Austin Allegro: The Car's the Star Part One

[THEharperizer]

Can anyone confirm, I was told that BLs answer to the problem of rain water pooling in the boot and rusting through was to send a card template to Allegro owners with the instructions 'place template here and drill hole'? Lovely car nonetheless.

[kernals12]

What that guy said at 9:00, something similar happened with the Nash Metropolitan or as you Brits call it, Austin Metropolitan, the front fender skirts limited how far the wheels could turn, remove fender skirts to fix problem? No, too expensive, they just put in a short steering rack that limited how far the wheels could turn, which gave the car a ridiculous turning circle.

[kernals12]

I read that the designer wanted the Allegro to be a hatchback (same thing with the Princess), but then BL decided that only the Maxi would have a hatchback as it's unique selling point. That is the tip of the iceberg of the Stupidity of BL's management.

[Mr220393]

Regardless of the strikes, BMC/BL did not develop any of their models. The 1948 Morris Minor soldiered onto 1971, Austin Cambridge went into the 70's with its defunct handbrake by the drivers door and column mounted gearlever, the Mini went on with bits and pieces added along with the Marina, which was so out of date they slapped a new body on and called it the Ital. The Austin 1100/1800 was unchanged, the princess was an allegro with a bigger body and engine.

[AustinCarsParts]

I HAVE ORIGINAL USED SPARE PARTS FOR THIS CARS !!! IF YOU WANT contact me at cooper_garage_lebanon@hotmail.­com

[AustinCarsParts]

I HAVE ORIGINAL USED SPARE PARTS FOR THIS CARS !!!

[citroeno]

I actually had that car FOX 866L found it down the side of a body shop and got sprayed hot pot and not very good,later i turned it into a series 3 look it was respayed red with new black fabric roof new grill hls wheel covers and bumpers srayed satin black and boy did that car turn heads,it was used by BL to promote the car a nd you can see it raceing through the sand dunes of Spain.

[TrueBlueEG8]

these cars were rubbish, and awful looking, thank god the japanese began making cars.

[whitbyjet65]

Ironic how so many people mock the Allegro's looks when 95% of modern hatchbacks followed the Allegro's basic body shape. I think the shape still looks modern today.

[kernals12]

Does anybody think that if BMC hadn't become British Leyland, things would've gone better?

[Samthebam4044]

@kernals12 nah! not really, remember BMC already had a reputation for unreliabile motors with the 1800 etc so strikes and all the other stuff would've probably happened anyway, added to which BMC had no real plans for any new models to compete and all they had were aging morris minors, austin cambridges and they didn't really have any direction for creating new shapes and styles. They even proved it the austin 1800 was considered old-fashioned and ppl wanted new styling but they were relentless

[kernals12]

@Samthebam4044 well BMC did come up with smart things like the Mini, the Minor, and the 1100, and not to mention, they didn't run out of money so much, and by the way I wouldn't really know about BMC's problems by heart because I'm American

[MrMrliamo]

i just bought a 1977 1100cc this evening! its very clean! i want it 4 going to vintage shows on sundays! i very happy with it, its an unusual car to have in ireland coz there wernt many sold over here

[sunonthewindow]

sad Poms

[7137666aeb]

What is the name of the song playing between 3:45 and 4:04 of this video,anyone?

[finmarc]

@7137666aeb

Blondie "Denis" (1978)

[sirmugman]

the allegro a wonderful lil car i want one!

[fordlandau]

never let me down till the head cracked....mmm what does that say about it's mechanical reliability ??

[mrmagicroundcircle]

my first car a bright yellow allegro my mates would take the piss calling it the banana wasnt really sorry when i wrote it off

[Jarren202]

Funny but true: My aunt has an irrational FEAR and HATRED of Austin Allegros. But only brown ones.

[kazimann]

Update, the priest's Allegro is still on the road:

The vehicle details for VRF 144L are:

Date of Liability 01 11 2010

Date of First Registration 01 06 1973

[Joe90ridesahonda]

@kazimann he still owns it :-)

[talktothehand9]

What was the aong which started at 1:43 and ended at 2:17???

[toyotasera55]

@talktothehand9 Telegram Sam, By T Rex

[MrJezza31]

understeer

[1100HondaCB]

The year before 1973 gave us the Leyland National. But the Allegro, come on. Not for me I'm affraid. The Leyland National was a good vehicle, but many of Leyland's attempts at cars were quite frankly a joke. The Austin 1100 was designed by Peninin Farina, which was probably, why it was a catchig design. The Allegro, on the other hand, quite something else. It is more aerodynamic in reverse.

[Suprahampton]

@1100HondaCB The National was a god awful bus

[BEEFYBAYONET]

@1100HondaCB I think you'll find that the BMC 1100/1300 will also be much more aerodynamic in reverse.

[newforestroadwarrior]

@BEEFYBAYONET & 1100Honda CB quite a number of cars are

[BEEFYBAYONET]

@newforestroadwarrior That is very true indeed, but Mr CB was specifically mentioning the BMC 1100/1300s. But that quote is only attributed, rather unfairly, to Allegros. Of course, Allegros are not the best cars ever made - I don't believe there is anyone who feels that they are, but I just think it's attracted more than it's fair share of jokes. Jokes that mysteriously seemed to be "accepted facts" these days!

I had two, and enjoyed them greatly.

[hamsterdance4lyf08]

I quite like the look of the car, i would like one actually.

[paetrig]

@hamsterdance4lyf08 I have one

[bluedick321]

allegro is ace totally class competitive

[GRAHAMAUS]

I was 11 in 1973. Even then my younger brother and I thought the car was a joke, and looked like a pig. If it had been a hatchback it might have done a lot better though.

[mrspivvy]

Rover sd1 had a quartic type wheel as well.

