Marinas? plzthxbai.

[MrDuke]

For disturbing and upsetting reasons which I can't quite fathom, I'm finding myself thinking about Marinas. Mainly because they're cheaper than anything else of that age, partly because there's something endearing about the horribly under-engineered design, but also because - I think - I'm slightly attracted to them.  

 

I mean, they're basically Minors with uglier bodies, right? And Minors can be a good laugh, especially after an engine swap? Right? And it's not like I fancy Itals as well, I do have standards.

 

Could someone please stop me giving serious consideration to owning one? Half a dozen reasons should be enough.

 

 

Ta.

[bub2006]

You only live once.

[michael1703]

That yellow one looks a peach, buy it

[vulgalour]

Why on earth would you want a cheap, practical four door family saloon from the seventies that can get into any classic show without trouble?  Parts availability is really good so there's no challenge to ownership so you know it's going to be pretty boring on that front.  Many of them even run on unleaded so you don't get to enjoy working out fuel additives.

 

No, don't get a Marina, it's far too competent and sensible a classic car to consider owning.

 

 

Oh, but they do like to rust.

[mercrocker]

You better do it quick before there's another increase in scene tax....Hopes of me getting a cheap one as WBD have been dashed to the stony ground and I will have to kill my Minor in briny roadwash instead.

[Shep Shepherd]

I can't think of a single reason not to own one of the few remaining Marinas or Itals.

[Bren]

1.8 tc is best. I actually like these, however the corgi whizzwheels one in my cabinet is as close as I will get.

 

I remember buying an edition of street machine years ago, somebody wrote into the technical section stating they wanted to fit a 2600 sd1 engine into a marina.

 

If they ever did it I can only presume it ended badly.

[Magnificent Rustbucket]

I think they're quite good looking.

[MrDuke]

All good points, well made. That yellow one came from Google btw, although I might have been tempted if it was for sale.

 

All 70s cars like to rust, so that's not really an issue. I was hoping someone would tell me they were spirit-crushingly awful to drive, or that the suspension needed rebuilding every 5k miles, or something. A 1.8TC would indeed be ideal, but I'd probably end up with a 1.3 jobbie, being an utter cheapskate. Is it just me that thinks the later models had one of the finest 70's dashboards ever?

[Noel Tidybeard]

well if the ozzies did this

and the south africans put the same engine in the sd1 WCPGW with putting rover 2600 donk in?

[MrDuke]

Triumph? Arguably sounds nicer than a Rover V8. Hmmm......

[Felly Magic]

The Marina bods have now realised that with a bit of tweaking, the Ford type 9 5 speeder fits as well, makes em much more user friendly, esp as the BL box is a sack of crap

[Noel Tidybeard]

Triumph? Arguably sounds nicer than a Rover V8. Hmmm......

nah e-series ohc

[Taff]

I broke one for parts years ago and have made a point of using a piece of Marina in all my projects since.

 

The Galaxie now has a Marina choke cable

[garethj]

A mate had a 1.3 Marina when were in 6th form back in the late '80s.  It was a dismal drive with vague gearchange, sounded strained at anything over 50mph and the seats were dreadfully uncomfortable.  And this was comparing it with the disgusting crap the rest of us were driving at the time.

 

However if you want one, I think you should get one.  Imagine the people who want an Audi R8 but can't actually get one, what an echoing void their lives must be.  If you want a Marina and get one you're better off than them straight away, plus about 60 grand better off.  It's win-win as far as I can see.

[cms206]

 

 

I mean, they're basically Minors with uglier bodies, right? And Minors can be a good laugh, especially after an engine swap? Right? And it's not like I fancy Itals as well, I do have standards.

I actually think Marinas are much better looking than Minors... 1.8TC saloon for me please, or an estate. Or an Ital. Fuck it.

[MrDuke]

nah e-series ohc

 

Ooh, had to look that up on tinterweb. Anything that's been developed by nailing another 2 cylinders onto an existing engine has extra shite points, and 120-odd bhp isn't too bad. I'm just wondering if it would sound as good as a tuned I6....

[Anglevan]

To be honest that's why I bought my marina. Just thought I'd not seen one for ages, and it's a car I've never owned or driven before. Mine came up for sale locally, may be for sale next year but only once I've run it for a bit. You never know I might like it.

[inconsistant]

 

^^^this.

[Fat_Pirate]

I had a 1.8 coupe 29 years ago!  I would opposite-lock it around the Kings Lynn one-way system all evening, then admire it's smooth lines from my bedroom window ('cos under street lights you couldn't tell it was Harvest Gold).  It was very unrefined but quite good to drive, especially the communicative steering and brakes.  I actually crashed a brand-new Maestro because it understeered off a bend which I normally hooned around in my Marina.

 

Had several more after this, and I preferred the more eager A series motor over the lazy B.

[Steviemillar]

IMG_0961.JPG

 

^^^this.

My old man had one of them 82-86 ish, BUS575S

[MrDuke]

OK, serious question: what are they actually like to drive? I don't mind "dull" as long as there's enough character to offset it (hell, the Cherry was massively dull but I adored it) and as long as I can keep up with most of the traffic. Reviews of the period harp on about OMGUNDERSTEER!! which I would find quite irritating, despite not being a wannabe drifter.

 

 

EDIT: having read F_P's post, I should probably take 70s journo reviews with a pinch of salt.

[vulgalour]

The understeer a bit, some of them still have the original front suspension which is a bit crap but easy to sort out, gear change will be frustrating at first but you'll come to get used to it.  If it's not a 1.3 you'll have enough power to enjoy driving it, the brakes should be pretty good and it'll be an easy car to live with overall.  It's no sports machine, but for a family three-box it's suprisingly not-bad.

[wuvvum]

I almost bought a late 1.7 HL estate about ten years ago.  Took it for a test drive, and it was actually quite a pleasant thing to drive considering - the gearchange was fairly awful and the steering a bit on the heavy side, but it didn't seem to have any particular vices beyond what you'd expect in any '70s machine.

[Shep Shepherd]

Is it just me that thinks the later models had one of the finest 70's dashboards ever?

 

'Ergonomics' clearly wasn't a word that was in use in 1970s Birmingham

[seth]

I broke one for parts years ago and have made a point of using a piece of Marina in all my projects since.

 

The Galaxie now has a Marina choke cable

 

The 1798 lump that was in my Oxford came out of a TC coupe that I got from Chopper for £50 or thereabouts.  I'll still be using some of it in that too.

[Taff]

IMG_0961.JPG

 

^^^this.

 

Jewish racing gold!

[Taff]

The 1798 lump that was in my Oxford came out of a TC coupe that I got from Chopper for £50 or thereabouts.  I'll still be using some of it in that too.

 

I thought you might be that Seth  how are you mate?

[Louise2cv]

Mr Duke, I have nothing useful to add but if you do get one please please please can I sit in it? Please?

[HMC]

I had an ital 1.7HLS which I found quite fun to get about in, party because of its wayward driving characteristics. I never did get round to seeing if the front shocks were tired. or 'they all do thar ,sir' cos it would dramatically dip its nose under low speed braking. Not long after I sold it someone else found it equally fun at the wheel as it was joyridden and dumped on wasteland.