Marina: 50 years young

52-car half-century celebration joined by Harris

The Morris Marina Owners’ Club and Ital Register put on an impressive display of 52 cars at the British Motor Museum to celebrate five decades of the iconic Morris. It followed a road run that visited the Oxford Cowley plant, where the cars were built, and an evening celebration. Club Chairman, Chris Weedon, told PC: ‘We beat our ‘Marina 50 – 50 cars for 50 years’ target, with a total of 52 cars displayed.’

Judging the cars was tougher than ever though. ‘The quality of the cars improves every year, with some members spending lockdown time on restoration and maintenance. It was really difficult to separate the best cars in each category. Overall we had a brilliant time, though, and must thank the British Motor Museum for providing a great show of BL cars. We are already looking forward next year.’ The prizes at the event were given out by Harris Mann, who worked with Roy Haynes on the original design and who later styled the Ital.

Practical Classics editor, Danny Hopkins, also attended the event, but without his own Marina Coupe (find out why on). He was impressed with the turnout for a very special reason: ‘The Marina Club has a phenomenal number of young members. I would say the average age is mid-forties, which tells me it is in rude health and has got its social set up spot on.’

Ex-PC project Marina ‘Generally’ was at the Gaydon event. Team Marina with Harris Mann far right.