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| Morris Marina | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | British Leyland |
| Also called | Austin Marina [1] Leyland Marina (Australia) Morris 1700 [1] Morris 575 |
| Production | 1971–1980 |
| Assembly | United Kingdom: Cowley, Oxford Australia: Zetland New Zealand: Panmure South Africa: Blackheath[2] Malaysia: Shah Alam (AMI)[3] Malta |
| Designer | Roy Haynes, Harris Mann |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Small family car |
| Body style | 4-door saloon 5-door estate car 2-door coupé 2-door coupé utility (pick up)[4] 2-door van |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 96 in (2,438 mm) |
| Length | 166 in (4,216 mm) (4-door) 163 in (4,140 mm) (2-door) 167.5 in (4,254 mm) (estate) |
| Width | 64 in (1,626 mm) |
| Height | 56.125 in (1,426 mm) |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | Morris Minor Morris 1100/1300 Morris Oxford |
| Successor | Morris Ital |
The Morris Marina is a front-engined, rear-wheel-drive small family car that was manufactured by the Austin-Morris division of British Leyland from 1971 until 1980. It served to replace the Morris Minor in the Morris product line, which had first been built in 1948. The Marina was also sold in some markets as the Austin Marina,[6] the Leyland Marina and the Morris 1700.[1]
It was a popular car in Britain throughout its production life, beating its main rival, the Ford Escort, to second place in UK car sales in 1973 and taking third or fourth place (behind the Escort) in other years. The car was exported throughout the world, including North America, and assembled in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Malaysia. A total of 1.2 million were built.
According to various sources, the Marina ranks among the worst cars ever built.[7][8][9]
The 1980 replacement for the Marina, the Ital, was the same car with only mild styling changes. It was only fully replaced by the Austin Montego in 1984.
British Leyland sold the Marina alongside the 1969 Austin Maxi, which shared the same market segment but used front-wheel-drive and had a hatchback body, and the 1973 Austin Allegro, which used front-wheel-drive and more adventurous styling.
- ^ a b c Also known as : Morris Marina, www.aronline.co.uk Retrieved on 1 June 2013
- ^ Around the world : South Africa, www.aronline.co.uk Retrieved on 22 June 2013
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
The Motor Vehicle Industry in Asia books.google.com.mywas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "ClassicCar.co.uk > the number one classic cars site since 1996 + old cars + forum, news, info & events". Archived from the original on 17 June 2013. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
- ^ World Cars 1975. Herald Books.
- ^ Morris Marina/Ital : The Austins, www.aronline.co.uk Retrieved on 22 June 2013
- ^ "VW Beetle is named 'crappest car'". BBC News. 14 September 2004. Retrieved 14 July 2007.
- ^ Wheeler, Brian (7 April 2005). "The politics of building cars". BBC News. Retrieved 14 July 2007.
[T]he cars produced in that era, such as the Austin Allegro and the Morris Marina, are now widely regarded as some of the worst ever built.
- ^ Dowling, Joshua (30 June 2000). "First among the worst". Sydney Morning Herald.
The failed Morris Marina was a close runner-up [to being the worst car ever sold in Australia].