Austin Montego's

[trigger]

I have mixed feeling on Montegos, ask me 15-18 years ago and i would have said run for the hills having had my gut full of filling rotten wheel arches, door bottoms, cracked bumpers and holey sills but now I can see the appeal seeing that even the newest one would be 21 years old. The 2.0 TD went well and would be my pick of the bunch although a early 1.6 HL wouldn't be turned away from my drive.

 

Just really check for rust, everywhere though, especially those rear arches.

[warren t claim]

Somewhat unusually the 1.3 goes well for its size, certainly quicker than the equivalent Sierra.

[Bear]

Pick of the bunch is surely a late-as-they-come dark green metallic 2.0 GSi Countryman, with roof rails, if not the bleeding obvious MG Turbo "0-60 in about 7 seconds, but not in a straight line".

 

The Montego was a good car for 1979. It's a shame it took a few years to hit the market, and then a couple more to hit a sweet spot with engine choice, marketing and reliability. For a moment the two-tone model, with hand-crank sunroof, in fetching red really did look like a better car than the dated J-body Mk 2 Cavalier - but the following year, the Mk 3 Cavalier appeared. And then Rover's own 200/400.

 

And here is the thing. When a Montego was a new car, you wanted the 400. It wasn't craggy and tinny like the 213/216, it looked futuristic, well finished. In every way it represented progress apart from the lack of an estate for a while (and when it did arrive it wasn't the most practical thing). Rover, I think, managed that in a far stronger way than many manufacturers - they pretty much were selling the equivalent of peddling the Visa and the ZX at the same time in the same market segment.

 

Car design hit a really good sweet spot with the next generation of midsize Europeans. I'm not a FWD GM fan, but having driven a couple of Mk 3 Cavaliers and a Vectra, the Cavalier was the better car. Likewise, Rover R8 vs. R3 and HH-R - the earlier cars were just better, less of a compromise. Ford may have floundered a bit with the Sierra launch, but the facelift really nailed it (and the Mondeo could be considered the last to be launched of the generation I'm talking about).

 

Montegos need saving, absolutely. And if nothing else, they showed that AR could put out an appealing and competitive car; and just imagine how well it would have sold in Europe if they'd produced the five-door fastback style - instead of making a car that would appeal to France with the Ambassador, then not making LHD versions.

[Bear]

Somewhat unusually the 1.3 goes well for its size, certainly quicker than the equivalent Sierra.

 

 

Glass half-full viewpoint. We could all do to be so optimistic.

[TRW]

Mines a pain in the arse. Mainly because it keeps leaking diesel everywhere, no matter how many new hoses I throw at it.

 

If I hadn't bought the last of the line MDi unit, I would have gone for a early MG 2.0i

[xtriple]

When I had the forecourt back in the 80s sold shed loads of Fords - XR2/3/4s, Spiffy Audi coupés, quick Cavaliers etc but you could not shift MG Maestros/Montegos for love nor money, so I avoided them like the plague.

 

One horrible day a salesman had taken in p/x a bloody MG Maestro1600 and given good money for it. I could have strangled the twat! It was the one that everybody truly hated as it had twin Weber (I seem to recall) carbs and the bloody voice synthesiser which was a pathological liar...  apart from when it told the truth and it blew up 'cos you ignored it!   I decided t drive it round the block so I could get up a decent amount of speed so it would go further up the salesmans arse when I got back and... quite enjoyed it!

 

It was a decent car and better than Fords rancid offerings (That every twat wanted along with 205 Piglets) and actually did sell, though I didn't make any money on the thing. Also had a Maestro VDP traded in which was the only car that the valeters refused to clean as they were scared they'd catch something as it was soooooo disgusting inside - mould everywhere, but that wasn;t the cars fault...

 

Was given an MG Montenogo a few years later and used it exclusively for towing a boat and it used to get dunked quite often. Brakes used to lock on (surprise, surprise!) as they were full of salt water and once I leant it to a mate to fetch some jump leads and he got to the end of the road, brakeed hard and got soaked as all the water that had taken up residence in the boot flooded into the cabin!

 

My best mate of the time was sales manager for an Austin Rover dealership and always had Montegos as his company car, even though he could have a Rover 800, he really liked them and usually had MG versions. When he got a Turbo Maestro we were all quite shocked at just how rapid it was! He was a real A/R anorak as he could tell you what part of which year a car had been made by the colour of the  strip in the side mouldings. Lovely bloke.

 

Overall, a lot better than their reputation and longevity suffered because of it: they quickly became cheap cars so no bugger looked after them.

[Captain Slow]

Talk to Captain Slow. He's not on here much though - would you like me to see if he can get in contact?

 

I know the car - D862VPU was owned by a mate of mine (Austin-Rover on here) for nigh on a decade. Then sold on, to someone who sold it to Russ Swift. That's the guy who did this.

 

 

Yep, he's selling it. I drove this car when Rich had it, and it was a pretty good one two years ago. It wasn't minted, and is unlikely to be now, but it was a solid car with some good period accessories and a good usable car.

