What's the realistic chances of finding a 1.8 GT Coupe?

MGBV8 · Post by **MGBV8** » Mon Mar 07, 2011 12:41 am

Have been trawling the web and the local rags quite seriously for around a month now and there just doesn't seem to be anything avaliable.
What I really fancy is a 1.8 GT coupe with a rock solid body in really nice order.
People must be hanging on to the good ones or, are they really that rare now that there just isnt anything about?

I bought an MGB GT V8 3 weeks ago - they only made 2601 of those and it took me a year to track down one that wasnt either massively over priced or a rust bucket. Surely it can't be that hard to find a decent marina worth having or am I in store for a similarly lengthly wait?

There seem to be a few 1.3 coupe's that have come up for sale over the last month, but no 1800's? Am i being too picky fixating on a 1.8 GT Coupe? Should I consider the O series mk3's? I suppose I'm fixated on a B series car because having owned 3 B series powered MGB's i'm pretty familiar with the engine and would be in my comfort zone in terms of servicing / tuning / upgrading etc...

It really has to be a coupe for me, really. I've just sold my Jaguar XJ6 and the idea of another saloon isn't really exciting me at all.

Any advise / Thoughts or suggestions would be greatly appriciated.

Cheers,

Jon.

Post by **MarinaCoupe** » Mon Mar 07, 2011 9:25 am

Hi Jon,

There are believed to be under 25 real TC Coupes (maybe), I think considerably fewer GTs (less than 10). There are no Mk3 1.7 Coupes as BL only made the Mk3 Coupe with the 1.3 engine. There are a few mock TCs about, where people have got hold of trim from a scrap TC and fitted it to SDL/DL Coupes and fitted some twin carbs. As far as cars on the road are concerned, I think maybe a dozen or so TCs and two or three GTs?

Marinanut has recently advertised his GT in the Classifieds section, but I think that it has sold - I'd suggest PMing him to confirm. Dis5ker (I think) has a genuine looking TC in the Classifieds at the moment, it'll need a lot of work, but as long as all the internal and external trim is there it would be do-able by someone like El Presidente (Frank).

Over the years many TCs were broken for their engines to put it sh**ged MGBs.

Same as yourself, those with a good'un will want it for a reason, so the good cars come up very rarely. Sorry for the downbeat messages, but that's where I think the market is at the moment. In my opinion the only way that you will buy a good car is to prise it from the current owner's unwilling hand with some serious wonga.

Anyone else have a view or can help Jon out?

Marinanut · Post by **Marinanut** » Mon Mar 07, 2011 2:12 pm

I think there are about seven GT's left, so the chances of getting one in very good nick are.... slim.

JubileeNut · Post by **JubileeNut** » Mon Mar 07, 2011 8:09 pm

I would say look at the TC coupe for sale as it looks a complete car and with a few panels could look great.

I think there was a very good mint Blaze TC sold recently and I thought it would never be for sale as it was a nice one. They do come up but so few now not often so I think Chris is right.
I have only seen in the flesh 2 GT's a pale green one and Phil's White one and pictures of a orange one and MarinaNut's GT and thats it.
That is over 5 years.

Post by **balmy** » Mon Mar 07, 2011 9:01 pm

Who's / where was the Blaze TC fit sale / sold Paul? Must have missed that one or should I check my garage???

Uncle Frank · Post by **Uncle Frank** » Mon Mar 07, 2011 9:06 pm

Hi Jon,
As Chris has already said TC and GT Coupes are really hard to find now, in the last 30 years i have only ever seen 7 GT `s they were only produced for about 3 years whereas the TC was made for 4 years. Both a relatively short run compared to some cars but there are still a few out there.Your best bet would be to try and contact Gavin (marina1.8tc), back in October he was thinking of letting his mk1 TC go, it is not a finished car yet but it is a fantastic unfinished project with all the hard work already done, look on the readers projects for it and you will see what i mean

.
There are probably only about 30 surviving TC Coupes out there now and less than 10 GT `s so the odds are stacked against you a bit Jon.
Good hunting...i will keep an eye out for you, as i`m sure will the other guys on here.

JubileeNut · Post by **JubileeNut** » Mon Mar 07, 2011 10:32 pm

David, it was a early MK1 TC in Blaze J plate, was on here and sold fast.
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=3224#p30836

Post by **balmy** » Mon Mar 07, 2011 10:47 pm

And I even commented on it! Jeez my memory must be going.....

MGBV8 · Post by **MGBV8** » Tue Mar 08, 2011 1:23 am

Wow, I didn't realise they were anywhere as rare as that. Less than 10 left? Ouch.
I guess it's a case of you just have to buy whatever comes up for sale, then. I was hoping for something along the lines of that minty looking Orange TC (actually that would have been the perfect car as it's the same colour as my factory V8), but I suppose i'll just have to be patient and keep checking the various websites.

