Fast Marina Magazine

And another here:
https://www.gumtree.com/p/car-replaceme ... 1264647502

Another auto! They're all coming out of the woodwork today.

Is that a £1 asking price on Gumtree?

This may be coming to South Wales soon

Er...Gareth? You only collect 1.3s, don't you?

mickthefitter wrote: Fri Sep 22, 2017 8:14 pm Er...Gareth? You only collect 1.3s, don't you?

I thought maybe a change in pace is in order! Shouldn't I be slowing down as I get older?

It looks like you might be needing another bootlid!

Morris McKinnon wrote: Fri Sep 22, 2017 8:30 pm
I thought maybe a change in pace is in order! Shouldn't I be slowing down as I get older?

You might have to start slowing down going into a corner with a 1.8! I've never driven a 1.3, but the first time I read an account of how the 1.3 handles better than a 1.8 was the when Practical Classics did the Dukes Of Hazzard coupe. All my three Marinas over the years have been 1.8s, including the rubbishy '77 one I owned for a month in '87, although today it would have made a sound project in the same condition. But I think my current one is heavier to steer than the other two were. It's on 175 tyres which are a bit old. It might handle better on new tyres of a slightly narrower section. I'm convinced I put 145/R/13 tyres on my 1.8 in the early 80s. It came with remould radials on the back and cross plies on the front! Never thought to check the tyre sizes were right or wrong in the book (I was 19, for goodness sake) I went for five new Firestone radials the same size as the rear remoulds. Probably why I remember it with lighter steering than NNN.

Yeah, I remember that issue of Practical Classics. I still have it here somewhere. I think all 1.8's left the factory with radials. I can't imagine what fun you had with cross ply tyres on a 1.8!

Pont.skins wrote: Fri Sep 22, 2017 9:09 pm It looks like you might be needing another bootlid!

That's one panel sorted then

Morris McKinnon wrote: Fri Sep 22, 2017 10:38 pm Yeah, I remember that issue of Practical Classics. I still have it here somewhere. I think all 1.8's left the factory with radials. I can't imagine what fun you had with cross ply tyres on a 1.8!

It's hard to remember in much detail to be honest. I think it was following road repairs and white lines and riding harshly. Back then, the cars I made the HP payments on were the family cars, since my stepdad couldn't afford one of his own and he'd helped me get rid of my first disaster of a car by trading in his motorbike, along with it, to get a decent Mk3 Cortina, which was, however, his choice. Though for a 17 year old learner it looked great. I then got through a Viva, a sheddy Minivan, Mk1 Escort that got nicked, a clapped out Imp before getting another later Cortina on HP, which subsequently turned out to have accident damage that made me unhappy with it. Then after six months I traded it for the tiny little bit older Marina 1.8 SDL automatic. Whatever they say about Marina road manners, both my stepdad and I felt the Marina was a better car at the time than the previous Cortina. Maybe it was the novelty of having our first automatic, I dunno. I had a Cortina MkV as a classic in the mid 2000s and that didn't ride or steer all that nicely I thought, when I had it, though I suppose it must have been more sophisticated than the Marina's torsion bars and lever arms.

Looks like this one is a no go seller keeps saying he'll get in contact but never does. Just being messed about I think, wouldn't be surprised if the car even exist!

Hard to fathom.

It's his wife (I think) Says she passed my number on to him but that was like six emails ago! The number in the advert doesn't work. Every message is the same "I'll get him to ring you"

Oh that's annoying. While I was never seriously interested in anything, a while back I fell out with the Autotrader website when I was browsing with an intent to change my modern car, and kept coming across some bargain priced cars from private sellers only to find the published mobile number wasn't valid. I deeply suspected a scam. About two years ago I was offered a Mk2 Jag that needed some cosmetic work, friend of a friend, for roughly five grand. It was cheap, and solid, but had failed to sell at a major auction. It wasn't really what I wanted but while tempted, I went on the Car And Classic site to compare notes and found a mint looking 240 with Webasto sun roof and immaculate upholstery and veneer advertised for £6K. When everything else on offer in Mk2 form started around £12K and went upwards. I never investigated because I ruled out the Mk2, but I was seriously perplexed why a mint looking car was so cheap.