[Noel Tidybeard]

89my facelift cars got the honda gearbox on the 1.6- i still think the one i had was the sweetest gearbox i've ever driven so much better than my mates sierrors g/box

never driven another car that was so easy to clutchless shift with

[sierraman]

At my old mans work they had Maestro vans, he loved them, said they used to shift well but had crap brakes. Presuming they are a 2.0 diesel Prima

[tooSavvy]

In a previous life (windscreen repairs) I was called out for a cracked screen on a Monte of some sort.

 

Edge crack - bonded screen - but the crack was on the inner glass layer (laminated) cos the steel screen pillar was rusting at the internal join

 

OOpsss

 

 

TS

[Bren]

My dad had 2 of the things - bought a 4 year old example in '88 - a 1.6 estate in moonraker blue. He loved the way it drove, good economy, however it had been clocked at some point - the gas struts holding the tailgate popped off the ball and sockets were so worn.

 

He bought a VDP EFI some years later - silk green on a D plate. It went very well ( qucker than my cav sri) however rust killed it - the rear suspension mountings in the boot started to look like the san andreas fault.

 

Even at four years old the first one was starting to rust - shocking really.

 

I would love an early turbo - surely they must be ultra rare now?

[Vin]

My only experience of Montegos, seems quite similar to others already posted...that is filling the rotten rear arches and door bottoms of one with wob...Alss, the aerial had snapped off too, so I drilled out the remains and lengthened the hole and stuck the good bit that was left, back in the hole with filler. Sanded it and painted the mount black. Obvs the radio didn't pick up anything as a result, but it looked better.

 

It belonged to my cousin and I was 'prepping' it for him as he wanted to sell it. A gold saloon, don't know what engine. I remember the reg though, it was C49 TDP. All this was in the summer of 1991...

[trigger]

I recall working on a gold J reg 2.0 GTi Estate, there was nothing different to it than a normal L model other than some BBS style alloys and some roof bars IIRC, not like these days when a GTi would get low profile wheels, fogs lights, spoilers and sporty seats.

[Minimad5]

My old man had a green one of these, with outwards facing seats in the boot.

Much fun was had showing the V, waving and pulling stupid faces at the age of 6, to unsuspecting following traffic (although i do recall one gentleman getting a bit angry and driving quickly, to within a few millimeters of the rear bumper .... pooped ones pants)

 

We had the alternator overcharge the battery coming back from Bangor, urgh that smell !

 

Also had a lift in a Diesel one, which pushed out more smoke than BHP & Torque combined.

I'd strangely like one myself mind.

[brickwall]

The extra seats in the boot were ace for dogs and stopping shopping/curry flying all over the place. I dunno about sitting in them.

 

Monty was retired after catastrophic engine failure. Bottom fell out and cylinder disintegrated into head knocking a a chunk off. RIP old friend.

[Minimad5]

They were quite hard, with piss poor seatbelts.

[omegod]

I had a 1.6 as my first motor, managed to crash it twice and it took them quite well . Rusty rear arches killed it in the end but I was quite fond of it

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

My dad had 2 of the things - bought a 4 year old example in '88 - a 1.6 estate in moonraker blue. He loved the way it drove, good economy, however it had been clocked at some point - the gas struts holding the tailgate popped off the ball and sockets were so worn.

 

He bought a VDP EFI some years later - silk green on a D plate. It went very well ( qucker than my cav sri) however rust killed it - the rear suspension mountings in the boot started to look like the san andreas fault.

 

Even at four years old the first one was starting to rust - shocking really.

 

I would love an early turbo - surely they must be ultra rare now?

 

 

A shame as they were easily the best looking estate, and they gained a loyal following. In Opporto red or Moonraker blue in HL spec they looked very smart. If only, etc etc.

[warren t claim]

Didn't our own Minimad5 have an elderly Montego owner offer to show him some puppies?

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

When I had the forecourt back in the 80s sold shed loads of Fords - XR2/3/4s, Spiffy Audi coupés, quick Cavaliers etc but you could not shift MG Maestros/Montegos for love nor money, so I avoided them like the plague.

 

One horrible day a salesman had taken in p/x a bloody MG Maestro1600 and given good money for it. I could have strangled the twat! It was the one that everybody truly hated as it had twin Weber (I seem to recall) carbs and the bloody voice synthesiser which was a pathological liar...  apart from when it told the truth and it blew up 'cos you ignored it!   I decided t drive it round the block so I could get up a decent amount of speed so it would go further up the salesmans arse when I got back and... quite enjoyed it!

 

It was a decent car and better than Fords rancid offerings (That every twat wanted along with 205 Piglets) and actually did sell, though I didn't make any money on the thing. Also had a Maestro VDP traded in which was the only car that the valeters refused to clean as they were scared they'd catch something as it was soooooo disgusting inside - mould everywhere, but that wasn;t the cars fault...

