The Marina coupe had the potential to make a very attractive convertible, but it had a fundamental flaw…
The open-top Marina
Crayford devised this conversion based on the 2-door Marina coupe following an approach by Plymouth-based BL dealers Mumfords. The coupŽ’s rakish lines should have lent themsleves to an attractive drop-top car, but Crayford’s hands were tied by an unusual decision which had been taken on cost grounds by the newly-formed BLMC when originally developing the car: it used the front doors from the four-door model, rather than having the extended doors normally specified for 2-door variants.
As a result, Crayford had to devise some way of bridging the unusually long rear side windows, and their chosen method was short on aesthetic merit. In order to keep the replacement (removable) rear side window as compact as possible, a fixed rectangular window was inserted directly behind the B-pillar, and the rear quarters of the hood featured a particularly broad expanse of canvas (as can be seen from the above photograph), which must have created an almighty blind spot with the hood raised.
Is the Editor of the Parkers website and price guide, formerly editor of Classic Car Weekly, and launch editor/creator of Modern Classics magazine. Has contributed to various motoring titles including Octane, Practical Classics, Evo, Honest John, CAR magazine, Autocar, Pistonheads, Diesel Car, Practical Performance Car, Performance French Car, Car Mechanics, Jaguar World Monthly, MG Enthusiast, Modern MINI, Practical Classics, Fifth Gear Website, Radio 4, and the the Motoring Independent...
Likes 'conditionally challenged' motors and taking them on unfeasible adventures all across Europe.
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If you would like to read a contemporary road test for a Mumford Marina Convertible, click on the link bellow. It’s fun reading!
https://www.flickr.com/photos/triggerscarstuff/4993328995/
Why is it riding so low on the back? Surely that isn’t right?
It’s stance suggests that it has no engine.
That is the ugliest convertible I have ever seen!!!