Montego Collection Thread - SPOILER no disasters en route!!!

[seacow]

Inspired by the BMW 325 collection thread I thought I would bore you all with my collection tale from a couple of weeks ago! Apologies in advance this is far longer than it needs to be and doesn't include hand making a new engine from coke cans on the hard shoulder of the M40!!

 

I have had an itch to get a Monte for a long time, back in the day my dad had 5 in a row of various specs so this was always a bit of nostalgia trip - I seemed to live in Austin Rover showrooms in the 80s!!

 

Sadly the mother of a close friend passed away last year and left me a small amount of money to do 'something daft' with - being a BMW driver all her live not sure she would approve the car but certainly the concept and so F312GKL is named Mavis in her honour. This really drove my budget as I didn't want to add to it as somehow that wouldn't be the same - daft but I wanted to be able to say it was from her legacy . I came very close to buying a couple of other Montes and have fancied one or two things on here but never trapped.

 

So the search went on and pushed on by a couple of glasses of red wine I managed to win Mavis on eBay and managed to arrange collection to coincide with a work trip to London to help with the collection expenses! I think she was on the ebay tat thread at one point!! The seller kindly met me at Gatwick airport train station - and Mavis looked just amazing pulling into the drop off zone. Atlantic blue really does looks well in good light and has a great depth to it even though its in need of some wax. We then drove the 15 minutes home to exchange paperwork. I was instantly impressed - the car was smooth and quiet and handled the brief motorway well - it was unusually sunny and even the sunroof was put to use! The interior is great - could do with a good deep clean but all there - headlining is trying to be a carpet as usual but not too low so not on the desperate priority list. When we arrived I had a good look round - she is by no means perfect but only light cosmetics and some touch up jobs for me. There are a couple of scabs - the worst on the cills hidden by closed doors but it all looks to be surface not structural so I will practice my painting! Then the usual stone chips and car park knocks - some tired plastic chrome that will need looking at. I am being picky though and it was certainly as described and when you aren't right up on it then it looks very classy - I love the colour combo.

 

So money was exchanged and the seller said good bye to Mavis leaving him with only 19 BL and Lada cars in his fleet!! I did see a very nice range rover and a maxi is a lovely jade blue in my brief visit. A top bloke and BMC/BL fan - pleasure to deal with and genuine guy. In his ownership Mavis has seen a couple of new tyres, new set of rimmer bros wheel trims, wiper motor, full service including cam belt and even some random parts left in the boot!! Sadly no history or books so I will be on the look out for those.

 

So phase one of the London to Edinburgh (well Dunfermline) run commenced. Staying in central London for work I booked a hotel with car park and at the end of the A40 for easy escape the next afternoon. Filled the tank (note very strange non standard fuel cap - as noted as advisory on MOT! - which will need replacing) and headed on M23. I can only say that she drives very much like a modern car! Sat at 70 no problem and got some nice glances - especially from those being overtaken! I am amazed by this, as I was when I initailly got my E30. My first car at the time was 17 years old and it was night and day to a modern car - Mavis however - while dated cruises comfortably and quietly! Central London with no power steering - bring it on! Only got lost once and made a detour to drive the Mayfair through Mayfair - sadly couldn't find a decent photo op!! I have driven many cars over the years some in the sports and luxury brackets - but I don't think anything has made me smile as much as driving Mavis round central london - what a gas!! Anyway - hotel found and Mavis tucked up for the night in the underground car park.

 

Next afternoon we started north - she started which I was irrationally nervous about - and hit the road - windows down and roof open (again I was slightly worried the journey would not be that comfortable if they didn't close again!!) A superb, comfortable cruise at motorway speeds - the drivers seat is a bit sunken compared to the passenger (might swap them if thats possible) but still very comfortable. So we made it to Stoke in good time - I pulled off to stop at my parents for a butty. Filled up and according to Fuelly 41MPG - I was blown away - thats just great - especially with unleaded coming down in price just now! Dad was very impressed with the nostalgia trip - a long time since a Montego had been on the drive - and in the colour of his last one - although he was a bit jealous it was a Mayfair and with the EFI engine! Mum just gently mocked - she clearly doesn't understand!

 

On the road again and back home north of the border by 10 o'clock - London to Dunfermline in 9 and a half hours with a couple of stops and tea in there - arrived refreshed and the MPG I am frankly amazed by!

 

First job if I can find time away from playing with the family is a deep clean inside and out and then assess what bits I need to do. So thats the story so far. I am attempting to post some photos below but have been historically shite at that!!

 

Montego Mayfair by seacownyc, on Flickr[/img]

Montego Mayfair by seacownyc, on Flickr[/img]

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8125/8686102777_d898e3d846.jpg' alt='8686102777_d898e3d846.jpg'>

IMG_6395 by seacownyc, on Flickr[/img]

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Can anyone else see these pics?

[seacow]

cock - always have trouble - I will try again if someone helps - do i post the link in between the Img tags? Sorry normally fairly IT savvy!!

[M'coli]

IMG_6407 by seacownyc, on Flickr

Use the "share" option on flickr, select the size you want for the image, click on "BBCode" and just post the whole text up.

[Pillock]

I think your photostream or album privacy is set to OMGPITBULL mode.

