Marina/Ital
The cars : Morris Marina/Ital development history
Unashamedly created as Cowley’s Cortina, the Marina was to lead Morris – and more importantly, British Leyland – into a new decade of Ford bashing… However, it missed the bus in terms of size and engine range, and because there was no budget to replace it, the Marina remained in production for far too long… [...]
September 3, 2011
· 
Keith Adams · 
20 Comments
Concepts and prototypes : Morris Marina
In 1967, Joe Edwards of BMH managed to secure the services of Roy Haynes from Ford as a stylist at the new BMH/Pressed Steel styling studios at Cowley in Oxford. Haynes had previously successfully styled the Ford Cortina MkII and he applied the style of this design to his new project, ADO28 – what was [...]
July 26, 2011
· Keith Adams · No Comments
Gallery : Morris Ital
In 1980, the Marina was restyled for the new decade by Harris Mann. The production engineering was carried out by Giorgetto Giugiaro‘s Ital Design styling studio, and BL sought to capitalize on the Italian connection by naming the new car the Morris Ital. The Ital suffered the ultimate indignity (for a Morris) of being built [...]
October 29, 2010
· Keith Adams · 2 Comments
Torcars Marinas
Available in standard and elevating-roof versions, the Torcars Marinas offered a choice of practical vehicles for outings and short breaks. The text and pictures below have been taken from the Torcars brochures. Suntor Marina Founding member of the Torcars range, the Suntor model offered a fully-lined, spring-loaded elevating roof and a wealth of built-in cupboards [...]
October 2, 2010
· Keith Adams · No Comments
The worst: Morris Marina/Ital
Unlike in the vote for the greatest car, the matter of who is the winner of the wooden spoon in this poll was not a clear cut issue at all. Three cars were in the running: the Allegro, the CityRover and this, the Marina (and its facelifted sister, the Ital). It has to be said [...]
July 25, 2004
· Keith Adams · No Comments
Car of the month : March 2002
This month, I reckon it is the turn of the Morris Marina to be featured as Car of the Month – and where better to start than this “mint and boxed” Mark 1 1800. See what you think – this example owned by John Capon is possibly the best around, although I’m sure he’d argue [...]
March 1, 2002
· Keith Adams · No Comments
Archive : The great escape
TV Journalist Michael Kirsch was once saved by three Bosnians. To repay the debt, he drove a £190 Marina to their war-ravaged country to try and get them out… Please click on the thumbnails below – all images open in a new window (1024px wide) This feature was originally published in CAR Magazine in November [...]
November 1, 1994
· Keith Adams · 2 Comments
Archive : Marina line halted at Cowley for fourth day
By R. W. Shakespeare Production of Marina cars at British Leyland’s Cowley, Oxford, Plant was at a standstill yesterday for the fourth day running, with 1,200 assembly workers idle. The plant, which has a big backlog of orders, resulting from the three-day week, has lost output of some 3,000 cars worth more than £3m this [...]
March 30, 1974
· Keith Adams · No Comments
Archive : Leyland steps up Marina exports to meet enormous demand in US
By Clifford Webb British Leyland are stepping up exports of Morris Marinas to the United States to take advantage of a marked swing to smaller cars following fears of a petrol shortage there. A spokesman said that since the Marina was introduced to the United States in February, there had been “an overwhelming demand which [...]
August 7, 1973
· Keith Adams · No Comments
Archive : British Leyland may return to world motor sport
By Julian Mounter Motoring Correspondent British Leyland, anxious to rejuvenate its image, is flirting with the idea of returning to international motor sport. The corporation may also market a high performance version of the Morris Marina, tuned and modified by the March racing team, in a deal similar to that operated successfully for many years [...]
April 26, 1972
· Keith Adams · No Comments
Archive : Thousands of Marinas need modification of windscreen wipers
HOME NEWS By Julian Mounter Motoring Correspondent Sixty thousand Morris Marina cars, two thirds of the total production, have been sold with what may be an embarrassing design fault. In an effort to cure earlier troubles British Leyland last year decided to reposition the wind- screen wipers on all Marinas. As a result the driver’s [...]
April 18, 1972
· Keith Adams · No Comments
Archive : Production of four-door Marina being stepped up
By Clifford Webb Midland Industrial Correspondent British Leyland is making hurried changes in the model mix of the production line of the new Morris Marina following reports from dealers indicating a greater customer preference for the four-door model. At the time of the launch three weeks ago production schedules at the Cowley assembly plant set [...]
May 17, 1971
· Keith Adams · No Comments
Archive : Motoring Marina out for conquests
While Mr. Harry Webster, the designer, was drawing the outlines for the new Morris Marina, he was being prompted by a brash and brilliant salesman: a fugitive from Ford, Mr. Filmer Paradise, director of sales for the Austin Morris division. In every informed autopsy on the old B.M.C. it is said that one of their [...]
April 29, 1971
· Keith Adams · No Comments
Archive : Morris Marina is launched!
This day in history – from the daily news archives. Clifford Webb on British Leyland’s break with unconventional engineering and why they did it. Hard pressed British Leyland, the only surviving British owned motor group, today launches its long awaited new Morris Marina aimed directly at the important fleet market. British Leyland, with its past [...]
April 27, 1971
· Keith Adams · 8 Comments
Archive : 1000 days hard
MOTOR magazine What have Austin Morris been doing since the formation of British Leyland in May 1968? Will Austin and Morris diverge? How good is the new ADO28? What will happen to the 1100/1300 range? George Turnbull, deputy managing director of British Leyland and managing director of Austin Morris, talks frankly to Harold Hastings. Until [...]
February 20, 1971
· Keith Adams · No Comments
Archive : Leyland takes off the kid gloves
Clifford Webb on the new fight with the unions British Leyland’s apparent success in forcing through a new pay system in a key section of its Austin Morris Cowley car plant will be tested when the company tries to increase production of its all important new model at present code named the ADO28 . The [...]
January 18, 1971
· Keith Adams · No Comments
Archive : Leyland plans car to fill gap in range
By CLIFFORD WEBB The first new car designed from start to finish by British Leyland since the British Motor Holdings-Leyland merger two years ago is now at the pre-production stage and could well be launched next spring. Details circulating in the industry suggest that it is entirely orthodox with a fore and aft engine in [...]
June 23, 1970
· Keith Adams · No Comments
