I fancy an Allegro

[andrew e]

I had an early VDP automatic (no picnic tables early!) in burgundy. It was ok. Even with rose tinted spectacles, it was still ok.

[Asimo]

Under bonnet of the A series ones is really neat and spacious (and simple). A pretty good drive, in the context of a 1973 car, provided the suspension is in good nick. 

[406V6]

My first car was a T Reg Allegro 1300. It was good to drive round town and twisty roads thanks to light controls and good ride & grip. Fairly comfy too.  It was lousy on the motorway and I’d have to doubt the standards of anyone who says the 1300 is fast (especially compared to an MG Metro 1300 which was quite lively). Mine was a poor cruiser - working very hard even at 65 mph - and you would have to totally cane the thing downhill to exceed 80 mph.

 

They resisted rust better than similar cars of the period and of course A Series mechanical parts were easily available and cheap.

[Louise2cv]

I’d have to doubt the standards of anyone who says the 1300 is fast

How VERY dare you!

 

Mine followed 2 2cvs and big heavy moderns/works vans.

 

If you are hoping to spend hours on end zooming about going any faster than 70mph why would you be looking at a 40yo small family car anyway?

[tooSavvy]

If you are hoping to spend hours on end zooming about going any faster than 70mph why would you be looking at a 40yo small family car anyway?

To paraphrase :-

 

"If you are hoping to top 9yrs wheezing about in a ProtonSavvy then buying a DahChaa makes total sense!"

 

TS

[Squire_Dawson]

The A type engined cars are 60 MPH cruisers for sure.There is still good acceleration past this point for safety, but they just seem to naturally want to sit at that speed, which suits me fine. I've been all over the country in mine, great little cars.

[captain_70s]

Can't be any more gutless than Triumph's 1300cc offering, the Dolly kept up with traffic even though it couldn't be called "fast"...

 

Incidentally serial car hoarder, beard owner and general old car mentalist Sam Glover is selling one on eBay in the exact spec I'd want one in. Namely a rusty beige 2-door with a brown interior and the 1300 motor...

[AndyW201]

I also had one, back around 2004/5. It was an absolute hoot. Fun to drive, cheap to run and despite the reputatation, very dependable although I did really only use it for the odd weekend, shows and the odd trip to work. As mentoned, kind of like a cross between a Mini and Metro to drive, surprisingly roomy as well.

 

I bought mine for £225 from ebay. This included 11 months MOT, a recent service and four new Michelins 1000 miles ago! I think I was lucky enough to get in there before the prices started to stiffen. It had the classic 'one giffer lady owner' for its first 22 years, only covering 11,000 miles in that time. It then got used only for shows by the second owner before the girl I bought it off. She then did another 40,000 miles in it as her daily, apparently in all weathers and was 100% reliable, only having one ftp when the condenser threw the sponge in. By the time I got it, it was still solid and tidy , just with a few giffer marks and touch ins. I was well pleased with it and miss it now.

Sadly a couple of years later, it was spotted on ebay as a rolling shell after the inevitable... (guess what engine it had?)

[michael1703]

Sam glover is selling one

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1979-Austin-Allegro-1300-Super-two-door-34k-miles-good-original-condition-/322167366372?hash=item4b02abe2e4:g:dW0AAOSwGIRXbXOe

[Vince70]

I really rate the allegro myself and it's really a shame that it's got an underserved reputation..

 

Back in the mid 80s I had a really immaculate example which had done hardly any miles which I got from my aunt and after coming from old base model MK1 and 2 escorts it was a far better drive and never had any trouble with that car.

 

I also found it far more economical and it was far more sure footed in the bends obviously the gearbox wasn't as good as the ford RWD box but apart from that it was better all round apart from the fact that my younger brother refused to get a lift too school in it as the Escort had more street cred.

[cros]

I had a quartic wheeled one in the late 70's. It was a faded lilac colour and I was given it for free, I never even knew the engine size as I'm ashamed to say that I had no interest in the thing though I'd guess it was an 1100. I used it for 3 months then flogged it to a nurse for 30 quid.

With hindsight it was the equal to the Simca 1100, slightly better in the engine department and a better ride. At the time the lack of a hatchback was a pain. I got used to the steering wheel, but not a shape I'd choose.

