Austin
Herbert Austin’s company was a dominant player in the UK car industry, cemented by brilliant products such as the Seven, the Mini and the Metro. Was a major component of the British Motor Corporation and British Leyland, but was muscled out in the Rover-era by its chairman Graham Day.
Video : MG Metro 6R4
Keith Adams It’s funny how more than 25-years on from its short but sweet career in front-line rallying, the MG Metro 6R4 is still venerated by anyone who’s been near one. With explosive acceleration, a V6 soundtrack and truly unmistakable Group B looks, how could anyone be unmoved? Sadly, Group B was cut short for [...]
January 7, 2012
· 
Keith Adams · 
42 Comments
News : Classic Black cab – hail one while you can!
Andrew Elphick This year might be you last chance to hail a FX4 – so flag one down while you still can! Transport for London’s new 2012 air quality strategy (launched as an integral part of the Low Emission Zone – LEZ – initiatives), infers all traditional ‘Hackney carriage’ taxis will be subject to a [...]
January 4, 2012
· Keith Adams · 45 Comments
Unsung Heroes : Austin Maestro 1.3
Anyone who knows Keith Adams might be a little surprised at this choice of Unsung Hero, especially considering the chequered history he has with A-Series Maestros. But despite the dramas, there’s no doubting that Spen King’s post-Allegro Volkswagen Golf remix was far more worthy than the sum of its parts. The unfulfilled symphony If we [...]
December 11, 2011
· Keith Adams · 76 Comments
Unsung Heroes: Montego Turbo Diesel
Mike Humble takes a sideways look at one of the sheds that littered the highways and by-ways of the UK. The Montego might have been a little tired by 1989, but the addition of a turbodiesel breathed new life into it. And for Mike Humble, that record breaking economy and unburstability should be celebrated. New [...]
December 1, 2011
· Mike Humble · 84 Comments
Video : MG Maestro Rallysprint 1983
Keith Adams The Austin Rover Rallysprint was a legendary annual motor sport event that ran throughout the early 1980s, and saw rally drivers pitched against their F1 counterparts to see which discipline bred the best drivers. In 1983, an all-star grid was assembled that included Nigel Mansell, Jimmy McRae, John Watson, Pentti Arikkala, Derek Warwick, [...]
October 24, 2011
· Keith Adams · 12 Comments
History : Evolution of the AR logo
Ever wondered how Austin Rover ended up with its iconic green and blue chevrons? Thanks to Declan Berridge, here’s full story. Enjoy! Branded history Further to recent discussion of the Austin Rover logo, I thought it would be interesting to trace its development. I don’t claim that this is comprehensive, Further to recent discussion of [...]
October 5, 2011
· Keith Adams · 5 Comments
Innocenti Austin A40
In 1959, Innocenti signed a deal with BMC that would see it become a car manufacturer for the first time. (Photo: Gaetano Zagra) WHEN BMC joined forces with Innocenti in the late 1950s, the first fruit of their union was the Innocenti A40. The car must almost have suggested itself for production in Italy: after [...]
October 2, 2011
· Keith Adams · 2 Comments
Yema SQJ6450
Yet another rebirth of the Maestro… It’s true what they say: you cannot keep a good one down. However, the current custodians of the Maestro/Montego line have seen fit to give the old girl a thorough going over. Words: Alexander Boucke Re-re-birth! The Chengdu-based Sichuan Auto Industry Group Company Ltd. has revived the old Maestro [...]
October 2, 2011
· Keith Adams · 3 Comments
Jiefang (Liberation) CA 6440 UA
Erik van Ingen Schenau captured the van version of the Chinese Maestro in the wild. Somehow, the full-depth bumper really suits it… Erik found these Maestro vans, relating the tale thus: “In June 2004, at the Asia Village Auto Market in Beijing (this is the largest dealer exhibit of new cars in China), I found [...]
