E30 based Marlin Sportster for Sale

[greatoldone]

I am unfortunately offering my Sportster (Vikki) for sale due to ill health.
VikkiA45 by GOO_GreatOldOne, on Flickr

She's an E30 based car. Less than 2K miles since being put on the road. Won MOC best Sportster and Best in Show three years on the trot (2012 – 2014)
1797395_10152025287816507_7362179175433051441_n by GOO_GreatOldOne, on Flickr
2013_BIS_BS_2_small by GOO_GreatOldOne, on Flickr
IMG_0431 by GOO_GreatOldOne, on Flickr

Finished in Jaguar ‘Black Cherry’ paint with classic red / black cockpit. Custom seats with headrests and dashboard trimmed to match. Willans 3 point harnesses. Mahogany door caps and dash surround, Moto Lita wooden steering wheel.
IMG_0021 by GOO_GreatOldOne, on Flickr
IMG_0016
IMG_0023 by GOO_GreatOldOne, on Flickr


Starter button ignition on centre console. Custom Marlin engraved door sills. Access panel to ‘boot’ storage area behind seats.
newcentreconsole by GOO_GreatOldOne, on Flickr

Bluetooth enabled intercom system with two Peltor headsets (listen to the radio / music from your phone as you blast down the road!). Full ETB Instruments clock set (Speedo, Tach, Oil Pressure, Water Temp, Fuel, Volts)
IMG_0354 by GOO_GreatOldOne, on Flickr

Stainless steel headlights and driving lights with stone guards, cycle wing mounted indicators. High level stop lights on roll over hoop.

Fuel Injected 2.5 Litre Straight 6 (BMW M20B25). Fully rebuilt, new bearings, oil seals, gaskets etc. Uprated ECU from later BMW e30 Model. Thermostatic Facet cooling fan. Custom aluminium header tank with sight glass, matching washer bottle from same tank fabricator. New alternator and starter recently finished
IMG_0024 by GOO_GreatOldOne, on Flickr

Chromed dual brake booster for extra stopping power, EBC pads on all calipers (disks on all 4 wheels)
servo1 by GOO_GreatOldOne, on Flickr

Full BMW running gear – 5 speed manual Getrag box, Limited slip diff.

Marlin supplied full stainless steel side pipe exhaust system

Image Wheels D.B.W 16” multispoke alloys with spinner detail, with 205/50/16 Dunlop tyres (including spare)

Detachable luggage rack with leather belts, Aston style fuel filler.
IMG_2041 by GOO_GreatOldOne, on Flickr
IMG_2042 by GOO_GreatOldOne, on Flickr

Asking £12,000 (Private dateless number plate excluded from sale)

[greatoldone]

Also advertised at Car and Classic: https://www.carandclassic.com/l/C1789880

[greatoldone]

I will consider serious, sensible offers. I will not entertain silly low-ball figures, and I'm in no rush to sell - so don't be offended if I say no.

[greatoldone]

Just back from getting her tested, so she has a full 12 month MOT (runs until 4th Nov 2025)

[greatoldone]

I’ve now got the new V5 with her new number on it. For some reason the chaps at Swansea have issued her with ‘D183 GDL’ - no idea why, as the donor and her originally issued reg where both C plates.

[greatoldone]

[greatoldone]

She’s up for auction now:

https://www.carandclassic.com/auctions/1986-marlin-sportster-4XjKbg

No offers outside the auction site.

[martinclan56]

Hopefully will go to someone that appreciates the workmanship that went into her.

[greatoldone]

Thanks for the kind words, Robin. Here’s hoping.

[greatoldone]

Auction commences at 10:00am tomorrow (07/01/2025).

[greatoldone]

Well, she’s been up on the block for less than a day and she’s met her reserve.

[billjackson54]

A beautiful car, and a true credit to its builder and heartening to see the Reserve met so quickly. However, there's a salutary lesson in the Auction blurb as some of the model's pedigree seems wildly awry with my understanding. The Sportster styling was deliberately related to earlier Marlins in order to retain a "family resemblance", but the Sportster was designed and the kit marketed by the Matthews partnership of Terry and Mark, surely ? The earliest cars were Ford based (Sierra or Granada / Scorpio) and later the kit was redeveloped for BMW 3 series mechanicals....still by Terry and Mark? I'm willing to bow to someone else's greater knowledge if I'm incorrect, but if not, it just goes to show how careful one must be with one's research when buying a car at Auction....the Auctioneer, it seems, may not be entirely accurate in the description so all things need to be fact checked!

[greatoldone]

Yes - at first they thought it was roadster (even though I told them it was a sportster), so I think that a lot of the blurb was related to that. I pointed out again that it was a sportster and I think they just did a search / replace on the article. You’re right the first sportsters where ford based. My kit came with a ford ‘build manual’ even though it was a bmw chassis. I need to contact them to amend. That said, it’s not misrepresenting the actual car.

[edit] I’ve added a clarification in the comments section of the listing.