Day in the life of an Autoshitest. By Alex G, Age 30 1/2

[eddyramrod]

Total agreement, especially with Barrett. So nice to see a car preserved, that really deserves to be! Well done for courage too, driving it back. My hat is off.

[406V6]

Great write-up. My first car was a T-reg Allegro 1300 so I can visualise some of the behaviour you describe. In my car the large right hand dial was just a dummy with a pretty pattern rather than a clock. It didn't have a clock anywhere. The clock on yours looks factory so maybe it came in with the 1979 or 80 models. Or else a previous owner did a dial swap.

 

Mine was a well looked after low mileage car and the fuel economy wasn't great - never better than about 36 mpg even on a long run. Ironically about the same as my 3 litre 406 does on a run. Progress indeed.

[ProgRocker]

Excellent stuff! This is a great colour and the estates look miles better than the saloons I think.

 

I agree. Well done, Alex. This all-aggro looks great. Same shade of orangey-red as my first car, the 1979 Mini I think - vermillion.

 

I had the same window winders on mine. The driver's side one snapped off so I went to the scrappies and bought a pair of blue ones from a Metro. Much more robust - they fit on the same hexagonal bolt thingy that rotates.

 

Changing the window winders is about as far as my car mechanics knowledge goes.

[blguy1975]

Nice Car Alex,Looks like a good one .

Did You know that This Year the Allegro Club had that very Car on Display at the NEC Classic Car show?

The Allegro club is a great source for Discounted Spairs,Advice or Just Chat ,Why not Join http://www.allegroclubint.org.uk/join.html

 

Look after the car

 

Matt

[trigger]

Your being head hunted Alex!

[Captain Mainwaring]

Very enjoyable read, nice one. Midgets hearses FTW.

[Mash]

Hurrah!!

 

I want another Allegro

[Pete-M]

I want another Allegro

 

This could only happen in here. Makes me grin though.

[Alexg]

Been trying to start her again today, cleaned up the plugs leads dizzy etc, still no joy. Whilst awaiting my mate to turn up and help isolate the problem I remembered I had a brand new a series coilpack in the garage. Bolted it on, BRUMBRUM!!! Win!

[Craig the Princess]

Been trying to start her again today, cleaned up the plugs leads dizzy etc, still no joy. Whilst awaiting my mate to turn up and help isolate the problem I remembered I had a brand new a series coilpack in the garage. Bolted it on, BRUMBRUM!!! Win!

 

SuperVroom! Glad it was an easy (and cheap) fix. That said A-series engines are generally easily fixed.

[DSdriver]

Nice Car Alex,Looks like a good one .

 

Look after the car

 

Matt

 

Welcome Matt, having poked your head above the parapet how about a thread on your cars? I am expecting at least one of British Leyland's finest 1975 cars.

[mnde]

Fantastic Allegro Alex, in one of my favourite BL colours too. I can only re-echo the praise on this thread. Enjoy it!

 

Must encourage my tat owning friend Chris to buy another Allegro. I've driven three that he owned (2 saloons - one early, one late, and a 1750 twin carb estate, but all are long gone now). I'd like one, but I rate my chances of owning one currently as rather small...

 

Mark.

[dollywobbler]

That was a great read - annoyed at myself for somehow missing this thread until now. Really does inspire the need for another shite-buying silly road trip.

[Alexg]

Luckily for me the only spare part I had solved the problem. blguy1975 PM'd me with some more information on the car, apparently she has a name - Jasper, as in Jasper Carrott (for reasons I'm sure you can work out). Now she is running again I took her for a drive to my parents house so they could have a look and then to the Supermarket - photo opportunity.

 

 

I stopped for some fuel on the way out when a bloke approached, in late 60s, telling my how beautiful the Allegro was and how great it was to see one I then took 'Jasper' to her new home, a lock up near the town centre. I'm fitting an extra padlock tomorrow because a few were broken in to a while ago

 

 

Ideally she should stay off the road this winter but I so enjoy driving her its going to be difficult....

[worldofceri]

Brilliant write up mate, thanks for sharing. I'm well jealous of the Radio 1 sticker.

 

Interesting thing to compare on the Allegro/BMW photo as well as the relative size of the cars, but the sizes of the glass areas. About the same on each, I reckon.

[Skizzer]

Great thread, great car

 

And +1 to what worldofceri said.

[Alexg]

That's only a 5 series too. Its frigging enormous!

[garycox]

That looks great! I was going to do mine that colour...

 

I wish I hadn't sold it now!