The Morris Marina cars were hurriedly developed following the formation in 1968 of British Leyland, created by the merger of the Leyland Motor Corporation (which by then included Standard-Triumph and Rover) and British Motor Holdings (formed by the merger of BMC and Jaguar/Daimler in 1966). Design input came from Roy Haynes and then Harris Mann as well as Harry Webster.
The new British Leyland management urgently needed a car to challenge the Ford Escort and Cortina in the fleet market and to replace the Morris Minor and Oxford ranges, both of which were now totally outclassed. Yes, there was a full range of BMC/BL front wheel drive cars, but many fleet buyers considered these too high-tech and preferred conventional rear wheel drive simplicity.
The Marina was sized between the Minor and the Oxford, produced as a two-door fastback Coupé or four-door Saloon, with a choice of
