Greetings from Plymouth

[keltonturvey]

Hello all,

I'm a new member down in Plymouth, Devon - the home of the Marlin. I've been looking for my first Marlin car for a while now.

I'm off to view this one tomorrow morning and wondered if it was known to anyone on here?

IMG_1491.jpg

It's got an distinctive hole in the front cowl that I've not seen on any other car.

Any info or advice gratefully received.

Kelton

[davidmartin720]

Re: Greetings from Plymouth

My Triumph Herald based Roadster had a "Dummy Radiator Cap" fitted by Derek Giles when he built the car back in 1981. Picture hopefully attached. David.

[dcunn]

Re: Greetings from Plymouth

Hi Kelton
The only archive pictures we have are these, no hole in front cowl top(presumably cut to enable a radiator top up) and also no anti roll bar !

I don't know the date of the (ebay sale) pictures, they're probably a few years old, two appear taken at the same place and the third has the exhaust on the other side ! I believe the car now has a twin carb 2 litre Ford Pinto engine

The chassis number quoted for the car is obviously a made up VIN number, but if you could try to get the Marlin kit number(see pic for where to look) I can check the archive for you. Good Luck with the viewing, and any current pics would be appreciated for the archive

Rgds DC

[keltonturvey]

Re: Greetings from Plymouth

Thanks for the replies. Kit number 2690. Pics to follow.

[HairyDave]

Re: Greetings from Plymouth

Good luck. I love the bonnet top louvres, are they punched in or grafted in ?

[keltonturvey]

Re: Greetings from Plymouth

Once the mist cleared this morning it was a lovely day to drive down and view the car.

Here are a few pics.

car 2.JPG

Nice looking car.

car.JPG

Trials rear end.

exhaust.JPG

No room for a proper air filter without a bonnet cut out.

carb.JPG

K&N Super flow!

carb 2.JPG

Battery box.

battery.JPG

Pedals.

pedals.JPG

[HairyDave]

Re: Greetings from Plymouth

Might it have had a recent respray? Run it and enjoy it for the Summer while planning improvements for the winter. Would this be the Roadster in Pitstop?

[keltonturvey]

Re: Greetings from Plymouth

Yes, this is the Roadster from Pitstop. I can think of a few of winter projects that need doing!

The lack of MOT and the asking price are currently putting me off. Going to sleep on it...

[HairyDave]

Re: Greetings from Plymouth

I hadn't noticed the price. A bit on the high side methinks for a pretty trials car. As a matter of interest does it have the van diff? Lots of low down power and not a lot of top speed. An MOT to make sure it is not a pretty money pit. Good luck sleep well!

[dcunn]

Re: Greetings from Plymouth

Thanks Kelton, chassis number noted

Should you buy the car I will send you a little detail on the first two owners

Rgds DC

[bryannewell]

Re: Greetings from Plymouth

Looking at the Rack on the back it either was or was being set up as a Trials Car, may want to check the Rear Diff as a lot of Trials cars had the Marina Van Diff fitted which may not be great for touring

[keltonturvey]

Re: Greetings from Plymouth

Good point about the diff. I was told the axel is from an MGB?

It’s got a type 9 gearbox but without an MOT it wasn’t possible to get up any kind of speed to see how tall/sort the gearing is.

[davidmartin720]

Re: Greetings from Plymouth

As far as I can remember the front louvres looked as though they had been punched in, but the rear louvres were a plate rivetted in. David.