My excuses for the blurry and not well-defined photos, but these are all that were available in a Salvadorian FB Marketplace ad. But when will we ever come across another Marina in the open, outside the UK, not belonging to a British iron collector? I didn’t even know these came to Central America at all. And here’s one, apparently still providing –limited– service somewhere in the Salvadorian countryside.
As told in the ad, the car is a ’73, still running but selling due to ‘little use.’ No mention of the car’s mileage, mechanical updates, etc. Could it still be running on its original hardware? Or has it been swapped with later Datsun components, as is often common around here? I mean whatever presence BL had in this region ceased to be back in the Carter era.
Well, like a good Salvadorian beater, it does have its rare and perplexing add-ons. I’ll grant the poor paint and uneven panels may be somewhat close to factory spec, but you know what I mean. Flimsy spoilers are de rigueur around here as well as the poorly sprayed-on trim, so no points for originality there. But the weird fins above the rear windows are just weird. And well, the ‘This side up’ arrows over the tail lights, what’s that all about? One would wonder, what kind of mechanics has this owner dealt with before? Were they that dim-witted?
All that said, the body looks… pretty decent. Considering.
The Marketplace ad did show an approximate location for the car. Rosario de Mora, a small town in a mountainous range not far from San Salvador. A region, that according to local archeologists served as a hiding area for the natives during the Spanish conquest. I could see the logic, particularly before the advent of paved roads. It’s very rugged terrain, covered in narrow canyons and cliffs. A hideout is easy to imagine.
Still, being a small town with few streets, I took an afternoon to drive around and see if I could spot the Marina, but no luck. The car is either on a minor dirt road near that town (quite likely), or the Marketplace location is way off (very likely). So, for the time being, this Marina will remain in the wild.
(Do you really want to see the ad? If you must, it’s here.)
Related CC reading:
Carshow Classic: 1973 Morris Marina Coupe 1.8TC – A BLMC Deadly Sin
Given the front grille, if original that should have the 1800 B series engine in it. Looks to be less rust on that one than my friend’s 1975 example had in 1980.
I’d always read that the Marina was bad…really bad, even by English car standards.
If correct, then seeing one still being operable is a rarity, indeed, wherever it was found.
It’s not that they were particularly unreliable or anything (at least not by the standards of the time), it’s just that they were… dismal. Ugly, sluggish, poor-handling and unsatisfying to drive.
I remember that looking through the classifieds for cheap cars, there were always a bunch of Marinas at giveaway prices – they would always be pretty much the last choice of second-hand car, and only for the truly desperate.
Points for surviving
Basically a reskinned Morris Minor designed to compete with the Ford Cortina whilst a more modern competitor was developed. Unfortunately, Ford shifted the goalposts with the larger Mk111 Cortina and the Allegro came out. So this poor thing soldiered on until 1984.
Generally considered to be crap cars but good survivors keep appearing over here usually little old lady bought it new and never sold, the 1800 versions went ok but didnt steer at all at speed.
There’s a story [ possibly apocryphal] of a Marina that emerged from the factory with a drum brake on one side at the front and a disc brake on the other.
I’m reliably advised that that is true, though I don’t know how many.
Also, a Rover 2600 delivered to a customer with no (working) reverse gear
Emm… Well the Ford dealership I worked at had a Sierra come into the work shop with a crunching noise from the front wheels.No hub bearing fitted…..
Some one didn’t read the build sheet on the Bedford C.F. Line at Luton … Red van with one side all side sprayed white and blue…British Gas colors….
For the avoidance doubt, El Salvador is welcome to keep this.
Ouch ~ so much hate .
Never forget : “there’s an ass for every seat” .
Someone may have loved this thing once upon a time .
I’d be keen to see what’s under the bonnet .
-Nate
Apparently sold quite well in Ecuador so this car could have been driven from there… There is a post from Ecuador on the net. A blue 1.8 Super with out power brakes and a heater..