Marlin Engineering Kit Numbers

Triumph based Roadsters : Kit number sequence from 1001 (Sep 1979), with the last one being 1285 (Jul 83). The number, together with the kit build date, was normally stamped as in this diagram and picture.

 

 

 

 

Some early cars have been found stamped in different places, for example on the bonnet support.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Towards the end of the Triumph based build run, some of the last kits were stamped in a similar way and place as the Marina based ones.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marina based Roadsters : Kit production started and ran concurrently with the later Triumph kits. After a few prototype kits (2001/4/5/6) their numbers started at 2151 (Aug1981) up to 2999 (May 86). Early cars were stamped as the Triumph based, with the date as well, but in different places on the car. Note that there were some irregular gaps in the series.

 

Over time, the accepted “standard” stamping for Marina based was on a small plate on the front left chassis rail, as here

 

 

 

 

Marina based Roadster kit numbers continued from 21000 (May 86) and ran up to 21672 ( Mar 92), and once again with indeterminate gaps within the series. During this series the factory seems (sometimes) to have put a dash into the sequence, as “2-1234” 

Some of the last Marlin made Marina based kits were produced and sold under the YKC name.

Hybrid cars (Triumph front, Marina rear) : These have “TM” or “TM+” in addition to any letters mentioned below.  Here are pics of two differently stamped Hybrids.

So if you have a Marina based kit, with a four digit number starting with a “2” it is an earlier one, a kit with a five digit number starting with a “2” is a mid to late kit.

However, as in all things Marlin the rules do not always apply – a later kit may be marked as (for example) 2-1350 or even just as 1350 !

Additionally “suffix” stamps were sometimes applied   :

M    Short wheel base     M+    Long wheel base  (sometimes stamped MM)

O    O type engine (from the Ital donor) 

For example, the full stamp could read     2-1234 TM   or    2-1350 M+ O                  

YKC later produced Roadster kits themselves, starting from kit number 20-1000, and continuing up to at least 20-1134, the later kits being Sierra based. Once again there are anomalies in stamping, as in these pictures

YKC Sierra based Roadsters are as below, and often also have this plate  :

Berlinetta chassis (kit) numbers are in the same sequence as the Marina Roadsters, the cars being built alongside each other, the Berlis being 3- instead of 2- numbers and usually (most times?  sometimes?) also having  -B on the end.

 The small plate will be located on the engine bulkhead as shown, note that it could be either side.

A good and simple system – – – however there are a large number of duplicated 2 series and 3 series cars in existence, for example

2379 is a Roadster, and 3379 is a Berli  ;  2-1407 a Roadster and 3-1407 a Berli

The last known Marlin built Berlinetta kit was 3-1671-B.

 

YKC (May 1992-Oct 1993) built some Berlinetta kits which were given unused earlier numbers in the 3-393 to 3-408 range.

 

DC July 2024