[670Kiester]

Allegro was a joke car in NZ

Like and Austin Princess, or Ladas of the past

[blaster2012]

I was unlucky enough to own two of these,i agree not bad on rust,but terrible engine troubles and bad handling.You only got to look at the vid to see how it bounces all over the place.Terrible car.If someone was to GIVE me one i'd turn them down.

[discocreator76]

I've owned both too, none of them gave me any trouble at all, they were good cars...

[blaster2012]

Ah,but did you have yours new? I passed my test in 1989,so they were pretty much old bangers by then.

[discocreator76]

My mother bought one new in 1982, a 1.5 I think, she had it till 1993 and it never broke down apart from when the condenser went, by the time she scrapped it, it had 72k on the clock and it was still on it's original clutch!! Only a few spots of rust were becoming evident by then. Only reason she scrapped it was cause they were getting naff and embarrassing to own so she bought a new Metro (that was scrapped in 2000 due to rust and real bushes wearing out after 50 miles!)

[discocreator76]

sorry, meant to say "rear bushes wearing out after 50k miles!"

[EchoPark69]

That rev sounds like he is on crack.

[BEEFYBAYONET]

The Rev rules. He's now Vicar of Longbridge, and the nicest most enthusiastic man about EVERY car you could ever wish to meet.

[paulwlynch]

Does anyone know where you can get hold of the Car's The Star series?

[matt8220]

Wasn't that Colin Corke bloke also in the Clarkson's Car Years program ?

See the BBC: Which One is Worse? Allegro vs Marina clip

[80sfordman]

I've always wondered what concept cars would have rolled-off the production line at Ford had Harris Mann not left Ford to join Roy Haynes at British Leyland?

[mrspivvy]

Rust wise, these were actually a LOT better than most other '70s cars

[spearmint123456]

I love this car!

[AndyGriff72]

I love the Allegro. I don't have one as I've only got room for one classic car but for me it's a snapshot of my childhood, along with other unloved cars of the era (e.g. Leyland Princess, Morris Marina, Renault 12, etc.) They're all worthy of preserving, in my opinion.

And you're right, kazimann: in fact, I always associate the name "Datsun" with badly-corroded bodywork. I don't think the Allegro was all that bad for rust, by 1970s standards anyway.

[ab5010]

what classic do you have?

[unigateman]

you have to remember what it replaced, the BMC 1100

[ftorresgamez]

The designer was "disappointed" that the stylish car he drew ended up being the awkward mess it ended up being - talk about understatement. I would have been appalled, outraged, foaming at the mouth, threatening with giving a 2 weeks notice and sending them all to hell. But I guess he also is a practitioner of the British stiff upper lip.

[ftorresgamez]

Looks pig-ugly.

[kazimann]

Ha! the priest's gold Allegro at the start of the video is still on the roads today!: The vehicle details for VRF 144L are: Date of Liability 01 11 2009 Date of First Registration 01 06 1973 Year of Manufacture Not Available Cylinder Capacity (cc) 1275CC CO2 Emissions Not Available Fuel Type Petrol Export Marker Not Applicable Vehicle Status SORN Not Due Vehicle Colour GOLD Vehicle Type Approval null

[gentil79]

that's an achievement, especially that the cars was launched two weeks before this one was registered. must be one of earliest examples on the road

[mystic4fred]

I had an Allegro in 1978 with a square steering wheel - great car, I did a lot of travelling up and down the country and it never broke down!

[stephenm6100]

it looks like a bar of soap.

[scaleop4]

i remember when my dad had a white one with a stripe down the side.

[spiralisedcat]

i grew up riding my chopper with these cars on the road,they appitimise an era gone but not forgotten.

[mickeymoose76]

They werent bad cars at all, ini fact Fords and Vauxhalls at the time were terrible and rusted badly, I remember by Grandads 1979 Allegro outlasting my Grandmothers 1981 Chevette by a good few years both bodily and engine wise!

[kazimann]

Sure Japanese cars at the time were terrible for rust.

The Datsun Cherry was the worst of the lot.

[danielsalex2]

Oh yeah i remember this programme

[ukeuro23]

greatly unfair as usual, the Allegro looked completely modern compared to Fiats and Fords of the the time...

[riotagus]

I dont care what anybody says , they are very good cars. I drove one for two years and never let me down, until the head cracked!!!! still very good cars.

[MrJezza31]

@riotagus hmm om but i like my marina

[Theagchm]

@riotagus I've owned 3 allegros. A 1.1, a 1.5 estate and a very rare 1750 sport. The sport was my first every car and turned me into a boy race: 0-50mph I could match just about anyone. They were always superbly reliable and my overtaking record still goes to my 1.1; 11 cars and 3 vans in one go. the hydragas suspension and tie down straps...Eee gad they were not good. Still they were the cars were good and I loved all that I owned. Oh and the square wheel(like Audi etc) I thought was superb.

[allyisfunny]

I Watched This Programme From An Old Vhs Tape I Found In My Dads Collection, And I Loved It! I Went Onto Ebay And Bought An 1979 Austin Allegro Vanden Plas In Moonraker Blue,After Watching This!

Just Like The One In This Show!!!

Super Little Cars!!!

LONG LIVE THE ALLEGRO!!!

[sharomanet]

Rovamota: you rule; your recent uploads are great and have kept me gloriously entertained every time. :)

[nipperoid]

Brilliant car!

[arospeed169]

@nipperoid are you on drugs now

[nipperoid]

@arospeed169 nope

[arospeed169]

@nipperoid dude i mean seriously tell me at least ONE good thing about this car....

[hunghuge12]

@arospeed169 Easy - they don't make them anymore.

[arospeed169]

@hunghuge12 Lol true