Morris Marina Nationals and bonus car show

[trigger]

This year i decided to take my van to the Morris Marina Nationals along with some friends which was being held at the South Devon Railway in Buckfastleigh, now seeing as my van has been off the road 24 years until it got back on the road in February and they aren't exactly made for long distance driving i decided this would be excellent idea, so after checking all my levels and packing some clean pants Friday morning i headed off on the 300 mile drive to Devon.

 

 

First part of the mission was to head down the A12 to the M25 and round to South Minns to meet some friends, this didn't go quite to plan as said friend who had gone the M11 way had to keep stopping as one of their party kept breaking down... Still i was in good company once i got to South Minns.

 

 

 

The owner of this as well as another chap i know who was in a Triumph Stag decided to convoy down to our own, not after chatting to the owner of this beautiful DS on his way to the Citroen Nationals 

 

 

 

and seeing Mazda with a very expensive and inappropriate car related number plate.

 

 

and a cool Ford pickup and SJ Jeep.

 

 

 

 

Next stop was Popham Services on the A303 where the heavens opened up and it chucked it down!.

 

 

Thankfully after eating a minging dry bacon roll in  Starbucks the rain stopped and we headed off again, Stonehenge was a nightmare, especially in 30° heat and no shade or air con!

 

 

and we meet these two young girls in Exeter Services who had locked their keys in the car, we couldn't get inside it and by the time i had a piss and got back to the car there was about 15 blokes all trying to help them, I'm sure it had nothing to do with the short skirts they were wearing...

 

 

so after 299 miles i arrived at the camp site, the less said about the caravan the better though, it was't the nicest, the bathroom light cord was black... but it was still fine for the weekend.

 

 

1/2 hour later my friends arrived too

 

 

That evening we went to the pub and got pissed, the following day was the road run, we all meet at a bus depot in Bovey Tracey  first.

 

 

 

 

There was a few cool cars arrive, i was very taken by this beautiful Lancer 1400 Estate which was unrestored and belonged to a elderly gentleman before the current owner.

 

 

 

 

 

This coach was also tucked away in the yard.

 

[trigger]

The road run was very enjoyable, it took us all over the moors on some very challenging road until we reached Princetown for lunch. 25 Marinas in a convoy must have been a sight!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After lunch it was back on the moors again to visit a car museum in Moretonhampstead.

 

 

 

 

 

The museum wasn't too bad, we stayed about 20 minutes and that was it done, there was still a few interesting cars there.

 

 

 

 

 

This little 1100 had only done 15000 miles, it came locally from me in Beecles originally.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Felly Magic]

Ipswich reg on that ADO16 in the museum, proving you are never far away from part of Suffolk

[trigger]

After that and visiting a ice cream shop were i got some photos of the turbo Marina that was built in 1992.

 

 

 

We headed back and went to the pub again for a club dinner, we took my mates Marina and parked next to the Lancer again.

 

 

This R5 GTT was also in the car park.

 

 

 

The next day (Sunday) was the show and shine show at the South Devon Railway, i didn't get chance to see much of the station unfortunately as it was so busy and too bloody hot, I got  my van parked up and ready for the judging, i thought it be a laugh to see what they thought.

 

 

 

 

 

The Camper was stunning, the beige pick up was pretty cool and the green one was running TC running gear and interior.

 

I managed to pap a few coming in.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[trigger]

A few owners bought other cars too, the Dolomite won best visitor car.

 

 

 

 

 

 

At this point things started to get more interesting, there was a large road run going on at the same time and the field we was parked in was once of the visiting points!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[trigger]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The coach again from the day before

 

 

This Cheery had only done 4800 miles, shite wheels though.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After these all left they done the judging, to my amazement i was picked as best commercial and most improved!

 

 

 

I was very happy with that! that evening we went to Dawlish for fish and chips.

 

 

before heading back home yesterday.

 

 

We gained a beautiful rally spec Triumph 2000 on the M4 for a little while.

 

 

After one stop in Reading we took the slog home, thankfully the M25 played ball, as did my clutch as my clutch slave cylider decided to leak meaning 1st and 2nd started to get hard to engage.

 

After 707 miles though that was nothing, the little van done me proud, i wouldn't like to do a trip like that again in the van in a hurry, my ears are still ringing but it's proof that these old Marinas/Ital really aren't all that shit as people want you to believe.

