Fast Marina Magazine

Does anyone know anything about this car?Morris Marina 1.3. SDL Saloon (red )First registered 22/05/1978
I just bought it from its 2nd owner who had it from 29/09/1980,when he bought it it had 8006mls on it. It has mk2 mouldings door mirrors and dash steering wheel etc,but it has mk3 bumpers,front spoiler,grille,halogen headlights and looks like a mk3 interior,and Hl trims.The deceased owners son said that was the way his father bought it.
The 1st owner interestingly is
BRITISH LEYLAND UK LTD,POWER TRAIN & FOUNDRY DIV,LONGBRIDGE,BIRMINGHAM,B31 2TB
I haven't checked to see if there are any other differences yet as only picked it up today.
The rear wheels are my own to make sure it had safe/good tyres for journey home 300+ miles

The earliest MK3s I know of had chassis numbers in the 190,000 region, only a couple of batches were built whilst BL were still building MK2s.

Perhaps before BL sold it they 'upgraded' it to MK3 spec?

Given the name of the first owner, it's likely that it was a managers car, that got an upgrade around when the new model came out.

Can you confirm the chassis number, engine size and model (HL etc.), I should be able to confirm whether it's a Mk2 or Mk3 as I have the last chassis nos. For the Mk2 and the first for the Mk3, by model.



Chris

The chassic number is lots below 190,000
176,###M
I275cc
4door SDL
RED

Check in behind the grill see if she has the brackets for the driving lights of the mk3. My 78 mk2 doesnt have. Bumble registered sept 78 i think. Brackets not there but me mk3s do. Well had to replace them on eeh but jgn has got the necessary brackets.

The first 4 door Mk3 of any trim level was xxxxxx 196423M. So it's definitely a Mk2 with Mk3 bits on it. The Mk3 was officially launched in September 1978, so your Mk2 car was registered well before the Mk3s came along.



Chris
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Bumble is 12 9 1978 and chassis number is 178136m, However i remember sitting at Thristane castle show a few years ago sandwiched between Stevies at the time Tara Green mk3 on a w reg and a pagent blue mk3 that was the same suffix reg letter as mine i e a t reg. However said owner of blue mk3 showed me the original bill of sale for said car and registration wise it was older than mine, Unfortunalty last time i checked the mk3 wasnt listed on dvlas website.