OZ Marina - Marina Panel Van

Morris Marina Panel Van

All the information below is either fact or has been provided by previous owners and/or other helpful car enthusiasts.

As far as we know this is the only Marina Panel Van variant in the country. It is original except for the green paint and wide tyres (rim centres are original and have Mini stud pattern as standard).

MODEL: (7 Cwt) Most basic model

YEAR: 1975

MOTOR: 1098 cc Sprite

GEARBOX: 4 Speed MG

WEIGHT: 1200kg

LOAD CAPACITY: 7 Cwt (approx 350 kg/ 800 lb)

BRAKES: 4 wheel Drum with booster

CARBURATION: Single 1^1/4 SU

COLOUR: British Racing Green/Vanilla Roof

VARIANTS MADE: Sedan /Coupe /Station Wagon (Estate)/Panel Van/Ute (Pick-up)

AUST. VARIANTS: Sedan/Coupe

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Two Panel Vans were imported to Australia to contest Australia Post contract. Obviously, they did not succeed, though they have much more load area than the escort.

Many stories have been told about the two Panel Vans and what happened to them, disappeared out the back door of Leyland never to be seen again, used as mules round the Zetland factory, or crushed up along with all the Force 7s. . None of these are true, the fact is they were sent to New Zealand for sale as they were a model sold there.

This Marina Van as purchased in Nottingham England1975, the original registration plates are on the car for show. Brought to Melbourne a few years later, by the original owner, holes cut in the side for caravan windows and then sold to the second owner (1986) in New South Wales. Here it sat for some years with an uncertain future. Being ferried back and forth to British Auto Parts in the hope of being sold. I purchased the van unseen, and in a sorry state, in 1993. With much heartache and help from my friends and family, here it is (almost finished).

A special thanks must go to my friend Steven Jack for all the time and work he has taken in reinstalling panels where the caravan windows were and the paint job . Not bad for a cabinet maker.
Owner Marinaman

Date: Tue, 23 Dec 2003

: Just read the story of the Marina van in OZ and I can give you or the owner a little more info about the vans in OZ.
: I was a Leyland apprentice from '76-early'80 and spent time in the apprentice training school at Revesby, the factory at Cosgrove Rd, Enfield and Pressed Metal at Marigold St,
: Revesby. During my time at Pressed Metal ('77-'78 near enough) the Marina van was used as a run around for pickups and deliveries, it was registered, but it had been smashed at some stage and was repaired by apprentices at the Leyland Apprentice Training School.
: I can remember it being white and for some silly reason I thought it had a 1500 OHC engine in it.

: The car that caught my eye more was the X6 ute that was also doing time inside the factory.

: Al

Oz Marina 2004

Morris Marina Panel Van

Al's history of the a similar Marina van