Shitty, broken Allegro for sale - SOLD !

[Sigmund Fraud]

I mentioned this elsewhere in the forum, so I might as well do things properly* and start a 'for sale' topic :

1978 Allegro 1100 Deluxe

The ultimate in BL misery : base model in fetching 'antique gold' (think cheap jewellery) with brown vinyl interior.

Bought by myself a couple of years back, as I didn't believe all the 'worst car ever made' hype. I was wrong.

 

Two previous owners including the little old lady that bought it from LEX in '78 and the second owner that kept it in storage as an 'investment' and sold it when he realised that a shitty old Allegro is only marginally better an investment than Greek government bonds.

I did some quick recommissioning and began using it as a daily. This continued for six months, during which a few minor niggles became apparent, including a most irritating cold starting problem. I installed a SimonBBC electronic kit and replaced all the ignition consumables, but the problem persisted. So I proceeded to buy a Rover 213 for daily duties and took the 'Aggro off the road to sort it out properly.

Unfortunately, work progressed very slowly from there. The car has only been driven once in the last year, to the MoT station and back. It passed its test last June (2012), but we had to lean the mixture to pass the emissions test, and it drove like absolute crap afterwards. I decided a carb rebuild was the way forward (D'oh! etc.), and this happened veeery slowly over the following months. The carb is all done now, and as a bonus there were no bits left over when I finished. I bolted it back on the manifold a month or so ago but have yet to attempt starting the car.

It is now clear that I've lost interest in the poor old beast, as I would rather tinker with any of my other shiteheaps. I fear that the 'Aggro will continue festering on my drive for years to come and would probably not see the road before 2020 or something. I have therefore decided to put it up for sale, so that someone else can have the immense pleasure* of owning it and returning it to the road.

Bodywork : In fifty shades of gold, because the little old lady kept driving into things, but looks presentable after a wash and polish. Front valance is crispy but not structural. There have been MoT-style welding repairs to a few bits but the only one looking suspicious is the offside B pillar base. Still, it passed its last test without issues, so you may get away with it.

Running gear : Non-runner, as explained above. Compression test was previously within spec, so hopefully there are no nasty surprises. CV joints are very loud on lock, will require regreasing or replacement. No other issues that I am aware of, but it's a 35-year-old car made during BLs darkest hour so don't be surprised if you discover more faults.

Advertised on Car&Classic for £300, shitters discount applies and I'll even throw in a comprehensive* package of service items. Car located near Andover, Hants.

Some rubbish, out-of-date, ebay-style photos follow :

[Wilko220]

Your description of that colour as "gold" suggests to me you may have some experience of the PR industry...

 

GLWTS!

[Junkman]

It's beautiful!

[HillmanImp]

I think the correct term for that colour is 'Baby shit green'.

[Junkman]

It does make split pea soup look good.

No mean feat, so 9.5/10 for shiteness.

[barefoot]

Is that colour not Tundra?

[Sigmund Fraud]

I did call it a 'shitty' Allegro, so AS DESCRIBED

 

Barefoot, it isn't tundra - that would be a much darker green, probably created* when someone in the BL paintshop ran limeflower through a gun previously used for BRG.

[Pillock]

I get the impression that all the colours used by BL in that era were a product of turning up to the paint shop late, having spent all day striking, and finding out that Ford and Vauxhall had nicked all the good colours. VW were only slightly ahead and are just leaving with armfuls of Oranges and Slightly Less Baby Poo Green.

 

I do like the car though, good luck moving it on and I hope it hits the road again. I'd love to see that with wedding ribbons up the front and a thoroughly pissed off bride getting out in front of a church.

[Junkman]

I'd love to see that with wedding ribbons up the front and a thoroughly pissed bride getting out in front of a church.

 

EFA

[Cavcraft]

Wow, that's fabulous. Insert own excuse not buy here to save me thinking of one though.

 

That really ought to find a home on here.

[vulgalour]

I should've bought this instead of the Golf because it is the ideal accompaniment to the Princess.  Shame on me.

[theorganist]

Where are you (or the car)? I am wondering if this would be decent Maxi replacement even though I was looking for something mot'd.

 

I remember seeing this for sale a couple of years ago and I was sorely tempted then!

[Sigmund Fraud]

Where are you (or the car)? I am wondering if this would be decent Maxi replacement even though I was looking for something mot'd.

 

I remember seeing this for sale a couple of years ago and I was sorely tempted then!

 

As per the ad, the car is on my driveway, and my driveway is at a secret* location near Andover in North Hampshire.

 

There's a train station down the road, and a reliable local firm hires car transporters for very reasonable money. Go on, you know you want to

[Junkman]

Go on, you know you want to

 

You got that shit right. Sadly it really is too far away from me.

