I fancy an Allegro

[chris1991]

Talk to me about Austin Allegros. I think the time has come to finally own one of these beauties before prices rise too much. 

 

Anyone on here own one or have owned one? Are they as bad as they are made out to be?

[Louise2cv]

Fastest car I have ever driven.

[Chris2cv]

Can't really help, but I have to agree. I have always thought that these were under rated. I know that they were not the greatest car, but don't think that they were really any worse than most of their contemporaries. I was offered one for next to nothing years ago, sadly didn't have any room or would have gone for it. The same reason I have "only" got two cars now. That and time, money etc.

[djimbob]

Big mini, ace, buy one

[C1am]

I owned two, an 1100 manual and 1300 automatic, and thought they were great. Utterly reliable, really easy to work on with masses of space in the engine bay. Cossetting ride, light and airy. As ever, rust is the enemy.

[rovamota]

But you'll wish you'd bought a Princess instead.

[chris1991]

I owned two, an 1100 manual and 1300 automatic, and thought they were great. Utterly reliable, really easy to work on with masses of space in the engine bay. Cossetting ride, light and airy. As ever, rust is the enemy.

 

Do they rust as badly as a mini?

[C1am]

Someone with more experience would be better placed to answer, but I had welding repairs to the wheel arches of one of them. The mini 1000 I owned needed the floorpan welding. 

[plasticvandan]

Most that are still around should be reasonably solid.I've had two,a very under rated car.

[JayW]

I had a poo brown one 20 years ago in 1300 manual guise. It was a nice car and apart from rust nothing ever went wrong.

 

I swapped it for my 2nd estelle (powder blue 105 lux), also noice.

[theshadow]

great with quartic steering wheel.... :-D :-D :-D

[trigger]

I'd like to own one just to say that I've had one and for a bit of a laugh. I recall the garage i did my school work experience at back in 1995 had one in and me taking quite a shine to it, although they all took the piss out of it.

[doobietoo]

Owned a couple when I was younger and am restoring one now. ride is good handle well for their age unless the spheres are bollocked, 1300s are 1000 mini quick 1750s quicker but front heavy, they rust less than minis but front valences, rear lower quarters and drivers side sills in particular are expensive and hard to come by. also check the fuel tank they rust for fun. the body itself is no different to any other 70s one so is easy to fix As said hydro spheres are usually bollocked by now but can be regassed for £350 for all 4. The owners club is excellent and knowledgeable have lots of the other panels and practically all running gear parts along with a selection of carpets and trim. Parts that are available are relatively cheap.

 1300 would be my choice as everything is available engine and gearbox wise, unless you want a show car £1500 should get you a good one...

[Insideimsmiling]

I had a lovely Vanden Plas model and also a light blue 2 door with a full webasto roof that I wish I had kept, they do drive well and have a reasonable amount of power to keep up with moderns and manage the motorway. The ride is very good especially if you are used to modern German stuff, you will be amazed. I found them to be utterly reliable so long as you carry out the basic checks any older car needs and they are roomy enough with plenty of space to work on them in the engine bay.

The prices are firmer now which at least means that they are usually cared for by owners and as previously stated rust is the issue as with any car of this age and so problems are easily spotted when buying. I would recommend the owners club if you are serious about finding the right car for you. They area lot of fun and sit there looking at you as if asking for a cuddle...........maybe just me then.

[Heidel_Kakao]

[Heidel_Kakao]

 

This is my old one. It was a Series three 1275 HL which the previous owner installed the interior from a Vandén Plaß in. Cost me £100 with tax and mot in about 2007. Was great fun and simple to work on. I sold it like än idiot before they became worth anything I would have another but it would need to be a poo brown estate!

[plasticvandan]

And I give you,my old brown allegro estate!

[matty879]

Talk to me about Austin Allegros. I think the time has come to finally own one of these beauties before prices rise too much. 

 

Anyone on here own one or have owned one? Are they as bad as they are made out to be?

i worked on one years ago,it was really solid,due to the oil leaking everywhere,anyway long story short,it was a 1275cc with a knackered gearbox,so i took the engine out,and fitted a mini clubman 1100 gearbox,neadless to say the diff ratio was wrong,mini being on10" wheels and allegro on 13" and it was screaming at 45mph in 4th,i always liked the vdp grille on those

[matty879]

And I give you,my old brown allegro estate!

austin-allegro-estate-03.jpg

aaaw the allure of austin rover russet brown,or my local motor factors,who call it shit brown,my tr7 was that colour,it must be by far the easiest colour to match

[STUNO]

Even I had one once. A much better car than the reputation and the 1300 was reasonably quick. Also have owned a 60's 1300 and a '71 1800 so I am qualified to comment !

