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Presenting my Marlin Berlinetta Pages

These pages are dedicated to the Marlin Berlinetta Kit-Car, in particular the Berlinetta that I own. The builder and original owner of my car is credited to my Father who started the project in May 1990. The vehicle was on the road by August 1991. It was driven daily until September 1993, where it was placed into storage until Jan 2000. This is where I step into the picture and gain ownership of this lovely car and I have been modifing, maintaining and driving it ever since.
You will find here odd bits and pieces of information regarding my Berlinetta and Berlinetta' in general. Some of the scriptures are from the manual and log book my father compiled for his build, some words are mine and some stem from other sources of information and due credit is given where possible.

My Marlin Berlinaetta

The Marlin Berlinetta Background

The Berlinetta was designed by Paul Moorhouse, a engineer who served his apprenticeship at Rolls Royce Derby.

The Berlinetta was designed in response to increased demands for sporting kit cars for the family man. It's not just a stretched version of the top selling Marlin 2 seater Roadster, although it does retain the same successful design recipe. The changes concerned size, application and donor mechanics. The mechanics are based on the Ford Cortina MK 3, 4 or 5. Later models are based on the early Ford Sierra mechanics. Engine wise, the 1600 and 2 litre SOHC (Ford Pinto) units are most popular, but can go down to a 1300 crossflow or up to a V6 or even a Rover V8.

The Berlinetta is nearly 700lbs (300kg) lighter than it's donor and has its centre of gravity lower and much nearer to the chassis mid point. This results in acceleration more in the BMW class, lighter, more precise steering, improved traction in the wet and smaller angles of body roll.

The basis of the car is an immensely strong chassis, made from 80 x 80 x 3 mm box section steel. HE30, a tough aluminum alloy is used in the construction of the windscreen frame come rollover bar. The door skins are formed from 2mm aluminum sheet and argon welded to the window frames. The engine compartment is covered by a louvered bonnet made in 16 gauge aluminum. Aluminum is also used to make the front bulkhead, front inner wheel arches and transmission tunnel. The remainder of the panels (front radiator surround, foot boards, wheel arches and boot moldings) are laminated in GRP. A soft-top or a removable GRP hardtop can be fitted and interchanged if desired.