My russet brown allegro

[drum]

The allegro has some issues I knew about..

bottom of passenger door..

 

and a couple of things the mot man found.

 

Some pics were taken for me when it was up on the ramp.

Overall impressions were good

The hubs and swing arms look crusty to me. I would like to dismantle and clean them up but I'm used to land rover axles and this looks more complicated. Can these gas suspension jobs be meddled with?

 

 

He didn't get a good picture of the rusty sill but it feels soft. The rot is a small area behind the lip and difficult to see without having my face under the car. Fortunately it's not close to seat belt mounts or the suspension. Looks like I'm going to have practise my thin metal welding.

 

The starter motor is a bit lazy and needs a couple of hits to bring it to life. Would this be the solenoid or brushes and is it worth trying to fix?

 

Some other pics.

 

80s ICE

 

What's he best advice for the wing bubbles and door rot?

[vulgalour]

If you want to get rid of the rot, it's paint-off time. I reckon when you strip the paint off that wing there's going to at least be some heavy pitting and possibly some holes, but it may be on the edge of saving without welding if you're lucky. As I understand it, the suspension is the same as that on the Princess. It's not really that complicated compared to the more conventional set up of springs and shocks when you look into it, the main problem is it being a pressurised system. I reckon as with any job, take your time, do your research and be prepared for everything to break and you should be okay. I still think Russet Brown looks a lot like milk chocolate.

[rml2345]

Russet Brown does look like milk chocolate...

This looks like a top purchase and well done on the MOT pass. Even if it is a bit crunchy here and there...

[drum]

The colour does have a touch of the cadburys about it. I doubt if halfords do a rattle can of russet brown - any ideas where I might be able to get a match for the paint? The stripe along the side will need replaced on the wings too.

 

I should really deal with the non-cosmetic jobs first.

[Rocket88]

Halfords will mix up any paint colour you like,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

[plasticvandan]

last time (week ago) i went in,halfords had russet brown ON THE SHELF i know i used some when i had an allegro in said brown last time i went in,look under the rover section in the paint racks,you might be suprised,seems mine has most allegro colours in there,inc applejack and they are usually pretty spot on too

[drum]

That's good to know.

 

I'm going to have another sesh' on the stardrops tonight

 

 

Is that pic the right way up for you?

[Lankytim]

Allegro hydragas suspension is piss easy to work on, as long as you have a pump to blow it up you're sorted.

[Richard]

The colour does have a touch of the cadburys about it. I doubt if halfords do a rattle can of russet brown - any ideas where I might be able to get a match for the paint? The stripe along the side will need replaced on the wings too.

 

I should really deal with the non-cosmetic jobs first.

 

Where are you? Autopaints in Thornton will mix any colour, and almost certainly much cheaper than Halfords. They should have a selection of stripes available too.

[drum]

The colour does have a touch of the cadburys about it. I doubt if halfords do a rattle can of russet brown - any ideas where I might be able to get a match for the paint? The stripe along the side will need replaced on the wings too.

 

I should really deal with the non-cosmetic jobs first.

 

Where are you? Autopaints in Thornton will mix any colour, and almost certainly much cheaper than Halfords. They should have a selection of stripes available too.

 

I'm about 180 miles north of the wall Richard. I'll try and find something similar closer to home.

 

I'm having to divide my time between vee-hickles so, after a 45 minute welding session on the 109's dumb irons, I gave the back seat of the allegro the stardrops treatment.

 

 

 

The stardrops/nail brush combo is working well - cheers VA.

 

Your eye may have been drawn to the rear parcel shelf on that last pic

I reckon it's a goner. It's less vinyl and more sandpaper and is starting to fall to bits. Looks like I'll either have to replace it or re-cover it.

 

I've been flashing pictures of the allegro to all and sundry and everyone of a certain age (40+) has a memory, often bad, of the wee thing. It seems to be a common 'first car'. Very few moved onto an allegro . My mate Dave had a yellow 1300 special as a first car that he once drove to the south of France and a girl at work said her dad's was the only car she was ever car sick in.

[vulgalour]

The colour does have a touch of the cadburys about it.

 

Autopaints in Thornton will mix any colour

 

Great, thanks you two, I really want chocolate now.

 

@drum: get a vinyl sheet printed like a giant bar of chocolate/with chocolate wrappers to recover your parcel shelf.

[daverapid]

Fantastic, well done for saving it!

