ITAL 1980 - 1984
By the start of the new decade, things were looking up for BL. The Austin MiniMetro was launched to critical acclaim and the Austin Princess was being revamped into what it should have been, a large hatchback called the Ambassador. Morris was staggering along with the Marina Mk3 which was now looking long in the tooth. Within a few years, BL had two new cars planned to come on line, the Maestro and the Montego, but until then there was no way the Marina could carry on as it was. Designer Harris Mann was drafted in to restyle the Marina into a sharp 'new' car and Italian design house ITAL Design was bought in to productionise the changes which could carry the company forward until the Montego hit full production. In many ways, the ITAL is what the Marina should have been years before, but even though it looked the part and had upgraded suspension and soundproofing, the ITAL was being outclassed and the press were not impressed at its launch. The lack of a five-speed gearbox hampered the car as a motorway cruiser where the new aerodynamics would have been of assistance.
		Morris ITAL saloon
Chronology July 1980: ITAL range introduced with revisions to the bodyshell and a higher equipment spec and trim level. Two engine sizes available, 1.3 OHV'A+' series engine and 1.7 OHC 'O' series engine. The automatic transmission was only available on the 1.7 engined HL or HLS spec car in saloon and estate versions. The coupe had been dropped at the end of Mk3 production. October 1980: Range-topping 2.0 HLS saloon and estate introduced, with auto transmission only and powered by a 1993cc version of the 'O' series, giving 100Bhp. ITAL range now comprises: 1.3 L, HL, HLS saloon 1.3 L estate 1.7 L, HL, HLS saloon 1.7 L, HL, HLS estate 2.0 HLS saloon and estate November 1981: Upgrades to trim and specifications on HL and HLS models, with minor external trim changes June 1982: The van and pick-up range finally join the ITAL range known as the ITAL 440/575 (van) and ITAL 575 (pick-up). All have the later revised interior trim, 'A+' engines and improved soundproofing. September 1982: With Cowley being cleared for production of the Maestro and Montego, the ITAL was moved to Longbridge and became, effectively, the Mk2 ITAL. All L and 2.0litre models were dropped and the HL and HLS replaced by SL and SLX models. Front suspension was finally changed to telescopic front dampers across the range and parabolic rear springs with additional soundproofing and improved trim. The range comprised of 1.3 SL and SLX saloon 1.3 SL estate 1.7 SLX saloon 1.7 SL and SLX estate These models ran until the end of Morris production in 1984. Production Figures 1980: 51,274 1981: 54,970 1982: 33,572 1983: 26,753 1984: 08, 707 (End of all Morris production apart from a few Metro vans badged as Morris)		Mk1 ITAL HLS saloon Mk2 ITAL saloon