 

 

[barrett]

What a feast of amazing colour. Anyone who tells you car colours were naff in the '70s has no taste whatsoever. I would very much like to drive around in an early Marina in a loud shade at some point but I fear they are now worth more than I would particularly want to pay. If you ever hear of one going cheap let me know...

[Mrs6C]

Marvellous! Great to see so many variants of the Marina and the good range of period colours.

 

Is the Edwardian-looking car in your second post one of the Dorset-based, Siva Engineering kit cars based on the Ford Popular, like 'Bessie' in Doctor Who?

http://sivaedwardian.co.uk/history_of_siva_1.html

[adw1977]

My mind is truly boggled by all the excellent pictures in this thread.

Congratulations on the well deserved awards for the van!

[trigger]

Is the Edwardian-looking car in your second post one of the Dorset-based, Siva Engineering kit cars based on the Ford Popular, like 'Bessie' in Doctor Who?

http://sivaedwardian.co.uk/history_of_siva_1.html

 

You know, you could be right, I thought it looked like Bessie so done a plate check and it came back as a 1954 Ford 1159cc so that would make sense.

[RobT]

Excellent, the Ital did you proud. 700 odd miles on vinyl seats in this weather must have been pleasant!

[cort16]

They really nailed the shape of the marina coupe didn’t they ? Was there many other itals?

[Felly Magic]

Looks like you had a great time, and well done at winning a couple of trophies, makes the graft you and your mates put in worth it. People who slag em off generally have never driven one, yes they have their faults, what old motor doesn't?  They have that certain charm, you are bound to have the odd little tantrum from the van after such a long lay up, a tired, but happy Triggs?

[trigger]

I've never had such a sweaty back (or sack), especially Friday driving up, Stonehenge was torture! Mine was the only Ital there, even the MK3 Coupe had disappeared by the Sunday meaning there was no MK3's there at all!

 

It was the clutch slave that's gone, not surprising really as they are prone for going after periods of not being used, I just topped it up and have already bought a replacement one.

[Felly Magic]

I know what torture vinyl seats are like in summer, mum's old Lada had black vinyl trim, and in summer it was like sitting on molten lava, shorts were simply out of the question. Shame no mk3s were there on the Sunday, they are the ones I'm most fond of, I think the front driving lights and chin spoiler were comedy on a 1275L estate. The memories of going to gran & grandad's caravan in Costa Del SkegVegas for school hols in the Marina, loaded up to the gunwhales with supplies, our luggage, a great big, fat & stupid lab/doberman cross and a highly strung Scottie, who always knew when we were getting close to rest stops, as I would end up being trampled by said hounds, the trip there was 140 miles as we always went the back roads to try and avoid traffic, grandad was known to hoon a bit as well, and we know Marinas do not handle well, especially when fully loaded. He loved that car, I remember when he stuffed it in a ditch due to front suspension failure, it was off the road a while getting straightened, and it came back with a gleaming fresh coat of bright yellow, now with a fetching black twin coachline down the flanks. Seeing your van and your estate is stirring up some fond memories from my childhood, thanks mate

 

I look forward to seeing the Ital & Marina in the not too distant future Triggs. 

[warren t claim]

The first time I got nicked I was taken away in a blue Morris Ital Port Police car. Unsurprisingly I have very few fond memories of them.

[Vantman]

Well done on getting the awards Trigger,it makes the journey worthwhile. Superb pictures and all those lovely lorries!.

[wuvvum]

I've never had such a sweaty back (or sack)

 

[oldcars]

Great photos, looks a great weekend. That starbucks at Popham was the Little Chef that had the TV make over years back.

[danthecapriman]

Brilliant stuff, I’d certainly agree you deserve those cool trophies too!

 

And well done little van.

[trigger]

Great photos, looks a great weekend. That starbucks at Popham was the Little Chef that had the TV make over years back.

Ah! That explains why it was so familiar then, I remember going there when it was a LC still about 6-7 years ago.

[Anglevan]

Great write up trigger, enjoyed the pics and great road trip for thee. 

I'd have another Marina given the chance or better still looking for that Ital SLX !! 

[Isaac Hunt]

Excellent trip in the Van.

 

Fond memeories of my 1.8TC 1975 Model

 

That 2500S in Blue, HNNNNGGGGG

[trigger]

I was standing behind the 2500S when he started it up, it had a full stainless exhaust... There may have been a trouser incident.

[lesapandre]

The Coupes look good. Crying out to be a hatchback.