Newspaper story on restored Marina TC automatic

[locost_bryan]

http://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/machin ... 15cbdfc6e6

When Sue Wilson inspected a rare 1972 Morris Marina TC Coupe Automatic for sale in Bendigo, she knew it would be a good buy.

It was one of only a handful left in Australia, making it extremely rare. Furthermore, it was an automatic, which not only added an eccentric touch — very few restoration projects involve an automatic transmission — but it was a practical win for Sue, too.

“I have always driven automatics, and driving home from the inspection I decided it would be perfect for me,” she said.

There was a slight hitch, however: the owner wanted $3000 for it.

“I am not mechanically minded, but I had a look under the car and I could see the suspension was shot,” said 60-year-old Sue matter-of-factly.

She rang a friend who knew a bit about Morris Marinas, and he scoffed at the asking price.

“He basically told me not to pay any more than $1500,” she recalled.

So Sue, clearly a savvy negotiator, offered $800 for the Morris Marina, which the owner baulked at.

“I found out he owed $900 on a four-wheel drive and I said, ‘How about I give you $900 and you can pay off the car’,” said Sue, who lives in Somerville, past Frankston.

“And so we did a deal.”

That was in November 2013 and within a matter of months, the Morris Marina — which was manufactured by the British Leyland company as a rival to the Toranas and the Cortinas of the 1970s — was on the road.

Which is quite an achievement.

Morris Marina TC Coupes are worth close to $7000 when fully restored, but Sue’s purchase needed quite a bit of work to get it anywhere near that level.

“The upholstery, as well as the suspension, needed replacing, the body needed work and it needed a new radiator,” she said.

But, crucially, the car did not have any rust in it, which is usually one of the most soul-destroying discoveries in any restoration job.

“The motor was good, too, it just needed some TLC,” said Sue, who carried out the restoration job with the help of her husband, Gary.

“Not having any rust was really the saving grace. Plus, there seemed to be a lot of people who had parts they could supply us with.

“I think we got lucky. Although we did end up spending more money on it than we would get for it.”

Whether it was luck or skill that got the car back on the road, the Morris Marina is now one of the stars of the couple’s BMC-Leyland Car Club they set up last August.

“We were part of another car club, but we got sick of the bureaucracy,” she noted.

“We wanted a car club that was not about the minutes at meetings.

“We do have to have meetings to fulfil the requirements of being a club, but now we just do them quickly while we are on a run.

“That way we can make it more about the cars.”

● BMC-Leyland Car Club, email gazturn@netspace.net.au

[SLOW ITAL]

Superb save, this one has to be rare.
An article about this one with piccys would be a good one for a future mag Ben?....
Gil.

[locost_bryan]

Superb save, this one has to be rare.
An article about this one with piccys would be a good one for a future mag Ben?....
Gil.

I think one of the Aussies on the forum (Big Carle?) also has an auto TC, so only half as rare. But a great save, can't imagine they were too popular back in the early '70s.

Hope the email address in the story is still current, Ben.