Later I had an early Marina 2 door which I preferred. It was an early 1.8 in a similar colour to this site and I liked it hugely. I was delivering cars at the time and another one which was becoming the butt of jokes in the motoring press was the Avenger: though I've never owned one they were surprisingly good to drive too.

[xkjagnz]

I had a blue 1750 twin cam one years back, bought off a little old lady - honest, the thing was mint and low mileage.

Overtook a Ferrari in it on the M27 one day - mind you I don't think he was really trying.

Daily driver and nice to drive, til we blew the engine driving to Plymouth from Pompey one weekend

[xkjagnz]

Now look what you have made me start looking at --you bastards!!!

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/austin/auction-1098677132.htm

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/austin/auction-1108830228.htm

[drum]

 

Mine goes in for its mot next week.

 

1100 rocket ship.

 

Austin Allegro 1100 Deluxe by john boath, on Flickr

[trigger]

I'd like a Allegro, there I've said it. I've got Sam Glovers on my watch list and I'm even on his door step at the moment but lack of mot rules it out for me as i have no other way if getting it home. I was quite keen on AlegG's lovely Estate back when he was sell it too. I just fancy one for a laugh but i looking at the prices it's a expensive joke now!

[captain_70s]

I'd like a Allegro, there I've said it. I've got Sam Glovers on my watch list and I'm even on his door step at the moment but lack of mot rules it out for me as i have no other way if getting it home. I was quite keen on AlegG's lovely Estate back when he was sell it too. I just fancy one for a laugh but i looking at the prices it's a expensive joke now!

Book in for MOT, drive there, fail, drive home.

 

I mean that was my plan but it was considerably more ambitious what with having the whole length of the nation to travel, also the £250 train ticket to get to the car put me off a tad...

[vulgalour]

The Princess is the more affordable option and shares a lot of similarities with the Allegro.  That said, the Allegro is smaller, easier to store, has better parts support and holds its value better so you're more likely to get a decent return if you don't like it and want to sell it on.  Allegros are a lot easier to buy too, there's simply more of them out there on the market.

 

I'd still like one, either in Applejack with a paprika interior and a VDP front end (because reasons, even though they never made them this way) or like this.

 

They do seem to have recently gone from ironic joke car to cult classic, possibly because the ironic joke car people have discovered that actually they're rather good.  Or at least the ones that are left are rather good.  It wasn't always that way, as is true of most things in the 70s.

[warren t claim]

I'm a lone wolf suburban vigilante so obviously they appeal to me.

[Junkman]

 

I fancy an Allegro

 

Don't we all?

 

Make mine a Vanden Plas with an Arthur Daley sticker in the rear window.

Oh, and let me win the Lotto.

[chris1991]

Thanks for all the positive comments, I definitely want one now. 

[chris1991]

The Princess is the more affordable option and shares a lot of similarities with the Allegro.  That said, the Allegro is smaller, easier to store, has better parts support and holds its value better so you're more likely to get a decent return if you don't like it and want to sell it on.  Allegros are a lot easier to buy too, there's simply more of them out there on the market.

 

I'm surprised you say the Princess is the cheaper option, I thought prices had really firmed for these. 

[purplebargeken]

They are rather good as Vulg says. Look forward to the collection thread

[purplebargeken]

I went to look at an estate locally about 5 years ago. The closer I got to it the rustier it looked. Dear god was it rusty but it drove nicely.

 

I didn't buy it. 

[Negative Creep]

Don't we all?

 

Make mine a Vanden Plas with an Arthur Daley sticker in the rear window.

Oh, and let me win the Lotto.

 

 

I quite fancy a late HLS with the 4 round headlights

[chris1991]

What is the club like?

[purplebargeken]

Last time I looked at the club was several years ago, it seemed decent enough. 

[purplebargeken]

Alive and well so it seems: http://www.allegroclubint.org.uk/

[Felly Magic]

A mate of Trigger's went slightly bonkers with his. Do it man, before prices get totally mucking fental 

 

 

 

 

[cros]

This weekend I did 290 miles in my 1937 Morris 10 which has a very poorly installed Ital A series. Given that the car is a hardly aerodynamic it never fails to amaze me how well the 1275 shoves it along. It happily keeps up 60 and mpg is in the high 30's. I wouldn't hesitate to use Allegro as an everyday car and suggest that provided the engine is in decent nick you wouldn't need to make concessions to its age by driving below the legal limit on motorways.