Fast Marina Magazine

My unstoppable blue estate has stopped.
Nothing to do with the mechanicals - the rot got too aggressive.
I can't believe how fast this car deteriorated after being parked up when the first rust prevented it from getting a wof.
Now it has appeared everywhere...












Its a goner I'm afraid - but it shall live on in part.
This is it's 1905cc 11.5/1 B series and BW65 powerplant - 340,000K on and still going like hell.



I am about to fit it into this sandglow Mk3 whose O series 1700 broke some rings and lost compression on No.4 - should give it a huge shot in the arm.



My angle grinder will transform the estate into manageable size lumps to cart off to the scrappy.
Every usable part will be salvaged beforehand obviously...

End of an era.

Wow that looked pristine not so long ago! What is it causing the rust, salt spray or something off the trees?

Kilroy was forced to move near the Pacific Ocean. Pretty aggressive salt spray from New Brighton beach. Still, in better condition than some of the stuff Josh and Uncle Frank are dealing with.

As Bryan said - I now live near the sea where the prevailing easterly carries salt air across my cars.

Unfortunately - I parked the blue estate under a carport - thinking I was doing it a favour - but instead, it prevented the rain and dew from washing the salt off it - and it rusted at full volume.

Time for it to depart - thus raising the value of my remaining few...

Shame - it was such a special vehicle.

Sniff...

Oh dear Kilroy, what a bloody shame, that was a really nice old bus in a lovely colour, I too live by the sea but I can`t believe how fast she deteriorated, if you have to lay up any others it may be worth trying to locate some stuff we used to call `travel wax`(this is the coating that new cars arrive in) I used to have to wash this off with a special detergent when I worked at a Fiat main dealer back in the 80`s, it kept the new paintwork and glass spotless, I`m sure there must be something available that has similar properties on the market?
Worth looking into perhaps
Stay cool my friend.
Frank.

Strewth, that did go downhill fast- one of my favourite cars.

On the upside, it had a far longer and more worthwhile life than most Marinas, most cars in fact- and I'm sure not a lot of it will go to waste.

I am rather touched that you people in the 'old' country - from whence the Marina came - should find my cars special.

Thanks guys - it actually means a great deal.

Not only did the 'blue estate' perform better than any other Marina I have - it also looked superb.
I am very distressed that it has come to the end of it's useful life - even though the majority of it will live on in various other cars.

Because my cars are being so adversely effected by the air here, I am having to dispose of a number of them - in any way I can - so that I can care for those that I retain adequately.
I am hoping that new owners will continue what I started - saving a much maligned car that deserves better.
Nobody who has ever driven one of my cars has failed to be impressed by it.
I put a lot of that down to the fact that they had very low expectations - just as I did in the early days.
The power unit from the blue car will impress anyone who is lucky enough to try it - in this age of electronic filtering - a car that responds instantaneously and aggressively is a total mindblast.
My 250HP turbocharged Volvo will shut down most competition inside of a block - but it could not beat the blue car across an intersection.
Instant 'grunt' is incredibly satisfying - and the blue car had it in spades.
I shall enjoy installing that same grunt in the sandglow saloon, and really piss the modern motoring public off at every opportunity.
Butter wouldn't melt..




Go well you lot.
Respect.
Kilroy

Wasn't there a chap on here looking for an estate?
The body looks spot on compared to some of the wrecks people on here tackle!

Yes, as a roof donor- which looks a tad grotty on Kilroy's, there's also the small matter that it's in NZ

I had a picture of this one, with the canoes on the roof, as my desktop background on my laptop for aaagggeeeesss as inspiration for mine. I still want a "Kilroy look" Mk3 at some point

Kilroy

Why not transfer the entire running gear and engine into your red van. Now that would surprise some people!0

Good idea Chris - and one I considered..

I need as many cars going straight away as I can manage - because another 3 or 4 must be sold.
That will free me up to get the red van moving - and it will get a carefully sorted 2 litre O series.
While the autos seem to be able to handle any amount of horsepower without complaint, this one will be a manual - so we'll see how that goes.

I don't do much racing these days, so hopefully it will hold together...

Kilroy wrote:Good idea Chris - and one I considered..

I need as many cars going straight away as I can manage - because another 3 or 4 must be sold.
That will free me up to get the red van moving - and it will get a carefully sorted 2 litre O series.
While the autos seem to be able to handle any amount of horsepower without complaint, this one will be a manual - so we'll see how that goes.

I don't do much racing these days, so hopefully it will hold together...

Here's a cure late MGB gearbox for $275. Should handle the power of a carefully sorted 2 litre O series

Ben (Charlie Safari) may have used Rover LT77, Marina, and chicken shed in the same sentence...

the light blue coloured estate was one of my favourites
it did go extremely fast, was it the original paint or did it have a respray ?

I had the picture with the canoes on the roof as my screen saver too. This car was a big influence on me buying my old estate and it is sad that it has come to the end of the road. At least it will help keep others going. I do like the little differences in spec on your mk3's. The opening quarters and side trim look great and aren't immediately noticeable. I looked at it thinking somethings different but I can quite put my finger on it, then I spotted them. Great car!

locost_bryan wrote:

Kilroy wrote:Good idea Chris - and one I considered..

I need as many cars going straight away as I can manage - because another 3 or 4 must be sold.
That will free me up to get the red van moving - and it will get a carefully sorted 2 litre O series.
While the autos seem to be able to handle any amount of horsepower without complaint, this one will be a manual - so we'll see how that goes.

I don't do much racing these days, so hopefully it will hold together...

Here's a cure late MGB gearbox for $275. Should handle the power of a carefully sorted 2 litre O series

Ben (Charlie Safari) may have used Rover LT77, Marina, and chicken shed in the same sentence...

Limit on the MGB box is only about 140bhp before they start going bang!