The mighty blue Marina passion wagon

[puddlethumper]

As a car derived van licker, as long as they're washed,

I prefer your van. Lovely. ATCNB either. Well done Trigs.

[trigger]

I've been really crap at updating this haven't i! Quite a bit has happened in the last year since i done the head gasket, the first big event was the Marina Nationals in North Wales, I've already covered this back in July in this thread https://autoshite.com/topic/36599-road-trip-to-wales-for-the-marina-nationals/?tab=comments#comment-1837743

Which was a brilliant weekend with a group of mates where we done over 600 miles without any dramas, just what classic car owning is all about.

A couple of weeks later was the Festival of the Unexceptional where i joined a few shitters from here and drove across to Milton Keynes and unexpectedly won car of the show, I'm still slightly in shock even now about that!

 

The rest of the summer was much more low key with doing mostly local shows, again the cars been absolutely faultless since doing that head gasket change, it's fires straight up and just does what it needs to do everytime, no matter how long you leave it, so much for all Marinas being shit ETC ETC like everyone likes to make you believe, In fact I'd say that's the cars biggest problem, this whole Top Gear generation who make the same piano joke alllll the time and can be pretty harsh with their opinions, any way I'm now thinking about selling it, not because it's a bad car but because i can't get my kids in it as it doesn't have rear belts and i don't want to fit them.

I'm still very undecided as it's such amazing condition, I was offered £3500 recently for it and as i was taking photos to show to chap it reminded me how nice it was! Oh well, I did take some photos today though so i may as well post them here.

 

[wuvvum]

Don't sell it Trig.  You'll only regret it if you do.  You've got the Grandad if you want to take the kids out in a classic.

[artdjones]

Are there seat belt mountings in the shell?

My brother had an almost identical Pageant Blue 1.3 estate on an S plate.It was totally worn out at 10 years old,and failed it's Mot on 19 separate items.The engine had seized while I was driving the year before and had to be replaced.

This one,however,is lovely.

[Asimo]

Why not fit rear belts? 

Most  cars after some date in the sixties have rear mounts for belts.  Even my 'C' suffix MG magnette had rear belt mounting points.

The Marinas I did my police basic driving course in (1976) had rear belts.

 

 

[trigger]

I did look into putting belts in but there nowhere to put the safety, there's mounting points in the wheel arch and under the seat but none above the rear window under the headlining or around the C post, all you can do is bolt one to the rear tub and that wouldn't work with the baby seats, It's a bit of a arse really, plus the cars so original I don't really want to start drilling holes into it. 

[captain_70s]

God it's gorgeous...

[sdkrc]

I refer to this video on the subject of selling your car. It's helped me to not sell mine.

1:42

"If you're a dad and you have a kid, don't sell that cool car, Challenger, Charger, Camaro. No matter what any parent says, children are overrated.

You really don't need 'em even though you really like them and they're little yous.

Eventually they're gonna do something to piss you off and you're gonna say 'damn, I really shoulda kept that car'. "

 

Also - your car is fucking brilliant.

[ETCHY]

That's a beauty a real timewarp.

Don't sell it, you'll regret it forever.  Thing is as well it only needs to end up in the hands of an arse who doesn't look after it & it could deteriorate very quickly - that would be sad.

[brownnova]

I’ll add my voice to the cacophony  that says don’t sell it Trig!!

Fitting rear seatbelts won’t ruin it. Just think, if it’s bought by someone else with kids they’ll probably do it anyway! I’m planning to fit them to my 2CV with the impending new arrival, it’s just a sensible upgrade. 

[BorniteIdentity]

I have the same inner arguments with myself over belts in the Sierra. Most of the time it’s only me and #3 anyway but I know I’d use it more if there were rear belts. I also know I’d be annoyed at myself if there were rear belts.

It’s a lovely car - and it might be time to sell it. Obviously with infinite monies and space cars like this get indefinite leave to remain. But whilst there are other cars to try and life booming along at immeasurable pace, I can understand the desire to move on.

£3,500 seems a good price. Just make sure you can get something you like FIRST! 

[trigger]

That's kinda how I feel at the moment, as I can't get the kids in it the only time I do drive it is when I'm on my own which seems to defeat the idea of having a family estate car when I can't get the family in it! 

But then I'll never find another car in the same condition as this for £3500, that's why I'm waiting until I find something else to replace it with first. 

[adw1977]

I didn't realise Marinas were worth that much now!  It's reassuring that they are valued, makes the survival of the remaining ones more likely.  And this one is probably the best one left.

[dozeydustman]

The positioning of available mounts would suggest the Marina is set up for rear lap-belts, for an adult fine, for travel seats less so.

I would speak to the owners club or another owner about fitting rear belts in a sympathetic manner. Maybe look at another car which has been converted if at all possible. You may get recommended a bodyshop who can do the job so it looks like a factory install. I get that you don’t want to mess with the car’s originality.

I’ve read this thread from the start and know how much blood sweat and tears have gone into this car - I do think you’ll regret selling it if having belts put in nicely is a real possibility.

[junkyarddog]

Meh,we all travelled thousands of miles unrestrained in the rear of cars back in the day,it's not like its a daily driver.

Keep it and enjoy it with the family. 

Kids bounce quite well anyways.

[MorrisItalSLX]

Lap belts are better than no belts in my opinion. Would it be possible to fit a child’s car seat with the lap belts securing the base and the top strap going back somewhere in the boot space?

(Also, it’s looking tremendous in those photographs!)

[Cavcraft]

17 hours ago, adw1977 said:

I didn't realise Marinas were worth that much now!  It's reassuring that they are valued, makes the survival of the remaining ones more likely.  And this one is probably the best one left.

Would honestly suggest it's worth more. Quite possible it'll end up 'white roomed' for probably £5,000.

[mitsisigma01]

Can it not have a bar between rear top mounts or even a plate to the floor, rally/banger car style. I've seen it done before many years ago ?

Or just make the Marina a mobile Mancave , no kids allowed, they will have to travel on behind in a modern

[Noel Tidybeard]

did the marina use a bar in window recess á la volvo? its been so long i cant remember

[trigger]

I think the only option would be to bolt the seat belt to the rear wheel tub and the over the rear seat but I'm not sure, I can't find any photos of other Marina Estates even with rear seat belts

[Mr_Bo11ox]

I agree with Cavcraft, anyone who scores this for £3500 should be pretty chuffed with themself, I reckon it could do a bit more than that