Spammers ....

The 120why is now rego'd & on the road.
That will reduce some of the mileage I've been raking up on the tear drop.

coolness!

I thought I'd throw my 10c worth (used to be 2c but inflation...) into this epic post.

Yeah the Marina wasn't an altogether unattractive car, however the Aussie version came with a bulging grill to fit the 6 cylinder + radiator behind it (not just one or the other...).

Then, there was the problem of the coupe, that had a good shape but was built by a company that didn't have enough money to make new doors.... so it had short doors leaving a space that could have easily accommodated rear doors, making a 5-door hatch a definite possibility and a pioneering body-style for the time.

That may have gone some way to offsetting the 1940's Morris Minor front suspension, but as they didn't make a 5-door, it did not.

Best of all, the Aussies then shoe-horned that great big, heavy, P76 6-cylinder into it with a 3-speed manual. Result - scorching 15 second quarter mile times (remember, this was the mid 1970s) with no ability to take a corner faster than about 2mph.

My mate here at work has got a Morris Marina TC coupe that's been under resto since about 1974; it's probably the better of the variants as it has a lighter motor in it than the six (1700cc, I think, with twin carbs; hence TC), however this doesn't mean it can turn any better. Oh it probably can; about 4mph around a corner would be the tops tho.

A bit like the P76, which was designed by Michelotti, I think, then ruined by idiots, the Marina had a few ingredients that could have made it a great car amongst its peers, however due to budget issues, poor decisions and general idiocracy, it was a poo barge that is hated by all (except Stickman... and even he sold his).

I am constantly amazed at how many Belletts have gone to God over the last 40 years, yet the Marina, which SHOULD be loved by the exceptionally strong BMC and/or British auto enthusiast fraternity is now just as rare....

End transmission.

Good summary there Dave
There is one way to double the value of a Marina in about 5 minutes - remove the BL badges!!

Funny, I done my NSW RTA road licence in a 120Y Coupe!

i'd go the datto every time(i almost bought one a few years ago with a z18 turbo on straight lpg went like buggery and because datsun(like toyota) make things easy to swap it had skyline brakes front and rear so it stopped as well
full cage and big wheels,...then i got offer my race car so guess what i bought......a bmw!!!!! and my race car