A Morris Marina was the nightmare of the then British Leyland and Austin Rover dealer. Decades later, opinions are divided. There is actually nothing wrong with a Morris Marina? A bit of old-fashioned wheel suspension perhaps? In its heyday, British Leyland's Crayford firm was commissioned to cut off the roof of such a Marina and turn it into a convertible.
The prototype was ready in 1973. After Crayford had received the green light from BL, it turned out that they were too busy to produce. In addition, it also seems that it would have been that British Leyland refused to Crayford knockdown to supply bodywork. One would get complete Marina's that had to be demolished in order to realize the conversion. The first prototype still exists. However, two prototypes seem to have been built, the second was used as a study object. British Leyland then turned to the firm of William Mumford from Plymouth, a body builder who was commissioned to take on production and that is why such a thing is actually called a Morris Marina Mumford Convertible. The Mk2 version, however, was built from 1976 onwards at TorCars in Torrington, a company that had a 'connection' with Mumford. Numbers have not been kept, but those who know can speak of at least seventy copies. Strangely enough, the British Morris Marina Club spokesperson told us, thirty-one copies are still alive. The only good driving, fully restored, you see in the photo. An 1800TC where the letters stand for Twin Carburettor (and not Twin Cam which would mean that two overhead camshafts have been mounted). Two SU carburetors, just like with the MG MGB. If you take a good look at the picture, it will not surprise you that only seventy copies have been built. Because Crayford built the first prototype, one continues to call such a car a Morris Marina Crayford Convertible ...