 

Was given an MG Montenogo a few years later and used it exclusively for towing a boat and it used to get dunked quite often. Brakes used to lock on (surprise, surprise!) as they were full of salt water and once I leant it to a mate to fetch some jump leads and he got to the end of the road, brakeed hard and got soaked as all the water that had taken up residence in the boot flooded into the cabin!

 

My best mate of the time was sales manager for an Austin Rover dealership and always had Montegos as his company car, even though he could have a Rover 800, he really liked them and usually had MG versions. When he got a Turbo Maestro we were all quite shocked at just how rapid it was! He was a real A/R anorak as he could tell you what part of which year a car had been made by the colour of the  strip in the side mouldings. Lovely bloke.

 

Overall, a lot better than their reputation and longevity suffered because of it: they quickly became cheap cars so no bugger looked after them.

 

 

Whilst the ordinary Maelstroms and Montenogos were a bit plain, the MG 2.0i in either form was a cracking car. The Maestro was a far, FAR nicer car than the XR3i - the Ford won on the short test drive but in the real world, the injection O Series was a very good engine with loads of torque and crisp throttle response. It handled like a dream too - better than the Mark 2 Golf GTi imo.

 

If only they'd built the 16 valve version with the Rover 820i motor - Cowley did built a couple of prototypes and it was reckoned to be an absolute dream to drive and bloody quick.

[dollywobbler]

Here's the Montego 1.6HL I drove back to back with my Nissan Bluebird a few years ago. In that comparison, it was a clear winner.

 

Captain Slow will not what reg is on that one now, as it was on a personal plate when I drove it.

[HH-R]

Can only ever remember facelift but pre R6 Metros, Maestros and Montegos looking absolutely shagged from (me) being a young age, I'm sure they came with rust, flat paint and arches full of filler from the factory.

Someone in my street had a Maestro and it was forever breaking down, it looked rough too. It must have only been about 6 years old!

 

There's something about the Monty/Maestro that screams shite, they quickly got in to banger/on the bones of your arse territory but thankfully my tastes have matured and they're for WINNERS now.

[Richard]

This garage https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@57.596421,-3.2813388,3a,67y,58.04h,77.5t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sF0o5l1iH-UTQYWa2EGQHjQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656had a Maestro and a Montego for sale the last time I was there, I get the impression they had been there since they were quite new. Even though they are low mileage (around 40k) they both have scrapyard parts on them and one has a four speed box when it should be a five speed. IIRC one was up at £3k and one at £2k, I wonder if the garage's new owner would be open to more sensible offers.

[Angrydicky]

Here's the Montego 1.6HL I drove back to back with my Nissan Bluebird a few years ago. In that comparison, it was a clear winner.

 

Captain Slow will not what reg is on that one now, as it was on a personal plate when I drove it.

It's back on its original reg now, D648 PVW.

[eggy]

This garage https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@57.596421,-3.2813388,3a,67y,58.04h,77.5t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sF0o5l1iH-UTQYWa2EGQHjQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656had a Maestro and a Montego for sale the last time I was there, I get the impression they had been there since they were quite new. Even though they are low mileage (around 40k) they both have scrapyard parts on them and one has a four speed box when it should be a five speed. IIRC one was up at £3k and one at £2k, I wonder if the garage's new owner would be open to more sensible offers.

 

The Montego is definitely still in the showroom, my mate was delighted to see it last week when down that way for work. 

 

Me and said mate are going to pick up a L reg  turbo diesel countryman for my brother tomorrow from Thurso,I cant wait. 

[AnthonyG]

I had a 1.6 LX about 20 years ago and hated it, but it was a poor example. Door bottoms and arches rusting despite only being four years old. On the other hand, I enjoyed driving my mums 2.0 GTi estate, lots of go and went round corners well. So yes to 2.0 ones and no to 1.6s, I can agree with the earlier comment about the 2 litre gearboxes being much better than the VW ones in 1600s. However if I wanted one now, I would buy based purely on body condition as this is likely to be critical, you can always upgrade the mechanicals later!

[lisbon_road]

Are you all aware that the tooling went to China and the Montego continued in production?  Though it seems most were a Maestro with a Montego front end - now there's a bad idea.  There is more about it here:

 

http://www.chinacarforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2688

 

Which even suggests that the Maestro van might still be in production.

[New POD]

I believe that the automated press and weld tooling for the estate went to Russia, whilst the UK, continued to build the estate with refurbished "development tooling" and this explains why the panel gaps in the last 2 years of manufacture, are massive on one side and a little close on the other.  

 

"apparently"

[Jim Bergerac]

Are you all aware that the tooling went to China and the Montego continued in production?  Though it seems most were a Maestro with a Montego front end - now there's a bad idea.  There is more about it here:

 

http://www.chinacarforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2688

 

Which even suggests that the Maestro van might still be in production.

 

They've moved on to bigger and better things these days. By which I mean they've fitted some kind of hybrid Kia/Subaru Forester body on to the Maestro platform: http://www.carnewschina.com/2014/12/16/visit-to-the-yema-dealer-in-china/

[raggerminder]

So has it been bought?