I owned many Itals and Marinas over some 10 plus years. Extremely easy to work on and of course they are sooo versatile for engine swaps. All the mounts are there under the bonnet for 'A', 'B' and 'O' series lumps. Adjust the front height as you like easily too! I fitted em up with turbo diesels from Montego's and by heck they certainly shifted and gave amazing MPG. The bodies are astoundingly stiff too. To make changing engines even easier I used to simply angle grind [cut] the front valence out of the way whilst re-enginning, then MIG it back in when done. I recall having an estate right up in the air on a jack [but only under one side] when I popped the 9" grinder through the entire front valence and nothing went out of shape! The cars are seriously underrated and cost pennies to run. Try one!
Even by British Leylands very low standards this was a shocker. Had an orange estate briefly. I put my hand through the front wing of it while trying to wash it - and it wasn't even that old at the time.
My first set of wheels was a Morris Ital 1.3 van.(a hand me down from my father)I drove it for 7 years and knew every nut and bolt on it inside out! However it was very easy to fix, all that was needed was a vise grip and an adjustable spanner.Insurance for the year was only £170 and at 17 years old that was cheap motoring,now in Morris heaven.
I retract my previous comment - i was 13 years old then and not in tune with my brain! The Ital was a good car for its time, simple British engineering, and it looked modern in the ealy '80's compared to other BL products like the Allegro. And it does ahve some spped, as shown in the TV advert!
My dad used to drive a white 1982 Morris Ital 1.7 with a blue bonnet and boot. It was the only one in town and it was a head turner,-but for all the wrong reasons! It was the family saloon for all of 17 years and he eventually scrapped it in 1999. Much quicker off the mark than the Orion we now own but too Lada-esque in appearance. Brilliant fun to drive though! Steve, Carlow, Ireland.
I bought a 1.3 Ital for just £180 and she has managed several trips between Ayrshire and Liverpool without a hitch. The only ever breakdown occurred when she overheated in rush-hour traffic in Liverpool. Performance could only be described as snail-like and there are no modern electronic gadgets, but the simple mechanicals and rock-bottom price are major attractions.
My first set of wheels was a Morris Ital 1.3 van.(a hand me down from my father)I drove it for 7 years and knew every nut and bolt on it inside out! However it was very easy to fix, all that was needed was a vise grip and an adjustable spanner.Insurance for the year was only £170 and at 17 years old that was cheap motoring,now in Morris heaven.
Jonathan. Co. Meath. Ireland
Never owned
Preloved Visitor
Reviewed January 2004.
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Bought an 82Y Ital 1.7 HL saloon in June 2000 for just £40 and it lasted three years before it was stolen by joyriders and written off in a fatal hit and run. Had it not been for those lunatics then this car would have lasted forever. My dad owns a 2001-Y Ford Focus and it's nowhere near as good as the Ital was.
Owned for 3 years.
Preloved Visitor
Reviewed January 2004.
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Ah ok so the ital was no ferrari or babe magnet. It was a typical bog standard Austin Rover Bag of tripe. BUT if you want no nonsense cheap motoring then you could do far worse than the Ital. Nowhere as good as the Marina but engines were long lasting particularly in 1.7 forms. Itals are very underated and the estate and van variants well worth a look as practical load luggers
Owned for 1 year.
Preloved Visitor
Reviewed September 2003.
Performance
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The Morris Ital was a great car for it's time. You can't beat a rear wheel drive car. I would love to get one and do it up.
Owned for more than 5 years.
Preloved Visitor
Reviewed December 2002.
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The Morris Ital is fantastic reliable classic car.We have owened many Itals and Marinas and have always had good service and use.Overall a great great car.
Owned for 3 years.
Preloved Visitor
Reviewed July 2002.
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I was mates with Mr Humble when he lived in Northampton. I had a 1300 HL in poo brown at the same time as mick did. She was fairly reliable but no girl puller. Now in the car park in the sky!!
Chris Green Northants
Owned for 2 years.
Preloved Visitor
Reviewed May 2002.
Performance
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I owned an 82 1.7 estate which started life as a 1.3. engine and gearbox were swapped, leaving the diff alone. Resulting in a barely 90mph top speed but radical acceleration. the power resulting in a knacked rear axle which was changed for a 1.7 saloon unit. The body work held up and the car was fairly reliable and used only a little oil. the car was scrapped in 1990 due to snapped timing belt and wrecked engine.
mike humble Darlington
Never owned
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