Fast Marina Magazine

JubileeNut wrote::shock: 3 speed manual, never seen a 3 speed before, I thought it was a typo

Back in the '60s and '70s, the "big" Aussie sixes came standard with a 3-on-the-tree (column change and a bench seat), a 4-on-the-floor with bucket seats was an extra cost "sport" option. :roll:

Leyland claimed the 262 had enough torque to get away with the 3-speed (with a floor change), rather than the more expensive 4-speed. Ford did the same with the Mk3 Cortina, shoehorning the 3.3 and 4.1 inline 6-cylinder Falcon motor (3-speed column change in the 130bhp 3.3 and 155bhp 4.1, 4-speed in the 170bhp 4.1 "GT")

Contemporary reports say the 262 was quicker than it's competitors, due I suspect mostly to it's lower weight.
Leyland Marina 262 1042kg 2623cc 110bhp 165kmh 9.5 0-60mph 17.9 1/4 mile 20.7 mpg
Ford Cortina 200L 1140kg 3273cc 130bhp 171kmh 10.5 0-60mph 18.0 1/4 mile 20.0 mpg
Holden Torana 2850 1061kg 2838cc 118bhp 161kmh 10.3 0-60mph 17.7 1/4 mile 20.3 mpg

(from http://www.automobile-catalog.com/make/ ... /1975.html)

Well then.
This morning I duly turned up to deliver the 6 to the display venue for Don. It fired up immediately despite the morning cold, and proceeded to burp away on the choke while we shifted trailers and stuff...





We then made our way around the city - over the dreadfully damaged roads - and out the back of the airport where I got to open it up a bit. The perimeter road skirts the crosswind runway - so it makes a series of right-angle bends which follow the shape of the tarmac. These are sharp bends with 30kph signs. I figured this would be the undoing of the six - although my impressions so far were of a good handling car, with quite firm suspension. Brakes were also very good, so the added weight of the bigger engine had not yet made any impression I would call 'bad'.
Into the first left hander, I slowed to the recommended 30. Very modest. Next right hander, I let it enter at 40kph, and accelerated from halfway round. Totally flat - no body roll, and no signs of understeer.
Next - another right hander, so I steamed in at 50kph, and gave it a good squirt.
Starting to feel like it could do with a bit more rubber, but no odd behaviour, and nothing to get excited about.
Final left hander was taken at a slightly frightening entry speed, and I floored it to keep things on an even keel.
Bloody brilliant. Nothing out of line, very controllable, and no fuss.
So what was all the bad press about.?
Frankly, it makes a Mk1 UK 1800 Marina feel like a dray. To me, they feel decidedly unstable, and very old-fashioned compared to my Mk3's.
This thing felt somewhere inbetween, but probably better than a Mk3 on standard wheels. I was very impressed.
The performance was not too exciting - my 2 litre O series would out accelerate it - but the sound from the 6 is just glorious. At 80kph it has a resonance that seems quite loud - then it gets quiet again, and at 100kph would be much quieter than any of my Mk3's. The 3 speed auto suits the 6 very well, and it feels extremely strong. Not sure what sort of top speed it might yield, but its a bit academic really.
With twin carbs, I imagine it would be 'sprightly', with its standard single job, its 'nice', and would make a very nice tourer. Lots of torque there for hills and such.
Seats were comfortable, and everything worked well. I would have thought it must have been quite a cool car in 1974.

So.
For all the people who say - 'watch the corners..', I think its crap. The car behaved very well, and I stuffed it into several seriously sharp bends much faster than anyone sane would have.
I did notice that one of the swivel joints needed adjusting - tracked that annoying rattle down on one of my cars many years ago - but the shocks seemed still up to their task after 37 years.
Overall, it handles a lot better than the UK Mk1's and 2's I have driven, and probably has the edge on a Mk3 - although it did have some fairly large radial tyres fitted.
With its better brakes, and lack of body roll, the extra weight of the 6 was not noticeable at all.
We lined it up with a 4 cylinder version on the club stand, just so people could make a comparison. It really is just a longer version of the same engine...





Choice motor.
Pity I'm downsizing...

Cheers all.

We lined it up with a 4 cylinder version on the club stand, just so people could make a comparison. It really is just a longer version of the same engine...

it is exactly that Kilroy, when you look at the rocker cover you can see joins in the casting of where you have the middle
of 1 cover and the ends from another, i know they didnt do it this way, just to give you an clue.
actually the 2215cc engine in the Austin Kimberly/Tasman and also the east/west engine
in the Wolsley 6 are related to the 1500 'E' series engine
and the 2620cc from the P76 is related to the 1750 'E' series

Final left hander was taken at a slightly frightening entry speed, and I floored it to keep things on an even keel.
Bloody brilliant. Nothing out of line, very controllable, and no fuss.
So what was all the bad press about.?

a lot of journalists must have got a bad one years ago,
however i thought i would warn you as in the many OZ versions i have driven i have found a VAST difference in their handling
from downright dangerous to quite good in both modified and standard form, ie:- my T.C is standard and has been sitting in a shed for 26 years
and handles as good as my old Dolomite modified one.
glad you got a good one
there are rumours that a manual 6cyl Marina is quicker than a Holden Torana XU-1 to 90mph :shock:

there are rumours that a manual 6cyl Marina is quicker than a Holden Torana XU-1 to 90mph

According to this site, 262 is faster than the Torana GTR , but not the triple-carb XU1 :shock: .

0-30mph 0-60mph 0-80mph top speed mph
Marina 262 3.6 9.5 17.7 103
Torana GTR 3.6 10.6 19.2 106
Torana XU1 2.5 7.7 13.7 110

Fit the Kimberley twin SUs and dual exhaust, reputedly bumps power from 110bhp to 150bhp. 8)

Hi Guys,it is interesting to hear peoples comments on a car that was bagged so much & say it is not that bad.
I had a few bolt on mods & my Marina handled better than my MK11 Cooper S.
I would give the thing a tune & take it for another run,Jamie's one was a stock auto with 300k on the clock & would almost wheel stand in 1st & 2nd.
When I was 18 I borrowed the Marina for the weekend,I had a run with a TR7 & we were side by side to 150k.The TR7 had the driver in it only,the Marina had 5 teenage idiots with 5 surf boards on the roof & a boot full of gear.They were no slouch .
It is really good to see another one has survived.