Fast Marina Magazine

A couple of recent posts have discussed chassis codes, and the engine letter contained within them.

From the examples posted, it appears five letters were used :-
A = A-series 1300
H = B-series 1800
P = O-series 1700
E = A-series (1300 commercials)
M = ???

Can anyone confirm whether the M was for the 1.5 diesel?

Did the E mean a different version of the A-series, or was it just BMC/BL using different internal codes for Commercials (YE) and passenger cars Austin/Morris (AA/MA)?

Did the 1098cc commercials get a different engine letter?

But just to confuse the situation more, NZ vans show up with three chassis code prefixes :-
1974-75 MAV (e.g. MAV9H0350778N)
1976-78 ???
1979-1980 YE3V (e.g. YE3VKH8007609)
1981 MAPHD (e.g. MAPHD18PB8012647)

Saloons and Estates also had a prefix change during part of 1981 :-
up to early 1981 MP5W (e.g. MP5WKS8011473P)
mid/late 1981 MAHLL (e.g. MAHLL18PB8012146)
1982 MP5W (e.g. MP5WK58012230)

MA- MK1 1.3
MH- MK1 1.8

AH- Austin Marina Canada/USA (produced with 1.8 only)

ME- MK2 1.3
MR-MK2 1.5 Diesel
MM- MK2 1.8

AM- Austin Marina MK2 Canada/USA (produced with 1.8 only)

ME- MK3 1.3
MR- MK3 1.5 Diesel
MP- MK3 1.7

Commercial VINs seem to be a bit more complicated!

Thanks, Josh, I wasn't aware of the change for the Mk2s.

The Aussie Mk1 codes were
YHS150000756NZ
YHS19000606NZ
YHS200001178NZ
YH2S20000935
YH2S40000914

Y = Australia
H = Marina
S or 2S = 4 door (followed by 2-digit trim code) or 2 door (followed by 1-digit trim code)
S15 = 1500 Deluxe
S17 = 1750 Deluxe
S18 = 1500 Super
S19 = 1750 Super
S20 = 1750 auto
2S2 = 1750 Coupe Deluxe
2S3 = 1750 Coupe Super
2S4 = 1750 Coupe TC

I was given this info (from "BigCarl" iirc) for the Aussie "Leyland" Marina (after it was re-engineered for the E6 engine)
025B2S2A171031
025 = Marina
B = Auto (A is Manual)
2S = 2 Door Saloon (4S is 4 Door Saloon)
2 = Super (1 is Deluxe)
A = 3 Speed Floor Shift Auto (L is 3 Speed Floor Shift Manual & M is 4 Speed Floor Shift Manual)
17 = E4 1.746 litre (14 is E4 1.485 litre & 26 is E6 2.623 litre)
1031 = serial chassis number