October 2, 2011
· Keith Adams · No Comments
The cars : Austin Maxi development story
‘All the fives’ was the Maxi’s high technology tag line when launched – with a five door hatchback body and five speed gearbox, Austin’s new mid-range fighter really did seem to have it all. Sadly, the technology might have been there, but the execution was a little less than marvellous, and this avant garde car [...]
October 1, 2011
· Keith Adams · 43 Comments
Metro Ranger
During the Metro’s honeymoon period of the early 1980s, Austin-Rover’s designers toyed with the idea of a number of exciting variations on a theme. Here’s one that perhaps you weren’t expecting to see… Pick-and-mix Metro (Picture: Roy Axe) YOU can’t blame Austin-Rover for trying – the Metro was a hot little number during the early [...]
September 27, 2011
· Keith Adams · 12 Comments
TXC Tracer
This Metro-based, mid-engined roadster brought the concept behind the MGF to fruition some ten years earlier… IF you think the Tracer has a familiar look to it, there could be several reasons for that. First of all, William Towns clearly drew inspriation from his rather more exotic 1980 creation for Aston Martin, the Bulldog, with [...]
September 25, 2011
· Keith Adams · No Comments
Police cars : Austin
Austin 1100/1300 Panda cars were a common sight in the 1970s, as were Metro Area cars in the 1980s. Less common in Police hands were the 1800 ‘Land crab’ and short-lived 3-litre. Austin A95 Westminster An A95 Westminster in service with the Cornwall Police Force, photographed at Bodmin in 1956. Austin A40 Farina A Birmingham [...]
September 25, 2011
· Keith Adams · One Comment
The cars : Austin Allegro development history
What’s left to be said about the Allegro – it never met sales predictions, earned a terrible reputation in the press and with buyers, and its fame far exceeded its influence in the automotive industry. British Leyland threw everything into making it a success, and yet failed dismally… Goodbye market share WHAT is so very [...]
August 27, 2011
· Keith Adams · 35 Comments
Engines : E-Series
Designed and specially built to become the Corporation’s new mid-sized engine, the E-Series had a troubled early life, but eventually matured into something very worthwhile indeed. New engine, new factory; new start? By the mid-1960s, it had become clear to BMC’s management, that in order to maintain sales volumes, the company would have to produce [...]
August 26, 2011
· Keith Adams · 5 Comments
Engines : C-Series
The C-Series engine was the shortest lived out of the triumvirate of BMC engines, and has since gained infamy for being the motive power behind of the MGC and Austin 3-Litre. Sadly, it’s been underrated ever since – unless you’re a Healey owner. Words: Tony Cooke Unloved, but not unworthy THE C-Series engine was the [...]
August 26, 2011
· Keith Adams · 13 Comments
Engines : A-Series
The A-series engine did service in a variety of cars for almost 50 years, during which time it was available in a bewildering variety of capacities and states of tune. A hard act to follow The A-Series engine was certainly a case of the ‘British Curate’s egg’ – good in places. In fact, that is [...]
August 26, 2011
· Keith Adams · 16 Comments
Picture gallery : Austin Allegro
August 25, 2011
· Keith Adams · 2 Comments
The cars : Maestro/Montego development story
The Metro started BL on its road to recovery, but if it was going to be a long term thing, then it needed to be followed up by equally popular mid-sized counterparts. However, the Maestro and Montego failed to capitalise on the lead pulled out by the impressive new supermini. Back from the brink? IN [...]
August 7, 2011
· Keith Adams · 36 Comments
Buying guide : Maestro/Montego
Fancy a Maestro or Montego? Here’s what to look out for… Availability Years produced: Maestro: 1983-1994 Montego: 1984-1994 Body styles: Maestro: 5-door hatchback, van Montego: 4-door saloon, five-door estate Engine options: 1275cc A-Plus inline-four 1598cc R-Series inline-four (Maestro only) 1598cc S-Series inline-four 1994cc O-Series inline-four (104, 115bhp atmo, and 150bhp turbo) 1994cc “Prima” diesel (atmo [...]
August 6, 2011
· Keith Adams · No Comments
