Morris Marina

Morris Marina
Morris Marina
Overview
Manufacturer	British Leyland
Also called	Austin Marina (South Africa and North America) ; Leyland Marina (Australia) ; Morris 1700 (New Zealand) ; Morris 575 (New Zealand)
Production	1971–1980
Assembly	United Kingdom: Cowley, Oxford (Cowley plant); Australia: Zetland (Leyland Australia); New Zealand: Panmure (NZMC); South Africa: Blackheath (Leykor); Malaysia: Shah Alam (AMI); Malta: Marsa (Malta Car Assembly);
Designer	Roy Haynes, Harris Mann
Body and chassis
Class	Small family car
Body style	4-door saloon; 5-door estate car; 3-door coupé; 2-door coupé utility (pick up); 2-door van
Powertrain
Engine	1.3 L A-Series I4; 1.5 L E-Series I4 (Australia); 1.7 L O-Series I4 (1978–1980); 1.75 L E-Series I4 (Australia); 1.8 L B-Series I4 (1971–1978); 2.6 L E-Series I6 (Australia/South Africa); 1.5 L B-Series diesel I4;
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 Farina
Successor	Morris Ital

The Morris Marina is a small family car that was manufactured by the Austin-Morris division of British Leyland (BL) 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, the Leyland Marina and the Morris 1700. It has a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout and was produced with saloon car, estate car, coupé, pickup truck, and van body styles.

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.

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.