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Hello everyone! PLEASE DROP IN YOUR OPINIONS ON THE MORRIS MARINA! Thanks!  I really want to get this Morris Marina as my first car (turns out Lada is a tough brand to get hold of!), but I just want to make sure I'm not barking up the wrong tree. I've heard the engine is very reliable, and the car itself, if treated well, should be fine. My plan was to prime and wax over it if I did indeed get it to protect it from Rust. Negative or Positive, I'm more than willing to hear what you have to say (it all helps create a more objective picture). EDIT: For light use, are they likely to fail? My parents are very sceptical of this hobby of mine, and I'm doing my damndest to prove otherwise! I don't see how it will break if it is given light use; the one I want is already in decent nick and I think a year outside (before I can get garage space) won't hurt it too much. Since they won't help me, financially, it's all down to me to pay for it; I won't lie, if it breaks that's all my savings down the drain because the resale value will not be high!  |
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I have a Jaguar XJS - RARRGHH! She is called Lily, and she is my best friend! goo.gl/bT3ASP <-- video of her |
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Rob M
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,915
Club RR Member Number: 41
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Hello everyone! I really want to get this Morris Marina as my first car (turns out Lada is a tough brand to get hold of!), but I just want to make sure I'm not barking up the wrong tree. I've heard the engine is very reliable, and the car itself, if treated well, should be fine. My plan was to prime and wax over it if I did indeed get it to protect it from Rust. Also open to people's general opinions, as well! Good choice. Simple mechanics, parts plentiful, easy to work on and look after and a very healthy owners club to support you. Many more reasons to buy and own than not to buy and own. |
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My complete knowledge of marinas...
They were a bit of a joke when current but I believe not really for any good reason, aside from being BL.
Thought of more fondly now than ever before.
Came in a nice wierd light greeney yellow colour that was rare but looked ace.
I assume they rot well.
I wouldnt prime and wax, sounds like a recipe for future cursing if anyone wanted to paint it.
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vitessetony
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 1,055
Club RR Member Number: 114
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I don't know much about them tbh but the coupe looks very cool I've always fancied one, Good luck!
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bortaf
Posted a lot
Posts: 4,549
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I'm treading a fine line here as we aint sposed to say anything unless it's nice but
they are pretty tough things, drive ok, not the worst thing BL ever made, have a few quirks like the trunions seizing but keep on top of the issues and they are a great first old car, simple tough mechanics and cheaper than the equiv Ford.
If the paintwork is ok leave it and treat the chassis with rust convertor and sealer, POR do exellent items or jsut palin old waxoil will be fine if you prep the vehical propperly and apply it correctly IE get it and the car HOT as you can after a really good clean and degrease.
Just like to point out i have actually owned a few but not a lover (or a hater).
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R.I.P photobucket
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Recently saw this, I'll let you form your own opinion   |
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1972 viva 'Sparky'
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What is that ^^^ Is it actually a customised Marina, or is it some sort of re-badged brand new thing made by an eastern bloc country that is based on British Leylands stampings?
As for my opinion of Marinas, hated them then, would love one now, especially a coupe, or a pick up!
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fogey
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,624
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The problem that the Marina had in its day was not being as good as the competition from Ford, Vauxhall etc.
30 to 40 odd years later that is totally irrelevant.
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Last Edit: May 7, 2016 13:58:40 GMT by fogey
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Updated OPThanks guys for the responses so far. I'll be sure to pass these onto my parents who are still very much against it. 
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I have a Jaguar XJS - RARRGHH! She is called Lily, and she is my best friend! goo.gl/bT3ASP <-- video of her |
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Probably because they had one, or knew someone who did... My parents are against most of my car purchases for that very reason, but as fogey said, The problem that the Marina had in its day was not being as good as the competition from Ford, Vauxhall etc. 30 to 40 odd years later that is totally irrelevant. Have some fun, buy one and make your own opinions! |
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gazz81
Part of things
Posts: 842 
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What is that ^^^ Is it actually a customised Marina, or is it some sort of re-badged brand new thing made by an eastern bloc country that is based on British Leylands stampings? As for my opinion of Marinas, hated them then, would love one now, especially a coupe, or a pick up! Looks like Malta. They have a huge collection of old British cars |
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I had a Marina van in 85, I bought it off the NCB where I worked at the time (I say worked in the loosest possible way) it was a 79 V reg.