[Station]

That's great, I can't imagine it'd be hard to cure that starting problem*?

[ShiteRider]

I'm already bidding on a marina or i'd be all over this. I need BL chod in my life.

[londonm]

The colour is indeed 'Antique Gold', my mother had a immaculate 1977 automatic mini 1000 in this colour. She had it right through to the mid 90s, when it finally dissolved from the inside to the out. It's a colour of its era, and though really 'mustard' didn't look to bad before the rust set in. There are worse colours, like the cheap orangey red of my 1984 polo c. Someone take the Allegro on, it deserves to be kept as a historical document.

[oman5]

That is farking LUSH!! there must be plenty of minis with 1275 A+ metro engines in you could rape for a replacement lump.

usual excuse, no room, money etc but I hope it gets a good home.

[Sigmund Fraud]

Someone take the Allegro on, it deserves to be kept as a historical document.

 

Just to clarify... This is not a 'buy it or else it gets banger raced/scrapped/turned into a chicken shed' type of ad.

 

If the car doesn't sell, I will keep it and return it to the road. However, this will be painfully slow, so I'd rather someone with more enthusiasm for the car than myself takes over.

 

there must be plenty of minis with 1275 A+ metro engines in you could rape for a replacement lump.

 

I don't think it needs a replacement engine. The current one only has 60K miles and appears to have been maintained reasonably well. It is tappety and thirsty for oil, but not more than your average a-series. If the rebuilt carb doesn't sort the starting problem, then the culprit has to be the starter or its solenoid, as those are the only thing that hasn't been replaced/rebuilt !

[Sigmund Fraud]

Having said that, the idea of buying one of those rotbox Minis, complete with union jack roof, drilled window winders and "100% BMW FREE" stickers, and using it for parts is certainly appealing

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

Having said that, the idea of buying one of those rotbox Minis, complete with union jack roof, drilled window winders and "100% BMW FREE" stickers, and using it a a barbeque is certainly appealing

[barrett]

Hey, this looks great! Definitely more appealing than our 1981 Allegro 3 anyway. I would probably buy this if I hadn't A. Already got an Allegro and B. just bought a Triumph Herald today.

 

GLWS etc

[theorganist]

I would sincerely love this but I need something to ferry mother to and from the hospital over the next few weeks so need something taxed and mot'd. The Maxi will be gone by the end of the week so I need something to drive now unfortunately.

[Wilko220]

What's the story with the Maxi, Organ Man? How far did you get with it before deciding to punt on?

[theorganist]

I have sold it to a collector in Blackburn. It is road legal but I couldn't do anything with the paintwork. It goes but keeps overheating. Have flushed rad and removed thermostat but still does it. I need something reliable for next few weeks so currently looking at a old Fiesta with tax and mot locally amongst others. I have another genuine barn (well chicken shed) maxi coming in August which is more original.

[Station]

You should get more photos of this!

[Sigmund Fraud]

Due to overwhelming* popular demand, I spent five minutes of my precious* time yesterday afternoon taking more pictures of this ugly beast... Naturally, once they were uploaded, they caused so much OMG that they made the server fail !

 

So here they are again, for the benefit* of those that missed them :

 

Flaminio Bertoni considered the Ami as his grand oeuvre... Why Harris Mann didn't nominate the Allegro as his opus magnum puzzles* me.

 

Performance, economy, reliability... This engine has none of the three, but at least it has a shiny carb !

 

Crusty, but easily bodgeable.

 

As above, this is only a pinhole really.

 

Previously repaired by a registered blind welder. It appears solid, though, and passed the last MoT.

 

Both inner wings have been previously repaired, but are nice and solid.

 

Valance is crusty, in typical Allegro fashion. This is the crustiest bit, which has previously been 'repaired' by someone who was registered blind and only had access to a 5kg tub of filler and a trowel. However, it doesn't seem to be structural and passed the last MoT.

 

So there it is, ladies and gentlemen, warts and all (well, mostly warts, actually). In the unlikely event that anyone is still interested, do let me know.

[Tetleysmooth]

I sent the links from here and Car an Classic to a work colleague.

He hasn't spoken to me since.

[Sigmund Fraud]

I sent the links from here and Car an Classic to a work colleague.

He hasn't spoken to me since.

 

Confirmation, if any was ever needed, that this car is also GR8 4 alienating friends and relatives ! Buy now and your neighbours are guaranteed to never speak to you again !!!

[kinkersaab]

Well, this has inspired me to make a visit to see one a wee bit like this........... I hope to report with pics in the next hour or so...... Love the colour.