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Not one I have seen about before, earliest single carb 1.8 I can recall seeing a picture of, although the number plate is blanked out it looks like the last letter is more likely to be a J than a K. Photo was taken in Eastbourne.

Rat look marina coupe!

Is there anybody down near Eastbourne who would be willing to get a photo of this car without the reg obscured? I know where it is usually parked.

It is quite a significant find....There's only one bit of trim that gives it away.....let's just say GPC 421J is no longer the oldest Marina coupe left. This is without a doubt earlier than that.

Early front valance, early wipers, badged on offside front wing.

Those features definitely make it an early car and the wiper pattern makes it a 71 but there is one bit of trim that I have only ever seen on photos of pre-production cars before.

JoshWard wrote:Those features definitely make it an early car and the wiper pattern makes it a 71 but there is one bit of trim that I have only ever seen on photos of pre-production cars before.

Take your anorak off, Josh , and spill the beans.

Check out the rear side window. There is a body colour coded trim strip running along the bottom of the glass, most of it is covered in black tape but the corners are definitely there. Later cars did away with the trim running along the bottom of the glass and just had it on the top and side of the glass.

The only time I have seen this is on the press photos, brochure photos etc of pre production cars. GPC 421J, the previous oldest coupe, does not have it and has the rubber fitted which all later cars had. This was an SDL only feature, DLs had rubber all the way round the rear side window from pre-production cars onwards.

It's a shame there isn't another reference point, as at the moment we don't know whether the changeover was very early on or a couple of hundred cars before GPC 421J. So it could be the oldest coupe out there but not the oldest Marina, or it could be the oldest Marina, possibly a pre-production car.

I have contacted the person who photographed the car, I have also managed to persuade a friend of mine who is local to leave a note on the car with my details on it (I don't intend to save it-unless the situation is desperate- but the owner needs to know what they have). Should all that fail I will drive down to Eastbourne in the hope the car will be around.....A nice day at the seaside if not

I was in Eastbourne this afternoon,bugger.Next time i'm over that way I'll have a look. Josh is it parked in the road shown in the picture? If you do come down,send me a pm and we could meet up.

It certainly parks around that area as it's round the corner on Google Streetview.

I will let you know if I do come down

Just found out the chassis number, it's now the third oldest known Marina.

Lineup as follows...
Oldest FPH 441J
then CUE 679J
then this coupe
then TDL 229J (only newer by about 50 cars!)

Is the owner now aware he has something special?

The owner may already know but I am sorting out a way of letting them know in case they don't already.

I have spoken to the owner today,he's called Steve,very enthusiastic and has his work cut out with this coupe. He has loads of documentation including the original bill of sale with all the extras listed,dated 2nd of June 1971.
He is a member of the club,but hasn't used this forum. I hope he'll be along soon. I have his contact details if needed. I'll try and post some pictures up but it was getting a little dark.

Hi Glen, If you could PM his contact details to me I'd love to get in touch with him to chat about it, it's a very special car

As you were saying Josh the bottom rails on the rear window are painted body colour. The offside had rusted away but the nearside is better. The trims and corners around the window look the same as my tc coupe but painted not chrome. He paid £40 for it a couple of years ago!