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The Roadster was the original car and was based around Triumph Herald components.

The two seat body built of aluminium and glass fibre had a radiator grille slightly similar to pre-war Alfa Romeo sports cars. In 1981 the Morris Marina became the donor car replacing the Triumph and the Marina engine became standard although many customers fitted engines, gearboxes and back axles of their own choice. Fitted with the two-litre inline-six from a late Triumph Vitesse, a top speed of 177 km/h (110 mph) was achievable.

The first production Marlin Roadster chassis was was laid down on 1st July 1979 and the first kit was sold to a Simon Lister for the princely sum of £655 inc VAT.

Unlike many other kit cars of the 1970s and 1980s, which used the (usually rusting) chassis or floor pan of the donor vehicle, the light and nimble Marlin is built around an extremely sturdy box section chassis with an innovative roll-over bar integrated in the windscreen frame.

This chassis was cleverly designed to maximise the use of running gear from any Herald, Vitesse, Spitfire, GT6 or even Bond Equipe – and also catered for the Rotoflex rear suspension from later models of Vitesse and GT6 by virtue of additional drillings in the chassis box sections.

The bodywork is a combination of aluminium for the flat panels, and fibreglass for the moulded sections, including the distinctive radiator cowl, the outer wings, and the rear bodywork.

The early Roadsters used Triumph mechanical components from the Herald, Vitesse, and Spitfire ranges, and are generically known as Mark 1’s. The all Triumph based cars had subtle changes in body and chassis design from the prototypes, and evolved gradually during the production run. Doors were an option on all cars from quite early on and they don’t give an indication of age, as some later cars had none! The last Triumph based kit was produced in June 1983, and of the 236 all Triumph kits produced approximately 160 are known to have been put on the road.

The Roadster was developed into a Marina/Ital based kit, which looked very similar to the earlier cars but used the Morris Marina/Ital as the donor vehicle, and the majority were built from a single donor car using all Marina mechanicals, the engines including the 1275cc A-Series, 1700cc O Type, and 1800cc TC (twin carb) B-Series. However, the Triumph front suspension was always well regarded by engineers (more than could be said for the rear !) so Marlin also built kits using Triumph front suspension and Marina rear axle and suspension, these are known as “Hybrids”.

Over the years, various engines have been used from the original Triumph 4 and 6 cylinder engines, Ford Kent and Pinto and Zetec engines, various Italian twin cams and even the Rover V8.This all made for varied and exciting motoring and Marlins are a particular favourite with the trials brigade. The cars weight distribution and short wheelbase allow it to travel over muddy lanes and rocky tracks better than less advanced designs.