a car with decent performance that didn’t cost a lot to insure, 1.8 Marina seemed to fit the bill until a work colleague warned me off......’won’t go round corners and you can’t stop ‘em’....were his exact words. I never got to test drive one until a relative bought a Morris Ital 1.7, which was a facelifted Marina, despite the improvements it wasn’t impressive to drive. not very impressive from memory.
Marina 1.8 engine is basically an MGB motor, the TC variant had the big valve 12H2709 head casting which is now sought after.
I watched the U tube videos this morning, currently suffering yet another chest infection so I had nothing better to do. Can’t say they impressed me, too much larking about and misuse of tools, they come across as a bunch of monkeys although the body restoration work is impressive. Hitting a brake drum with a steel hammer had predictable consequences, a piece chipped off the edge and the drum was rendered scrap, patience and a lead or hide hammer would’ve got it off without damage. A bit of humour’s one thing, poor/ dangerous workshop practice is another.
My uncle had an orange Marina TC. I can still remember his dad telling him to sell it before he killed himself.
The larking around in the workshop is potentially dangerous. I'd prefer less of the Finbar Saunders too. But I do like to see classic British cars brought back to use, even when they seem to be totally unrecoverable.
I am subscribed to quite a few car repair channels on YT and the lack of PPE (gloves and goggles) is quite prevalent. The only exception seems to be Edd China's videos.
Sent through the ether by diddling with radio waves
Back in the day there was a review of the Marina somewhere and they said the only good thing about it was the back seat.
My Marina didn't have one, it was the van.
Bought for £185 with twelve months tax and mot, sold it when they ran out for £100.
The only problem in my year of ownership was a burnt out valve. Couple of quid (if that) for a good used valve, some cutting paste and a new head gasket and it was good to go.
I had 2 marinas and an ital. also a austin princess ,those were the days
Sent from my iPhone using TZ-UK mobile app
Got to admire the skill and patience!
My mum had one and spectacularly wrote it off when it didn’t take a corner on an icy day in the early 80’s near Gilwell Park. It was red with a Vinyl roof and felt like it was made of tin and cardboard from what I remember. She replaced it with a Peugeot which felt like a tank in comparison!
Enjoyed tonight's update. That welding is a labour of love.
Sent through the ether by diddling with radio waves
A confession - in the smallest print possible... My father's first company car was a 1971 (72?) Marina Saloon 1800TC. What a mess that was. Before the Marina we had a row of Austins as privately owned family cars. The last Austin was a Maxi 1750 and ours was flawless. When my father decided that the company needed company cars, he ordered a 1800TC for himself and a few less-powerful 1300(??) for other employees. Initially he wanted a bunch of Maxis but he was financially convinced by the sales person that Marinas were the way to go.
I cannot say that he made a lot of mistakes, but this was one of the rare occasions. Long story short: the 'fleet' was returned within 15, 16 months and all cars were replaced for Fords: multiple (Cologne) Taunus ('Tauni'? 'Taunae'?)) and a handful of Escorts.
The Marina was Limeflower Green with Navy interior. Not what my mother had ordered, but somehow the official order never reached the factory! I remember that it took a long period for the car to arrive. The car that was delivered, was purely built for the French market: yellow headlights - and even the reverse light had a yellow filter behind the glass. Who'd figured that!? The dealer went through hoops to keep my dad's company happy: 8 or 10 Marinas all at once!
It was also the first car I drove... During the two summer holidays we had that car, I went with him on his trips to the western part of the Rotterdam Harbour where his company had contracts with big names like Shell, BP and ICI. He went inside a Romney shed for a meeting and I was given the keys to drive along the paved roads were the new part of the industries would be build. I was 13 y/o or so. And I never dented the Marina! I kept on driving when we had the Taunus. And when I was 18 and allowed to drive, I had to take 9 lessons before I received my license...
Based on the Morris Minor, 'nuff said!
A very young looking me from the early 80's with my Marina 1.3 coupe
Another update tonight. Looks like chaos and disorganisation in their workshop with parts and tools everywhere. That would drive me mad.
Latest update just posted.
+ the door handles which were used on Range Rovers 😁
And every other British car of the day - including Lotus.
Fortunately I didn't start driving until 1993 so the Marinas were largely consigned to the scrappy. It was all about the XR and RS Fords when I was a tearabout (although I never was actually). When I was 19 I had an Audi 200 Turbo with a bit of under-the-bonnet trickery employed. Mental car, and would cruise at 140 with ease (allegedly).
Posting Permissions
