oh damn you mike!!

I NEEEEEED that car! its not a matter of want!

but all i was gonna pay was $400.....

oh well at least you get it!

I will buy billycarts mini instead!

Chris
Seriously, buy a cheap Laser - <$400 - with air and all the comforts and no-one will want to steal that either. Its a much better proposition than a semi historic car as its reliable and economical as well as comfortable.

I know you Chris - you would be restoring the Marina and thats not it was to be

Mike

OOOH DONT DO IT!!

Marinas were rushed to the market with very little development and as a result have one of the most dangerous handling characteristics around. Like someone already said - lots of body roll, but understeer on entry and then oversteer on exit, all on skinny tyres.

The background is that by the late 60s early 70s BL desperately needed a replacement for the Morris Minor (moggy) which was very very long in the tooth - still selling a few thousand but gave the company a very stodgy image. So basically they banged a new notchback body on Morris Minor mechanicals and.. gave it more power - and called it sporty. Lots of bad ideas floating around there. This made it fairly cheap obviously as half the parts for it were already being produced but it was a truly godawful vehicle.

Really bad stuff, BL were very nearly sued in the UK when they were released. Anything from this period of BL should be left well alone - Maxi, Marina, Allegro, even tho Maxi and allegro werent sold here.

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Chris...it's freakin UGLY What are you thinking?!?

Yes, they may be the ugly duckling but the Aussie 6 cylinder variety is a really great car to drive.
My in-laws have one which they've owned since new and it's a strong comfortable car to drive.

P76 engine with 3 on the floor - one of Leyland's finests
The best part is - you can drop a P76 V8 straight in

The coupe was a better looking option.

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Julie.............

YEA??? Now you're talkin!! I wanna know more on that option!

...so the one Chris is looking at, could have a V8 transplanted straight in? That makes up for 'some' uglyness....

I think I'm right in saying the UK Marinas got the trusty 1300 A series and 1800 B series engines, including a twin carb version from the MGB. Brian Culclleth ralled a Special Tuning version of this.
Oz got the unreliable and trouble prone E seiries 4 cylinder 1500 and 1750 engines, and later the 6 cylinder. The latter was quite powerful but the handling was diabolical and the built quality wasn't too good either.

In South Africa there was a V8 version built using a 3500 Rover engine, though I don't believe this ever went into full production.

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Slide
1965 Mini Van (1360)
1970 Mk2 Cooper S (1310)
1978 Rover SD1 V8 (4.6)
1996 Land Rover Discovery V8 (4.0)

Not sure about the 4 banger conversion. The six and V8 shared the same engine mounts.

Here is the sales brouchure for the Aussie 6

http://203.63.44.247/P76/marina/mar-redsix.html

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Julie.............

Only thing Marinas seem good for is spare parts for Clubmans!

They're an excellent source for wiper motors, door handles, indicator covers, heaters.....

hehehehe...look at the torque curve graph in that brochure

Hehehe even the brochure shows it's a Granny's car:




and a best effort of 17.9 second 1/4 mile

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Too many cars, and too little time.

mate of mine bought a marina because it had a sunroof and 3 months rego about 12 years ago. for $50

when the rego ran out he just left it by the side of the road

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the world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page
66 Mini Minor sponsored by http://www.lifeonthehedge.com.au/ The Dog Harness Specialists
It was a pleasure ausmini. I'll miss all you misfits and reprobates

Now the proud owner of the marina on ebay. Got it for a fair price. When i get it home it will get a check over - hopefully give it an interior clean (bam is wonderful stuff) give the duco a buff and then get it on historic plates. The whole idea in buying it is to have a (another) historic car on the road at times.

It was never bought to be a restoror - so hopefully it doesn't need it otherwise it will be back on ebayquick smart. A LJ torana GTR is my idea of the next restorer.

what a shame - I've found two Hillman imps (one a GT) and a Mk 2 escort for you as requested.


KB

what !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ring me with details
The imps - well - gotta think about that one but the escort - that bits important. !!!!