Is there any particular places to look for these cars? Obviously there's eBay, carandclassic.co.uk, pistonheads classifieds and this forum. Are there any other websites worth keeping tabs on for good cars?

I must admit, it's the GT front end that got me into the idea of finding myself a tidy Marina in the first place. I just think that particular front end looks so right.
Am i right in thinking that the B series only came in coupes trimmed in either T/C or GT spec, or are B series powered cars avaliable in the lower trim levels too? Am I being daft to ignore the A series cars? I had an A series powered mk2 metro for a while. Lovely little car, but sadly it was badly vandalised. It was awfully slow compared to the MGB GT 1.8 I was running around in at the time, too.

The metalic blue tc in the readers projects section looks like a fantastic little car. Although, I note that Gavin hasn't posted since october? Perhaps it's sold? However, I couldn't take on a car like the barn-find example in the classifieds section. My welding skills arn't up to much, sadly.

Are there any members in the Derbyshire area that would be willing to offer, say, 15 or 20 minutes of their time to show me around one of their cars? It would be nice to spend a little time around a straight example so I can see what they should be like.

A big thankyou to everyone who has offered helpful advise and comments so far. I'm sure you've heard all the questions before and I'm also aware that many of them probably sound daft.

Regards,

Jon.

Post by **MarinaCoupe** » Tue Mar 08, 2011 9:29 am

mgbv8

Mk1 1.8 Marinas, came in 3 trim levels TC, Super Deluxe (SDL), Deluxe (DL), plus Jubilee special editions (I had to say that otherwise Paul would get the hump). TC cars come as Coupes and Saloons, SDLs and DLs come as Coupes, Saloons and Estates. Auto was optional on all models The SDL & DL variants have a single 1 3/4" SU carb and a torquier but slightly lower power cam, the DL has low compression pistons. You can tell an SDL or DL by the bar across the grille, like my one in the avatar on the right of this entry. All the normal rules about B series tuning apply however, my own is running, gas-flowed, skimmed unleaded head, Piper 270 cam and twim 1 1/2" SUs on upgraded needles, 5 speed Sierra gearbox. All Mk1 Marinas ran the so called "bigger valve" 18V head beloved of MGB tuners.

Mk2s are very similar in range, the big change from the Mk1 was the interior, where the dashboard was changed entirely for a more modern looking unit - some peopl like it and some don't. The trim levels make it harder to distinguish a 1.8 from a 1.3 (no doubt someone here will put me straight on that). The range topper was the GT (instead of the TC) as a Coupe or the same trim level in a four door saloon is called the HL. A great and relatively cheap way of boning up on differences is buying sales literature off EBay, there are plenty of BL brochures listed and they are usually only a pound or two plus postage. Mk2 Marina GTs share the engine with the rubber bumper MGbs.

To complete the picture Mumford in Devon made convertible Marinas (based on a Crayford design), Franks avatar is a MK1 TC one of these.

I'm not sure there are many forum members on here in the Derbyshire area, maybe someone will come forward. If you want to drive down to Bedford I'll happily oblige. I would suggest getting up close and personal with a few cars before deciding what you want exactly, the best place is through the club. If you go to http://www.morrismarina.org.uk there is a link on the front page to Car Shows and Runs. Unlike MG clubs that run their own shows, we generally attend open shows, why not book your V8 into a show that we are attending and come and have a good look?

Although less than in the past, some cars only come up through the club quarterly magazine, so think about joining up - membership is Â£18.00 per year and an application can be downloaded from the website.

JubileeNut · Post by **JubileeNut** » Tue Mar 08, 2011 7:58 pm

Chris, I would not get the hump if you had not mentioned Jubilee trim :shock: I class mine as a TC with more thats all

I know some are not shot on the Jubilee (No names) but that does not bother me, I got the model I was desperate for and lets face it you had to be desperate to end up paying what I did to get it running

Post by **MarinaCoupe** » Tue Mar 08, 2011 9:48 pm

Paul,

It's alright I was winding you up.

Clan Chieftain · Post by **Clan Chieftain** » Tue Mar 08, 2011 10:38 pm

Who belonged to the 1300 coupe with the rally decals and the number 30 on the door at the recent Goodwood Breakfast club tax exempt meeting recently. Couldnt make out the letters for the lamps but it ended in 767K. The saloon police car was also there with a for sale of Â£1995 on the windscreen.

JubileeNut · Post by **JubileeNut** » Tue Mar 08, 2011 10:43 pm

That would be Paul Monday's Marina Rally motor.

JubileeNut · Post by **JubileeNut** » Tue Mar 08, 2011 10:45 pm

Chris I know you were

I am used to now and I have to expect it driving a day glow car about

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