Marlin 1800

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It was Paul Moorehouse of Plymouth-based Marlin Engineering who came up with the concept of the first Marlin. He wanted a car to use for reliability trials; something strong, simple and with respectable performance.

He also insisted that the car looked good when not splattered with mud, his first Marlin prototypes emerging in 1974. The project eventually reached the production stage in 1979, these early machines based on Triumph components. As sales grew, an updated version was made available based on the Morris Marina, using its 1,798cc ‘B’ Series engine to good effect.

Reminiscent of a 1750 Alfa of the 1930s, its simple styling worked well, the kit selling in significant numbers. An original brochure accompanying this car, along with several period road tests, show what a well-engineered product it was, a closed coupe called the Berlinetta adding to the number of options available from the factory. In 1992 the rights to the design were sold to Yorkshire Kit Cars, this firm continuing manufacture until 2006.

This smart looking Marlin was first registered on its Q-plate on 1 January 1990. Built to a high standard around a Marina donor car, a string of MOTs on file show that it was actively used until 2004, by which time the odometer was reading 18,680 miles. According to the vendor, it has remained unused for some years, the total recorded mileage now showing 19,442 miles.

A new tyre was fitted in April of this year, the car coming with an extensive history file which includes a full Marlin build book, Marina handbook, various bills and invoices and some Marlin club magazines. Requiring recommissioning after its period of storage, this attractive car looks like it could be put back on the road with relative ease.