[Formula Autos]

[quote name='"drum

Your eye may have been drawn to the rear parcel shelf on that last pic

[drum]

That's not a bad idea FA. Might be a bit Huggy Bear mind you

[face]

The carpet rear shelf combined with those natty speakers should ensure you a steady supply of social-club frequenting, stinking of booze and fags, darts playing women of a certain age. I suggest shoe-horning a Saisho stereo in and playing terribly distorted Roxy Music whenever possible. Also a pack of Players No6 liberally tossed on the dash would help close the deal.

 

My second car was a russet brown Mini 1000 on a 'V' - top colour.

 

I have only been in a Allegro once, as a driver though. It was a russet brown 1750HL (I think HL). At the time I had a tweaked MK2 1300 Sport Escort and the Allegro seemed very refined in comparison.

I recall being totally underwhelmed at it's performance - being a little twat, I thought any car with twin-carbs would be a tarmac tearing hootster.

 

I'm still a twat.

[drum]

The carpet rear shelf combined with those natty speakers should ensure you a steady supply of social-club frequenting, stinking of booze and fags, darts playing women of a certain age. I suggest shoe-horning a Saisho stereo in and playing terribly distorted Roxy Music whenever possible. Also a pack of Players No6 liberally tossed on the dash would help close the deal.

Sounds like my kind of woman

 

Remind me, was Saisho a Dixons own brand or was that Matsui?

 

I think I'll go for a tartan rug on the back shelf - oh yeah.

[drum]

Sorry, double post.

[drum]

Sorry, triple post

[overrun]

Superb stuff, my brother!

 

I am reminded of the very strange, probable sister fisting manchild and his Deals on Wheels Allegro sale, when I read your thread.

 

This can only be a good thing.

[face]

drum - Saisho was the own brand of Dixons.

 

It was crap, but cheap.

[barefoot]

Do you know, my wife's first car was a metallic green 1300L

Smooth, bouncy, smokey the list goes on...

 

...as the Captain of the Titanic (and many, many hydrogas pilots have been known to mutter)

[drum]

Rustin allegro update-

Whilst at the tayside classic car show the allegro attracted many a snigger. One lady admirer lingered longer than the normal reminiscer and eventually introduced herself as a representative of Allegro Club International. A rather surreal conversation followed during which, amongst other things, she offered to sell me some alloys for the brown one. I haven't joined yet.

 

The allegro has been pressed into service for the school run much to the embarrassment of my son who hides on the back seat. Two incidents, each of which nearly resulted in the end of the allegro, have dissuaded me from such regular usage. The first was when a cooncil worker in a mini road sweeper pulled across the road in front of me causing me to lay down two black lines of rubber and almost sending my unbelted boy through the windscreen. Stupid me.

The second incident almost ended in a ball of flames when a split fuel line between pump and carb spewed petrol all over the hot fannymould. Another lucky escape.

 

For a Father's Day treat, I took my dad out for a drive. He commented on the bounciness of the ride. Later he was admitted to hospital with what was eventually diagnosed as labrynthitis. I'm sure it was a coincidence.

 

On a happier note, I dug out my old pioneer 1020 from a box in a cupboard in the back of my garage and wired it up. It still had a C90 in it with a bad recording of led zep. Sound system sorted.

[Split_Pin]

Awesome update

 

Love the stereo-age too!

[drum]

Awesome update

Love the stereo-age too!

I was trying to remember when I bought that but think it must have been about 1990. Bought new from halfords for over £100. At the time, it was very exciting having a digital display for the tuner! Last saw service in my '87 Astra 1.2 estate.

[londonm]

Can remember burning my legs on vinyl seats live that 'back in the day'. Do any modern car manufacturers have the balls to make seats like that anymore? In fact, which was the last car to have acres of heated plastic for you to sit on? Looks shocking now, though I do think that car is ace and deserves to be looked after.

[Wilko220]

I don't know but, at a guess, I would take a stab at the unashamedly shite LDV...

[drum]

The allegro has mostly been posing at car shows this summer.

The wee turd polishes up well.

Everyone* looks in the window hoping to see a quartic steering wheel.

 

Surfs up!

[DodgyBastard]

Looks good, What's the top speed? I can just about get 60mph out of mine...

[pandarus]

Nice motor that, my brother had a similar T reg in Tahiti Blue. Always liked that car.

 

My wife had a later V reg and one of the front wheels fell away from the car.

 

I like Allegros and did laugh about the bloke who was on Deals On Wheels...worth a look if you ever get the chance

[drum]

Oops, just noticed this fruit machine doesn't like the word quartic. Quadratic steering wheel, lol.

 

Looks good, What's the top speed? I can just about get 60mph out of mine...

I haven't measured max velocity but 60 is no probs. quite a nippy wee 1100 this one.