FIND OF THE YEAR
Earliest existing Marina discovered and rescued from a shed in Dorset
The oldest known surviving Morris Marina has been discovered in a partially collapsed garage. After word of the 1971 coupé spread on social media, 24-year-old Marina enthusiast Josh Ward located the car in Dorset. He wrote to the address and received a response a few days later: ‘The chap’s brother had died, so he was dealing with the house sale and told me I was welcome to come and take the car away.’
The car, VRU 362J, was built in January 1971 (production had begun in December 1970). Chassis numbers began at 101, with the first main batches all being Bedouin 1.3 Deluxe Coupes. The previous known oldest survivor had chassis number 1498, but Josh’s car is number 343, from a batch built between press cars.
With just 50,000 miles on the clock, the Marina was laid up in 1979. ‘It had been bought by the siblings’ father in 1971 from Henlys of Bournemouth, where it was a demonstrator,’ Josh told PC.
As the archivist at the Marina Owners Club, Josh has owned 13 of them in the six years he’s been driving. ‘Within hours of getting it home the Marina Owners Club President got in touch to say restoration was vital, considering the car’s history. I have set about selling my record collection and two other cars, which should realise the cash needed to do it.’
‘Restoration is vital says Marina Owners Club President’