Marlin Roadster

[thanetspeedshop]

I've acquired an old Marlin Roadster (Vitesse based) which is pretty much built, but has never been finished and doesn't have registration.

Having looked into the whole SVA question I'm pretty sure that I couldn't be arsed to do that. It appeals to me not one iota to go jumping through hoops on minimum radii and fastener heads and all the stuff not related to driving pleasure. However it does strike me that the car could make quite a fun hillclimb/sprinter.

My question is would it be sacrilege to chop about what is a fairly original Marlin (cut off bumpers, screen surround, wings and running boards, sell lights and SVA boots) thus ensuring that it would never go on the road, just to build a track toy?

Are these cars sought after?

Are people not really all that precious about them?

Just wondered what y'all think...

[Sam_68]

It won't be a competitive hillclimber/sprinter, you realise?

They're not particularly precious or anything, but there are ways to avoid the IVA for a few hundred quid, if that's all that's bothering you.

[thanetspeedshop]

... reckon it'll be competitive enough; just got to get over the rear-end fear factor.

Sam_68 said:

They're not particularly precious or anything, but there are ways to avoid the IVA for a few hundred quid, if that's all that's bothering you.

Perhaps you might like to pm me Sam?

[Sam_68]

No need for a PM...

There are enough legally registered, pre-SVA/IVA Marlins around in a completely shed-like condition :ahem: in need of a full rebuild that you shouldn't have to pay more than a few hundred quid for a suitable car.

[singlecoil]

thanetspeedshop said:

My question is would it be sacrilege to chop about what is a fairly original Marlin (cut off bumpers, screen surround, wings and running boards, sell lights and SVA boots) thus ensuring that it would never go on the road, just to build a track toy?

The screen surround provides the rollover protection on Marlins. I don't know how effective is, though.

The Vitesse engine was good in its day, but you really could do a lot better.

[MKnight702]

I bought an unfinished Roadster and put it through the SVA, mine was a V8 though! It took me 3 goes (should have been 2 but don't ask). Some rethinking was required, door catches etc but provided you look into the test first there shouldn't be anything that is impossible. The biggest problem for me was sourcing all the right bits for a kit that was produced in 1989, many days were spent happily sorting through the scrapyard for that part that would fit

[thescamper]

MKnight702 said:

through the SVA,

yes but we are now onto IVA which is a completely different beast.

[listerjp2]

MKnight702 said:

I bought an unfinished Roadster and put it through the SVA, mine was a V8 though! It took me 3 goes (should have been 2 but don't ask). Some rethinking was required, door catches etc but provided you look into the test first there shouldn't be anything that is impossible. The biggest problem for me was sourcing all the right bits for a kit that was produced in 1989, many days were spent happily sorting through the scrapyard for that part that would fit

Hiya

You say that you got a Roadster through SVA, do you have details of what you did to do that?