Fast Marina Magazine

That white ones gorgeous!

I recon this is just the results of Josh's own personal search for an early 1.3 coupe!

The data will still be on my computer even if I get hit by a bus (well so long as I'm not carrying my laptop with me )

You're partly right there Ian I must admit me wanting a nice early coupe is more because after doing all this I think I need a decent 71 car as well as a rusty heap

More photos of the Glacier one here: http://www.pembrokeshireclassicinvestme ... cle_id=140 I want it....

Very nice, think it may well be a while before mine looks that good!

Not sure about the name 'Pembrokeshire classic investments' though, sound like some firm of debt collection agency.

Josh, this is the oldest Marina I have seen in NZ (advertised for $6,000). First registered 24/8/72, but I presume the build date would be at least a few months earlier. The chassis number is listed as MA25980131M (80131?) - is there anyway the build date can be determined?

Hi Bryan,
Assuming that the VIN on that car is in sequence with UK VINs then it is indeed number 80131 so built in January/February 1972

The only way I have of working out the build date is by basing it around other cars

Nice early 1.3 DL Coupe
How did you find out the VIN number for it?

JoshWard wrote:Hi Bryan,
Assuming that the VIN on that car is in sequence with UK VINs then it is indeed number 80131 so built in January/February 1972

The only way I have of working out the build date is by basing it around other cars

Nice early 1.3 DL Coupe
How did you find out the VIN number for it?

NZ rego details can be accessed via a number of websites (basic details are free, but the more you want to know, the more you pay). I use Car Jam. They provide the recorded engine and chassis numbers, and date first registered (e.g. for KU605). This is the only 1300 Coupe I have seen in NZ.

However, somewhere along the way the rego details have got corrupted - the first rego date of 1972 doesn't tie in with the plate letters. "KU" plates weren't issued until 1981. A 1972 reg should have letters "GA" through "GD". So, it's either been imported in 1981, and the UK rego date was written on the rego form (most likely), or it was re-registered in 1981 and the link to the original plate number has been "lost" in the system. The rego system wasn't computerised until the 1990s - prior to then the forms were filled in by hand, and there are all sorts of strange engine and chassis numbers recorded.

Damn that's brilliant, wish we had a way of looking up VINs in the UK- could complete the register in a day then! Sadly the public can't do it, not even sure if they come up with a HPI check or similar.

Found a selection of about 40 more J plate cars, sadly nearly all of them are long dead but one still survives- a first for the register. Usually when I look up registration numbers either side of surviving cars they are all long dead.

GLT 484J is still out there somewhere and is now a Marlin! I'm now going to get in touch with the Marlin guys and see if I can find out some more about it.

I now have details of 388 1971 build cars on the register, sadly the majority are long dead Most had died by the early to mid 1980s, a few survived into the early 90s. There are noticeably few cars that have been unlicensed in recent years that I have not been able to trace (and find in most cases that they are still alive), this compares well with the numbers of MK3s and Itals that have been scrapped in recent years, I guess once the 71s had made it through the 80s intact they had a fair chance of survival as they would have reached classic status sooner than the later models.

JoshWard wrote:...not even sure if they come up with a HPI check or similar.

They don't unfortunately, I considered that when trying to trace the Coupe's identity. You have to put the VIN in & then it confirms the details match.

Damn

We have another survivor

UUX 995J, 1.8 Saloon, currently SORN, chassis number around 9500

This makes a total of FOURTEEN surviving J regs! Honestly did not think we would have more than ten! Amazing!

42 confirmed surviving (in one form or another...) 1971 build cars, plus one Marlin using a 71 Marina as a base.

I now have chassis numbers for nearly all the surviving 71 cars (if you're reading this Dave and Andy.... ), a huge thanks to everybody who has contributed information and help. The register will be online in the next few weeks hopefully....

Had an interesting letter from a club member following my article in Understeer. He contributed:
BUD 172J- Coupe unlicensed since the early 1990s
GLT 386J- part of a large consignment of fleet vehicles
Chassis number 2853- there is a photo of this VIN in a Haynes manual apparently, not found it yet myself
CMO 160J- Used as student transport in Liverpool in the mid 80s, not taxed since 1990. Registered 1st May so was an early one

All the data is now beginning to reveal information about changes over time and build dates.

Cars up to chassis number c.22,000 had holes below the master cylinders and the washer bottle
c.22,000-c.26,000 had a hole below the master cylinders only
c.26,000 onwards- no holes

Not sure when the inner wings changed. The early inner wings had a recess where the brake hoses attach to the inner wing, no room for the bump stop to be moved and a vertical join to the outer wing in the engine bay. My saloon (JHC 999J, chassis number 5293) has the early inner wings. These had definitely gone by c.14,000 but I suspect they disappeared quite a while before that.

The rear hubs changed at some point too. FPH 441J (1498) has three lugs where the wheel mounts on. Any chance you could check TDL please Frank if you read this?

Some 71s also had different 'Negative Earth' stickers to later cars, they were more golden in colour. FPH 441J and CVF 555K are two such cars.

Still trying to trace HUV 423K Limeflower 1.3 SDL saloon and AKR 879K 1.8 Coupe if anybody knows about them.
AKR 879K was owned by the chap with the Bracken Mumford last I heard about it, does anybody have any contact details for him please?

The early inner wing/outer wing joint is visible in the attached photo of my J reg.

The chap with the Bracken Mumford no longer owns it as far as I know Josh, last I heard he had been ripped off big time by the so-called restorers to the tune of £20.000! and because he had no more money to pay them beyond this amount (bearing in mind they were contracted to restore the car for £20.000 total budget) they kept the unfinished shell as payment when he could pay them no more!
I now own AKR what do you need to know about her Josh?

That's a shame Frank, I had heard he was able to get the shell back but evidently not. Sadly not everybody is like you when it comes to car restoration The company that did it are just up the road from me...

As for AKR I'd love to know the chassis number and what plans you have for it
Some photos would be nice too

Great to hear it's still out there, make that another surviving 71 car

Josh

Of the survivors, do you know what proportion are Taxed, or SORN, or No Record?