[Craig the Princess]

Give one a try, they aren't for everyone but I love them. 1.0 or 1100 are a touch underpower for A road driving today but 1300s are fine and I'm told 1,500/1,750 are fast enough to surprise you.

 

They are pretty resistant to rust but the newest are over 33 years old so check it over before you buy, inner boot wheel arches, front valance, backs of sills and front tie bar mounts are spots to check.

[Chris2cv]

This must be the only forum where you could discuss a car like the Allegro without endless people just slagging it off. You can actually have a sensible discussion without it descending into shouting and arguments. (mostly!)  

[MarvinsMom]

i really, REALLY have to own one of these wee little piggies at some point.

 

i guess that they are  quite similar to the mini, only bigger (just like a metro, only little-er??)

 

plus i think i am one of the few people in the world that finds the Allegro's shape cute and appealing (ok yes i know i need professional help....) 

 

also a suppose a-series bits are easy to find, while e-series bits are a problem, but what is the situation with regard to body parts like?

[richbraith]

I had* a friend for many years (*That's another story) who I met when we were young 'uns working for one of those youth training firms, he was maybe about 23 to my 19 but he was a cool guy, looked a bit like Frankie Dettori, designer threads, usually 2-3 ladies on the go at once, but he didn't have a car as he always walked into town.  One day another colleague and I were skiving off riding around town in her Mini and went to check out his gaff out of nosiness, and there was a derelict looking S reg All Aggro SDL on the drive (this was 1995, they were rare by then).  We decided on confrontation the next day.

"Yeah, it's my car, it broke, couldn't afford to fix it".  Looked at floor
We were stunned, the Allegro didn't suit him at all!  Funny how he claimed not to own a car.

 

He went on to own at least three 954cc AX's, a Belmont Club with the migraine-y interior, a really basic Punto in that metallic light blue, a Saxo Furio and last time I saw him was driving a lateish 5 door Clio in Werthers Original Metallic.

Maybe my constant evaluations of his motoring choices were why he abruptly broke off contact with me after nearly 20 years.  Everybody has a breaking point.  I blame the Allegro.

[barrett]

I think I did about 15,000 miles in our one, including a long stint as a daily driver doing 300+ miles a week and it only ever let me down once (a problem I could have fixed in two seconds, had somebody not reversed into me and broken the bonnet release cable a few days prior). It's comfortable, quick enough saw an indicated 90 several times with no indication it was about to explode) and fun to drive. With the exception of my Reliant Regal it gets more attention than any old car I've driven (which must be nearly into three figures now).

It's now sat on my drive awaiting some love, but we'd probably part with it if it was going to a good home...

[anonymous user]

I have never owned an Allegro but have driven a few and always fancied a VP. My Allegro claim to fame is being moved on by the police when cleaning the spark-plugs on one in Belgrave Square. (The valve stem seals had gone and it kept oiling the plugs)

[maxpower]

I had an orange/red estate one back in the late 80's.... drove from southampton to glasgow in it... stopped somewhere near kendal(pitch black night) to refuel and it died..refused to start.. no breakdown cover but AA guy saw we had a young child with us..and shot some volts through it or something and it kicked into life :)we made it to glasgow and done the return journey trouble free a week later...then it died again... we gave up on it and sold it to a guy for parts.

[Lankytim]

I've had a couple of these and still have a 1500 special. They're actually much less rot prone than many of their contemporaries but they can still rust like a bastard. 

 

Fun to drive, easy to find parts for and work on and seem to have shed their poor image, emerging as quite a cool car. Prepare yourself for lots of thumbs up and chats at the petrol pumps!

[Captain Furious]

An article on MSN this morning about cars that are disappearing from our roads claims only 170 allegros left.  I'm always a bit sceptical of these howmanyleft figures but its quite an interesting article nevertheless.  On that basis then yes, definitely buy one.  I have no other constructive advice unfortunately because I've never owned or even been in one.

 

http://www.msn.com/en-gb/cars/news/popular-cars-vanishing-from-our-roads/ss-AAhL8Bo?li=BBoPWjQ&ocid=HPCDHP#image=34

 

A few high/low surprises

[Louise2cv]

Mine was everything you could want from a runaround. Nippy, comfy, big enough for a couple of passengers.

 

Only thing I "missed" was possibly a hatch back and fold down seat. But really, I managed quite fine without.

 

I got rid due to new mother/precious cargo safety concerns.

 

I also used to be frightened of them, but grew to appreciate the Allegro as a handsome looking car.

 

I think most of the Allegro bashing is just a crowd following thing, I bet most people under 35 haven't been in one, or maybe even seen one close up but would spout Clarksonisms about how shit they are. (See: Eccentric Richard)

 

Also it was the fastest car I have ever driven, in case you missed that.