Also GR8 4 Collecting Pension (Targa Red Maestro)

[Angrydicky]

So, a mate told me he was selling his Maestro, did I know anyone who was interested?

 

Well, initially I didn't, but I managed to convince my dad (who was thinking about getting something older to tinker with over the summer) to go for a look. And you know what, it was really tidy and drove well, so we went halves on it and collected it this morning.

 

Collection was easy as it was about three miles away in Southend. We drove over there in my Maestro then drove home in convoy, which had a lot of people staring and pointing!

 

So, basically it's a very sound and original car. It's a 1987 1.3L in Targa Red. Never been welded, 51k from new and clearly garaged for most of its life.

 

Have some pictures.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Angrydicky]

Inside. None of the usual dash cracks. Everything seems to work.

 

 

 

Original rear plate and the remains of the dealer sticker. It spent its whole life in Hereford until it came to Southend last year.

 

 

 

Worst bit of grot on the car. The door bottoms are like new, and most of the places that have gone on the beige Maestro are perfect.

 

 

Headlining's pinned up and a bit tatty, but we've already changed one and the job isn't too bad.

 

 

Bit of a shame about the drivers seat, but it's not that bad.

 

 

Engine bay is really clean.

 

 

 

[taxi paul]

Excellent purchase. Looks to be in fine condition as well. Top marks sir.

[Angrydicky]

It came with plenty of paperwork, pretty much a full service history and nearly every MoT and tax disc from new. As far as I can gather the first owner had it 1987-91, the second from 1991-2014, then two short term owners since.

 

 

 

 

I found the original dealer tax disc holder in the file, so that went back in the window with the 1991 tax disc.

 

 

 

Jobs to do? Well it needs a good service as although it has done very little mileage over the last few years, it's six years since it was last done. It needs a tuneup as it's not running as well as it could be, the paint needs cutting and polishing and it needs a headlining. It also needs a set of proper plates from DMB Graphics - does anyone have a picture of the Auto Palace Hereford dealer sticker in better condition?

 

Overall, very happy with it. It's got a lovely clutch and gearbox and seems quite nippy.

 

We gave £450 for it. Don't think that's bad really

 

 

[inconsistant]

I wholeheartedly approve!

[dean36014]

Always thought the maestro and montego where nice cars to drive in their day. I had a montego TD countryman and loved it. My brother had a Maestro Turbo that had been played with by Turbo technics, bloody thing used to fly!

[vulgalour]

That's very nice indeed and a great contrast to the basic beige one.

[johngarty]

Bargain. I had an MG in same colour. Electronic speedo. 

[HMC]

Lovely! What's the story with maestro bumpers? I've seem early cars in both styles but Late ones only in steel/ end caps. I've only ever seen montegos with the wrap around ones.

[Cheezey]

Very nice. Great price for such a nice clean car.

 

My dad had a Montego Si in the same colours that was discribed as 'Multicoloured' on the V5.

[Angry Sheep]

That looks bloody lovely.

[Noel Tidybeard]

Lovely! What's the story with maestro bumpers? I've seem early cars in both styles but Late ones only in steel/ end caps. I've only ever seen montegos with the wrap around ones.

 

base, city, city x & special (and the van) had metel bumpers

l, hl, hle, hls, vp, mg, lx, slx & advantage had plastic

the very late stuff (ledbury & roadcar) were kits rebuilt and only had the metal stuff

 

montegos only ever had plastic

[wuvvum]

Maestro Clubman was metal too.

[Eddie Honda]

1.3 Maestro? How bloody miserable! Top buyage.

[brownnova]

Excellent purchase!! I Would very happily drive round in a Maestro every day!

[Felly Magic]

I love a Maestro. You got a bargain there

[EssDeeWon]

Nice one Dicky, is that the one that was in Southchurch?

 

Looks nice mate, I need to pap that.

[danthecapriman]

That looks an absolute bargain for £450. Well bought.

[Angrydicky]

Very nice. Great price for such a nice clean car.

 

My dad had a Montego Si in the same colours that was discribed as 'Multicoloured' on the V5.

 

Yes, that's what this one is described as. It was a bit surprising it wasn't down as red. Must have been one of the very first Maestros/Montegos to have the grey lower half.

 

Nice one Dicky, is that the one that was in Southchurch?

 

Looks nice mate, I need to pap that.

 

Yes it's that one Steve. You know where it is now!

 

It's a great car, this. My dad's tweaked the mixture a bit and got it running much better, the only problem now is it still 'runs on' when you switch the engine off.

 

We've started cutting and polishing the paint and it's coming up like new. Most of the car is immaculate.

[purplebargeken]

They both look bloody wonderful. Never had a Maestro but did have a Montego estate which was pretty good apart from the rear arches. 

[vulgalour]

Take the dash pot off, check the needles for wear and blockage, replace if necessary.  The Princess used to either run lumpy or run on and it was down to a slightly bent needle and a very worn jet needle (the shorter one, I forget the actual name for it).  Straightened the big needle, replaced the worn small needle and topped up the dashpot with fresh fluid to cure the problem.

[Angrydicky]

I'll give that a go Angyl, thanks. We haven't actually checked the dashpot oil yet so it could be empty or the wrong grade which won't help.

[JohnK]

Nice one, looks great for £450!

[theorganist]

Looks very nice, well bought. I think the ones in a strong colour and the plastic bumpers look very smart. 

[For Fiats Sake]

Lovely, can't believe its an E plate!

 

My 1.6 lx on a J plate is much crustier, though living outside isn't helping.

 

i should use it more but I find it a difficult car to enter and exit without a lot of huffing and puffing though a lovely drive once in,  just wish it had power steering - I is old giffer! (at 47) but don't want an auto one!

[Pillock]

Probably my favourite Maestro, if there is such a thing. I had all the brochures from the late 80s Maestro, Astra and Escort as that was the shortlist for my mum's lease car. For reasons best known to a 9 year old me, I wanted her to get the Maestro 1.3 LX but she went for an Escort LX instead, which was sort of OK as it had the grey lower paint which too. Looking back it was a much better car on paper, with the new 1.4 CHV, but inside I was gutted when she placed the order for the Ford.

 

Our neighbours also had a late Maestro, an LX in white over grey, and when mum got the Escort they clearly thought they'd been usurped and waited a few months for the new reg, and got an F plate Escort even though the Maestro was less than a year old. They were a bit like that. 

[cms206]

I hated my Maestro 1.6L (big bumper like yours but just Targa red, no grey) but I loved the Montego 1.6L I replaced it with. Fuck knows why.

 

Well bought!

[Guest Lord Sward]

I love those, top purchasing. 

[Noel Tidybeard]

Maestro Clubman was metal too.

 

i knew there was another one!

[Angrydicky]

Time I updated this!

 

We've done a fair bit to this. First up was an oil and filter change, which appears to have last been done in 2006 although it has done only 1000 miles since. The running problem was an ultra weak mixture, richened up it ran much better. We got a new tyre fitted on the O/S/F as it was on the limit, and adjusted the tracking as it was miles out and pulling to one side. The front bumper had been damaged in an accident and there was a gap between it and the wing on the drivers side. Closer inspection revealed a previous bodge that had broken. A cable tie was used to good effect to sort it out.

 

Apart from that it's just been a really thorough clean, T-cut and finish with Turtle Wax. It's come up pretty damn well.

 

 

 

 

Engine bay came up particularly well.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Door bottoms are perfect, so much better than the crispy ones on the Beige Maestro.

 

 

Finishing touch