If you right-click on the failed pictures you can "view in new tab" or whatever and they come up fine, if you then right-click on the pictures in Flickr it just comes up with copyright notices.

[vulgalour]

That is a handsome thing, I reckon Captain Slow will be along shortly for a perv.

 

[seacow]

I've buggered about a bit - hopefully this is a bit better!!

 

Will need to set up an album properly for them I think when I have more time!!

[George-Roper]

Montego Mayfair by seacownyc, on Flickr

Montego Mayfair by seacownyc, on Flickr

Montego Mayfair by seacownyc, on Flickr

Montego Mayfair by seacownyc, on Flickr

Montego Mayfair by seacownyc, on Flickr

[Mr_Bo11ox]

WOW that is mega. Is it still on the metric tyres?

[stuboy]

looking ace....

[seacow]

WOW that is mega. Is it still on the metric tyres?

Cheers. It's one of the last before they became rovers and was never on metrics thank god!

[Captain Slow]

That is a handsome thing, I reckon Captain Slow will be along shortly for a perv.

 

 

 

Know the car and owner Angyl - I wanted this when it was on eBay and gave serious thought to dailying this and retiring CMV. But I knew I'd just get equally precious!

[Lord Sterling]

That is one wonderful looking car. I drove Captain Slows car around recently and loved every minute behind the wheel. A Montego is one of those cars that I really must buy myself at one point. The problem is, when I buy a car, I have a tendancy to hang onto it.

 

The closest ive got to a Montego at the moment is a 1987 Rover 820E. The wheel trims on your Montego look similar to the wheel trims on my 820E:

 

[Captain Slow]

The trims are what mine should have, Mo. As for 820e trims, they are identical to METRIC Montego ones.

 

[aldo135]

That's a beauty Andy, well done mate! Look forward to seeing it soon

[Owain71]

Ahh, Montegos...

 

They bring back fond memories of Summer 1990; Gazza crying, Pavarotti belting out Nessun Dorma and The Power by Snap seemingly always on the (push-button) radio...

 

I was a 19-year-old on work placement from University in the Marketing Dept. at the Midlands HQ of a well-known car accessories retailer... and (amongst others) they had a nearly-new white Turbo in the car pool.

 

As my Dad had a non-turbo Citroen BX19RD at the time, that Montego was s**t off a shovel. I remember the crazy torque steer well; I also remember p*ssing off loads of Mk2 Cavalier drivers as it was so quick!

 

Somewhat ironically, my daily driver is now a, er, Mk2 Cavalier!

 

 

A nice Montego is on my want list...

 

p.s. didn't Harry Crawford in TV Series Boon have a Mayfair this colour?

[seacow]

p.s. didn't Harry Crawford in TV Series Boon have a Mayfair this colour?

 

 

He did indeed!!

 

http://www.imcdb.org/vehicle_489740-Aus ... -1988.html

[DodgyBastard]

 

 

 

 

Spotted this on Tuesday at Rosyth station, had to come back for a photo...

 

Looked really clean and in excellent condition, love the wheel trims!

[DaveAspley]

is it wrong that i now want to put my bits into a montego's bits?

 

oof!!

[blakey79]

 

 

 

 

Spotted this on Tuesday at Rosyth station, had to come back for a photo...

 

Looked really clean and in excellent condition, love the wheel trims!

 

 

Wow brilliant

[seacow]

 

 

 

 

Spotted this on Tuesday at Rosyth station, had to come back for a photo...

 

Looked really clean and in excellent condition, love the wheel trims!

 

 

Thats my Mavis!! I am ridiculously excited to be the subject of a spotting post on here!!!

[seacow]

is it wrong that i now want to put my bits into a montego's bits?

 

oof!!

 

Step away from the car sir

[HillmanImp]

I always remember this advert for the Montego as thought these mirrored buildings were totally space age and really wanted a Mayfair as I thought it was the bee's fucking knees with its velour interior and digital clock.

 

[seacow]

 

 

 

 

That looks gorgeous! Despite having a couple I have always hated Vauxhalls and even cried in 1983 when my dad got a gold Mk2 cav rather than a Sierra!! That was before his Montego half decade!! I have since had a hankering for a MK2 - need to enjoy my Monte itch for a while first though!! Love the run out GL spec and those dark wheel covers - class

[Owain71]

IMO, one thing that Austin Rover / Rover Group / MG Rover did exceptionally well were wheels (both trims & alloys) and paint colours.

 

OK, clearly in the '70s everyone at BL was clearly too busy growing moustaches, drinking Watneys, smoking fags and sh**ging their neighbours' wives to care in that decade (Tundra, Sandglow, Limeflower, anyone?) but they really hit their stride in the '80s and '90s... the original MG Maestro alloys, white Montego Turbo alloys, the metallic blue on Mavis - which looks great even today; those seemingly endless variants of light metallic blue / aqua metallic on the Rover 100 / 200 / 400... then of course the bold colour choices on the Peter Stevens-era MGs (yellow, "Subaru WRC" blue etc.)

 

Working as I was for a German manufacturer at that time (who clearly chose colours in the dark - I remember Samoa Red on the c. 2003 Passat... which in daylight was actually brown... cue customers rejecting cars on delivery), I was amazed how a manufacturer with such limited resources could do paint choices so well!