Morris Ital (ADO28). 1980–4 (prod. n/a). 4-door saloon, 5-door estate. F/R, 1275 cm³ (I4 OHV), 1700, 1994 cm³ (I4 OHC). A horrid car in its last appearance before meeting the Grim Reaper. The Morris Marina facelift of 1980 was not designed by ItalDesign, which only handled the productionization; this was a British effort headed by Harris Mann on a shoestring budget of £5 million. However, the car was named after Ital—probably to founder Giugiaro’s horror. No new front wings—Mann found a way to give the car a sloping grille for the 1980s. Rear end more upright. Underneath, a simple car with a live rear axle. At least they were cheap, and sold on that basis. Two-litre one step better than Marina, but it was a rough unit; the 1·3 A-series engine, dating back to the 1950s, was underpowered. Small number of Itals left Longbridge in 1984.

Manufacturing location: Cowley, Oxfordshire, England; Longbridge, Birmingham, England

Marque: Morris | Predecessor: Morris Marina | Successor: Austin Montego Mk I

Off-site links

• Austin Rover Online: Morris Marina/Ital development story