“A Good Idea That Wouldn’t Die”

The following is quoted verbatim from a press release issued by the Marshall Car Company Australia Pty Ltd in April, 1986:
“Following successful safety design testing in California, and outback durability testing near Alice Springs, a final prototype of Australia’s classic sports car project, the TD Sports 2000, has been unveiled. The successful testing points to an on-sale target within the next few months according to the Projects (sic) Chief Executive officer, Mr Ross Marshall

According to Mr Marshall the TD Sports 2000 car has hurdled the time-consuming and demanding final stages of safety and durability testing with ease. ‘Independent test engineers have been astounded by the lack of modifications required for the final prototype models to allow their compliance with safety and durability needs, ‘Mr Marshall said the TD Sports 2000 cars will be sold in Australia through a selected Nissan dealer network of some 70 organisation whose first six months order requirement already exceeds 2000 units. Mr Marshall said the terms of contracts with manufacturers call for the supply of engines and components to allow series production of more than 12,000 vehicles in the first year. More than 3000 of these will be produced for the Australian and South-East Asian market including Japan with the balance of approximately 9000 for export to the USA, UK and EEC markets.

Car Australia, December 1988, by Bill Tuckey