Morris Marina

Morris Marina
Overview
ManufacturerBritish Leyland
Also calledAustin Marina [1]
Leyland Marina (Australia)
Morris 1700 [1]
Morris 575
Production1971–1980
AssemblyUnited Kingdom: Cowley, Oxford
Australia: Zetland
New Zealand: Panmure
South Africa: Blackheath[2]
Malaysia: Shah Alam (AMI)[3]
Malta
DesignerRoy Haynes, Harris Mann
Body and chassis
ClassSmall family car
Body style4-door saloon
5-door estate car
2-door coupé
2-door coupé utility (pick up)[4]
2-door van
Powertrain
Engine
Dimensions
Wheelbase96 in (2,438 mm)
Length166 in (4,216 mm) (4-door)
163 in (4,140 mm) (2-door)
167.5 in (4,254 mm) (estate)
Width64 in (1,626 mm)
Height56.125 in (1,426 mm)
Chronology
PredecessorMorris Minor
Morris 1100/1300
Morris Oxford
SuccessorMorris Ital
1973 Morris Marina 4-door saloon in England
1973 Morris Marina 2-door coupé. This grille identifies the 1.3-litre version
1976 Morris Marina Estate in England
1971 Morris Marina 1.8 TC 4-door saloon. The 1.8 TC was marketed as the sporting version. The high visibility "safety colour" of this example was fashionable in the 1970s.
1975 Marina Pick-up. This variant was never a big seller.
1977 Marina van converted into a motor caravan. During this period, the company decided that all commercial vehicles produced by its Austin-Morris division should be badged as Austins. How this was applied to motor caravan conversions (SunTor) of those commercial vehicles is apparent from the "Austin-Morris" badge on the front of this one.

The Morris Marina is a front-engined, rear-wheel-drive small family car that was manufactured by the Austin-Morris division of British Leyland from 1971 until 1980. It served to replace the Morris Minor in the Morris product line, which had first been built in 1948. The Marina was also sold in some markets as the Austin Marina,[6] the Leyland Marina and the Morris 1700.[1]

It was a popular car in Britain throughout its production life, beating its main rival, the Ford Escort, to second place in UK car sales in 1973 and taking third or fourth place (behind the Escort) in other years. The car was exported throughout the world, including North America, and assembled in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Malaysia. A total of 1.2 million were built.

According to various sources, the Marina ranks among the worst cars ever built.[7][8][9]

The 1980 replacement for the Marina, the Ital, was the same car with only mild styling changes. It was only fully replaced by the Austin Montego in 1984.

British Leyland sold the Marina alongside the 1969 Austin Maxi, which shared the same market segment but used front-wheel-drive and had a hatchback body, and the 1973 Austin Allegro, which used front-wheel-drive and more adventurous styling.

  1. ^ a b c Also known as : Morris Marina, www.aronline.co.uk Retrieved on 1 June 2013
  2. ^ Around the world : South Africa, www.aronline.co.uk Retrieved on 22 June 2013
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference The Motor Vehicle Industry in Asia books.google.com.my was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ "ClassicCar.co.uk > the number one classic cars site since 1996 + old cars + forum, news, info & events". Archived from the original on 17 June 2013. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
  5. ^ World Cars 1975. Herald Books.
  6. ^ Morris Marina/Ital : The Austins, www.aronline.co.uk Retrieved on 22 June 2013
  7. ^ "VW Beetle is named 'crappest car'". BBC News. 14 September 2004. Retrieved 14 July 2007.
  8. ^ Wheeler, Brian (7 April 2005). "The politics of building cars". BBC News. Retrieved 14 July 2007. [T]he cars produced in that era, such as the Austin Allegro and the Morris Marina, are now widely regarded as some of the worst ever built.
  9. ^ Dowling, Joshua (30 June 2000). "First among the worst". Sydney Morning Herald. The failed Morris Marina was a close runner-up [to being the worst car ever sold in Australia].