It was great & I'd happy rock around in one today
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Probably because they had one, or knew someone who did... [snip] No because they think that my money be better spent elsewhere. Not an invalid opinion but I just detest modern cars; seriously though: up until 6 months ago, I hated all things cars, and then I realised the beauty and history of classic cars. I've learnt interesting things as to how a car works, names of parts; history of car companies, etc. They keep saying that "you'll have literally spent all your money on a car, and it's old so they will break blah blah blah". |
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I have a Jaguar XJS - RARRGHH! She is called Lily, and she is my best friend! goo.gl/bT3ASP <-- video of her |
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I've had a very early 1098 pickup, 1275 facelift pickup and now have a Marlin Roadster based on a 1974 1800TC. Can't think of anything seriously wrong with them to put me off recommending to others. I prefer the 1275 to the 1800 and have done that swop in my Marlin as a far lighter lump. No experience of the 1700. AFAIK the 2.0 (Ital) was only available as an auto. Overseas markets had the option of the B series based 1500 diesel !
Some parts are getting scarce / expensive but probably no worse than any other car of the era.
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I've had a very early 1098 pickup, 1275 facelift pickup and now have a Marlin Roadster based on a 1974 1800TC. Can't think of anything seriously wrong with them to put me off recommending to others. I prefer the 1275 to the 1800 and have done that swop in my Marlin as a far lighter lump. No experience of the 1700. AFAIK the 2.0 (Ital) was only available as an auto. Overseas markets had the option of the B series based 1500 diesel ! Some parts are getting scarce / expensive but probably no worse than any other car of the era. Typically what parts are likely to go? Are parts even likely to go in a car like that? (Thinking of the infamy of BL) Also, don't cars have some compatibility with 'foreign' parts (IE: ones not of the model). Hence, or otherwise, I see lots of cars that have been modified or fixed using completely different parts from different brands of different years etc. Of course, this takes away from its originality but since I'm not rich at all, I wouldn't have much choice. |
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I have a Jaguar XJS - RARRGHH! She is called Lily, and she is my best friend! goo.gl/bT3ASP <-- video of her |
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Hi, As has been suggested, I was around back in the day and although they were styled similarly to the competition.They were always viewed as the poor relation. They didn't rust any worse or better, they had their mechanical problems, trunnions as mentioned but they should be alright if kept lubricated. Their biggest failing was their Triumph based gearbox in the 1275. you could rarely get more than 30 odd thousand miles out of them and leaked all their oil (that maybe chicken and egg). We used to have a saying amongst us that went "BL make good secondhand cars, but can't make a brand new car to save their life"
Colin
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Ignore the critics, they're actually OK. The 1275 handles a lot better than the 1800, but the 1800 gearbox is way better. they're both Triumph based, but I don't know if it's possible to fit the 1800 box to the 1275.
Despite the BL image problem, I don't believe that they're any worse than other 1970s British cars. On the bright side, only the best built ones have survived.
I'd say that if a good one comes up at the right price, then go for it.
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1953 Minor (Long term project)
PT Cruiser
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Hi, As has been suggested, I was around back in the day and although they were styled similarly to the competition.They were always viewed as the poor relation. They didn't rust any worse or better, they had their mechanical problems, trunnions as mentioned but they should be alright if kept lubricated. Their biggest failing was their Triumph based gearbox in the 1275. you could rarely get more than 30 odd thousand miles out of them and leaked all their oil (that maybe chicken and egg). We used to have a saying amongst us that went "BL make good second hand cars, but can't make a brand new car to save their life" Colin The one for sale has nearly 80,000 miles on the clock which is a lot more than 30,000 miles! *eek!* The guy says it drives fine so I assume nothing is wrong with it, but that's a somewhat scary thought. I really don't have the money or expertise to fix something if I went ahead to buy it because it's at the literal top end of my budget; my budget is limited by how much I have. I suppose from what you said it might not be a good idea to go for it, then? |
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I have a Jaguar XJS - RARRGHH! She is called Lily, and she is my best friend! goo.gl/bT3ASP <-- video of her |
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Body condition is everything here, the mechanicals are simple and rugged. And later on, the customizing choices for body and mechanicals are too many to count. But keep in mind the fact that this is a rebodied Morris Minor, the suspension is pitiful, brakes no more than adequate (not even that on early 1300s with drums on the front) and not much power from the 1275.
I too had a Marina pickup back in the day, with MGB mechanicals and some suspension improvements, it was a lot of fun, especially on wet roundabouts! Not the best car I ever owned but not the worst by a country mile!
And Compo, i've seen a few 2.0 Itals with manual boxes, only a few though! Mind you the 2.0 wasn't a common choice at best.
Steve
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