Oh dear, what on earth have I done?

It's a long and boring story that i won't trouble you with, but............................... I've been gifted a 1981 Morris Ital 1.3HL

I know you're all thinking "I wouldn't have one as a gift" but hey, why not? many moons ago I had a 1.7 Ital I've olso had a 1.3 Marina and a Marina van, I even passed my test in a Marina so I'm kinda cursed with them.

Good bits
Mechanically sound
Interior, Doors, Boot lid, Bonnet, Floors, Boot floor, inner and outer sills

Bad bits
N/S/R wheel arch, front wing, rear valence

Really bad bits
O/S/R wheel arch and front inner and outer wings, front valence

So not too catastrophic, it starts and runs very well, it just doesn't drive due to the clutch slave cylinder being siezed. I've got one on the way so as soon as it's fitted and bled I'm taking it up the road to put on a ramp to make sure there's nothing horrendous going on underneath with the spring hangers, torsion bar mounts etc. It looks good and is caked in underseal but it needs a proper inspection before doing anything else.

All being good I'll get cracking over the winter, please be kind - I do not need to see the clip of Top Gear dropping a piano on one.

 

It could have been worse.....I could have been gifted it!

 

I had a 1.7 ital auto,
as a second car
Tbh it was no trouble

 

At least it's a reasonable colour

 

I knew I could rely on you to like it Alex

 

Could you gift it to someone else?

 

My dad when I was a kid had 2 Marina’s and yes one was brown then he moved onto a Ital estate it’s only now I can talk about it.

 

I'd drop a piano on it, personally.

 

Mad woman.

 

I take it you got somewhere preferably dry and warm to get cracking in?

Either way that's still a shed load of work to get through before it starts to get anywhere near on the road. If it's already recorded as Historic it's a free hit as a running restoration with no Tax or MOT grief.

If not, then I see a lot of pain to get it through another MOT to then get the Historic free hit.

 

I have had 2 Marinas - each one got us to the South of France and back without breaking down - but there were signs of rust back then even when they were less than 10 years old.
The rust on the inner front wing looks expensive and the rotten rear wing looks as though it goes into the sill too - but good luck trying to save it.

 

Did it come with the optional tartan Thermos flask to go on the dash?

 

My 10 year old Marina back in 1985 was a rust bucket with a massive oil dripping and burning habit. ..

 

That's gorgeous

Nah not really. Wrap it for Xmas and give it away.

 

Mad bird!