Austin Allegro: The Car's the Star Part One

Quentin Willson takes a look at the controversial Austin Allegro in this 1994 programme. This is in two parts.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Austin
• Allegro
• Morris
• British Leyland

[nipperoid]

Brilliant car!

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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

[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door and column mounted gearlever, the Mini went on with bits and pieces added along with the Marina, which was so out of date they slapped a new body on and called it the Ital.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.