Fast Marina Magazine

I notice it has a 17 digit VIN code starting with S this indicates built in UK. The format was introduced in 1981 as a standerised internatonal VIN as the Ital was launched in 1980 this would this not make it an Ital ??
Dave

Looking at VIN 7th digit is nemeric so was built between 1980 and 2009 However the 10th digit is a 6 if my counting is correct which means manufacture in 2006. Suspect VIN was attached when decommisioned from MOD incidently YAW is a Shropshre Registration identifier
Dave

Thanks Dave

So possibly sold by MOD in 2006 then.




Chris

That would be my best guess we also have a big MOD maintanace base here in Telford Shropshire
Dave

Looks smart! I'd imagine it has the standard pickup front suspension (certainly has the hubs as said above) but has gained a car rear axle, hence the non matching PCDs. It's probably a higher ratio diff which you'll appreciate unless you are planning on running it heavily loaded regularly- easiest course of action is as Chris suggests & fit car hubs to match, I'm sure someone one here would be able to help with a set of front hubs. There are more wheel options in the larger commercial PCD though if that's your thing- larger Triumphs (including TR6, which is where the wheels on Chris' blue Ital started out), MGBs, and quite a few older Japanese cars.

Sounds like it's had an interesting history to end up on a Q plate with a VIN number, what is the declared manufacture (or first used I think they call it) date on the V5? In my experience most civvy spec MOD vehicles had standard registrations, and pretty much everything had a "normal" chassis number so it' would appear to have been somewhere or done something a bit unusual.

V5 says the date of first registration 20/02/1989 first registration ditto . The V5 also gives the diesel engine as a 1798cc . The block is stamped 1.5 . Is it liable to be a 1.5 or would they have used the same block and altered the internals ?
Great news that the hubs can be changed to get the wheels the same size . The gearbox is not standard marina . Has to come out soon to have new layshaft bearings fitted . Looks like it may be the Cambridge box .

The Marina was built with the 1.5 B series diesel. Over the years some people fitted the 1.8 B series diesel from the early Sherpa. If the block is cast with 1.5 in it, it is most likely a 1.5, unless it was bored out.

The last Mk2 was manufactured in September 1978, so a date of original registration of 1989 is a long way out.

I seem to remember this car coming up on EBay some years ago, I think the listing said, ex-RAF. If that's the case then it could have originally been an airbase workhorse and never intended to leave the airbase, or it was on one of the old 00 XX 00 type MOD registrations.

Chris
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Chris

So to get back to your original request, I rescued my original pickup seats from the garage this afternoon and took some pictures for you.



Drivers seat







These are the holes worn in the drivers seat squab.

Drivers underside needs a replacement diaphragm



Passenger side





The seat squab needs to be put back in, all the clips are there. It will also need a new seat diaphragm.


Chris

Well it looked a bit sad, so I have put the passenger seat squab back in and refitted the cover, still needs a diaphragm though.






Chris
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Thanks Chris,
if you text me I will have your phone No and can text or call you direct.

Text message with landline number sent.



Chris
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I was thinking about your gearbox, if it's not Marina then it could be Sherpa diesel, I think it may be similar to the Cambridge box. If that is Sharpa diesel then the engine may also be. I think that the only way to be sure is to take the head off and measure the bore, but that's a bit drastic.