Fast Marina Magazine

We've all had the question asked us..

If you had to explain "Why Marina's" to either a family member or work colleague what do you say?

I've taken to the short answer "Why not?" but that's my lazy answer..

So, im interested to know how you explain you hobby...obsession...dedication??. Or is it unexplainable?

Ben

Because they are damned good cars is the answer I usually give. Cheap to buy, cost peanuts to run, easy to maintain, look great (in my opinion), reliable etc etc

Add that to the fact they have been my dream car since I was about 5 usually explains my love for them (and also confirms their suspicions that I am crazy )

I grew up with them... Mum had a 1971 1.3 Coupe which as i was a hard up student with a Riley Elf but no money for petrol used to Borrow Mums Marina (much newer and always had petrol in it) car and with all the room in the back did my "courting )
after a real bad spell a couple of years ago in intensive care at hospital and almost dieing Heidi suggested i buy something that would bring a smile to my face, I found the Blue Coupe here and on ebay and my Dad bought it for me as a gift, I then got the Blaze coupe and the rest is history, addicted to Marinas love the Mk1s most cars i own last for about 2 years and i'm then ready to move on to something else but my Marinas are keepers and once i've got an estate and van/pickup added to the collection I'll be a happy man.. and Josh yopu're gonna have to wait a while before i bequeath one to you lol

I don't explain any more, I just tell them what I've got and let them get on with it.


Chris

Sent from my iPhone

Just love them and had them when we got married,and they are rare now

To anyone who is actually genuinely interested as to why (one of my favourites was one of Laura's colleagues' response to being told we had a Marina- "What, on purpose?!" ) I point out that they are a rapidly disappearing reminder of an important part of this country's motoring and manufacturing history- important for all the wrong reasons, but important nonetheless.

Most people actually look rather thoughtful when you say that, especially if you go on to say how few there are left. I wouldn't be surprised if there are only single figures of Mk1 estates on the road in this country...

You can then go on to say that it's very driveable, good fun, appeals to my sense of humour and the size of my wallet, and is considerably more interesting than their Ford Fiesta

I say that it started by accident. I actually wanted a Humber Sceptre ( the same shape as the Hunter). And couldn't find one. Then spotted the TC in the Auto trader. Originally I only wanted to go and look at it , as I had not seen a Marina for so many years. But when I got there and seeing that most of the tin was still attached in the right places. It some how spoke to me in the old chaps garage. And ended up making a deal on the spot. Today though, if I ever got a Sceptre now, it would have to be as well as a Marina or two, rather than instead of

My uncle had a Jubilee when I was 2 years old and he gave it to me when I was 16 as I loved the car.
Then I knackered it when I was 17 and 20 years on restored one so I could enjoy it rather than going up side down in it

If they're genuinely intrested, the story is similar to Matt.
If it's a pxxs take, i say "i bought it cheap but im saving up for a pianno"
or " I thought i was bidding for a Cortina.

Gil.

I just blame balmy!! He bought the Tundra coupe originally in Rugby, we went and picked it up together, we drove back in it to Devon without a hitch, and fell in love with the coupe and Marinas ever since! so well done balmy!


Sent from my Bat Phone

74 Tundra Coupe
74 TC " jubilee "

It's Martec's fault, I read an article about his TC in some magazine round a mates a few years ago, wanted one there and then.

I think its as Uncle Frank put it that they look just a little american muscle car, well from the front anyway. Plus i don't like going with the crowd, Top gear taking the piss just encouraged me to want one.

I just like to drive it and it's fun to over take Mgb's with a old banger

Its rebellion for me. I have always liked Rover cars and when I was a kid, my step father used to bring home loads of brochures from work when he was allowed to get a new company car. I always used to drool over the Rover ones with all that wood and walnut, chrome etc and was never interested in the boring (then, not now) Sierra's, Citroens and Vauxhall Cavaliers. My mother always used to say, "oh god no, Leyland rubbish!!"
You should have seen the faces when a MK 3 Marina was dumped outside our house. So as a result, I have always had Rovers and BL stuff. They are actually damn good cars anyway. The most fun I have ever had driving was in my old rough N reg. That car was awesome.

I live in on a private road of posh houses, and all with their shiny new cars, they think we are odd having old cars (some call them classics), but passers by if they come to talk are more interested in the Marina than the Jaguars as they had a Marina or remember them with affection.

I have had very few nasty comments over the years and none of late.

Brian

My normal reply to anything harsh is,take a look across the car park and pick motors that are going up in value. Who's the mug?

Glen