Maxi Madness

[theorganist]

I have been mainly a lurker here for the past year or so, partly as I lost some of my old car interest (well I think it was just hiding). Partly not helped by the 309 being less than reliable and needing a head gasket replacement and being a recalcitrant bugger in the mornings. 

 

I now have it back as I am about to have another Maxi back in my life,

 

In classic autoshite fashion, I haven't seen the car, have only seen a photo and haven't even spoke to the owner.

 

It is a Sandglow, 1979, T Reg, Maxi 1500. It was last on the road in 1994 and has been dry stored since, except for the last two weeks.

 

It was to be part of an auction (for scrap) which included a horde of Maestros today. There was also a Marina estate but that was available to purchase separately. However offers were allowed for any of the vehicles before the auction today. I offered £200 which was accepted. However, if it does turn out to be a basket case then I can probably sell the parts for more than it cost, however that is not my intention.

 

Here is all I have seen of it so far.

 

[panhard65]

That doesn't look too bad . Is that a Maestro van there as well ? When does the rest go to auction or have they all been scrapped.

[danthecapriman]

Very nice, great colour too.

What's the plan then? Restore it or just get it roadworthy and as Junkman would say 'do not paint'!

[theorganist]

The auction is today it is Glaspers Land Agency in Boscombe.

[Cavcraft]

Hope that Maxi turns out ok and good to see you posting again, TO. Were you not tempted by any of the Maestros too? All being well they'll get snapped up for parts if nothing else, rather than being crushed. Keep us posted about the Maxi please, fingers crossed it's not too bad.

[Uncle Jimmy]

200 notes, wcpgw, welcome back, diesel? Etc.

[theorganist]

Thanks all.

 

@ danthecapriman First plan (after getting it here) is to see if the engine is seized and check on things like the lights and stuff and hopefully get it running. Then get it to the garage for an MOT to see what needs doing. I will try and tidy the paint but certainly it won't be getting any kind of repray in the next 12 months!

 

@Cavcraft thankyou. Tbh I was tempted with the blue C reg Maestro although someone I spoke to (a Maestro enthusiast) who has been up to the farm said most were in quite a poor state. Unfortunately I only have room for three cars (and only certain combinations fit on the drive?, the Maxi makes four, a Maestro would be five so logistically it would be impossible, a can't get the Maxi home till I have sold the 309. The auctioneers may be able to point you in the direction of purchasers of the vehicles possibly, I will try and speak to the contact down their and ask him if he knows what has happened to the other vehicles. 

 

@nibblet thanks, It appears it is a petrol engine as the girl at the auctioneers showed one her colleagues a picture of the engine and he says it has plugs and leads!! 

 

She is supposed to be sending me the pictures she took of the car, I will have to remind her.

 

I will keep the thread updated although don't expect anything of Vulgalour/SambaS etc thread proportions as much of the work won't be done by me I'm afraid, I will do what I can.

 

I have been inspired by another Maxi rescue. There was a "barn find" Maxi recently on ebay and someone on the Maxi Appreciation Society Facebook page won it. It has been of the road some time, not quite as long as this I don't think but within a fortnight or so he had it collected, MOT'd and polished so well it almost looked new!

 

Peter

[quicksilver]

Excellent, welcome back and you've returned in style - we can never have too many Maxis round here. Your Maxi seller has even more Maestros than the chap we bought ours from.

[theorganist]

Excellent, welcome back and you've returned in style - we can never have too many Maxis round here. Your Maxi seller has even more Maestros than the chap we bought ours from.

Thanks, I agree can't have too many Maxi's. Sadly I suspect almost all of those Maestro's will be scrapped .

[Dick Cheeseburger]

Looks like the Maxi has been off the road for years - no trace of it on car checker app or DooVLA site. Looks like an interesting one - I wonder what the back story is? Number plate is a Devon one, so it's not strayed too far in its lifetime. I'd be naming it Ken...

[theorganist]

Looks like the Maxi has been off the road for years - no trace of it on car checker app or DooVLA site. Looks like an interesting one - I wonder what the back story is? Number plate is a Devon one, so it's not strayed too far in its lifetime. I'd be naming it Ken...

It does, it is under Austin Morris, most Maxi's this age come under Leyland Cars, earlier ones were just Austin. It has been off the road since 1994, the owner is a farmer in his 80's, I think he is clearing the "junk" from his farm and it was being auctioned off today. 

 

 

 

Registration number: DOD 724T

✗ Untaxed

Tax due: 01 September 1994

MOT

No details held by DVLA

If you have just purchased this vehicle, you must tax it even if it shows as taxed above. Vehicle tax cannot be transferred from keeper to keeper.

If you have taxed, made a SORN or had an MOT it can take up to 5 days for these details to be shown above.

You can check with your bank/building society to confirm your payment was successful.

Vehicle details

• Vehicle make AUSTIN MORRIS
• Date of first registration 01 May 1979
• Year of manufacture 1979
• Cylinder capacity (cc) 1485cc
• COâ‚‚Emissions Not available
• Fuel type PETROL
• Export marker No
• Vehicle status Not taxed
• Vehicle colour BROWN
• Vehicle type approval Not available
• Wheelplan 2 AXLE RIGID BODY
• Revenue weight Not availabl

A Maestro enthusiast who lives nearby and has spoken to the farmer, told me the farmer told him that he had fitted a diesel engine to it, however I have had confirmation that it is a petrol, certainly it is showing as a 1485cc on the DVLA site.

 

It will certainly be interesting to see what it is like close up.

 

Peter

[Dick Cheeseburger]

If that Maxi is a diesel, the interwebz will melt. Watching with interest...

[jonathan_dyane]

Perhaps it was a diesel originally and the farmer converted it to run on petrol/TVO?

[tooSavvy]

If that Maxi is a diesel, the interwebz will melt. Watching with interest...

 

... well, has happened to BL chod B4...

 

Pug1.9 TD

 

TS

[theorganist]

Perhaps it was a diesel originally and the farmer converted it to run on petrol/TVO?

Well it certainly wouldn't have come out of the factory with a diesel as it was never offered. Maybe he bought it with a diesel fitted, I am not sure why you would bother tbh replacing the E series with a diesel especially as presumably this would have happened in the 80's so most diesel options wouldn't have been that great. Maybe it was the old B series diesel.

[adw1977]

Excellent purchase, bottom of the range too! I think 1979 was the last year that the Maxi was available with the 1500 engine. Good luck!

[toejam]

Good job that diesel Morris has a cranking handle, it ain't got a battery !!!

[quicksilver]

I fear this might break the internet but I'm going to post it anyway. The Maxi diesel is not just a myth and one does actually exist in Pakistan! Check out http://www.pakwheels.com/used-cars/austin-maxi-1977-for-sale-in-feteh-jhang-1071059

 

There's more about it on the Maxi club site at http://www.austinmaxiclub.org/features/blpakistan/bm0.htm. Because E-series and Hydrolastic parts are unobtanium over there it has been converted to coil springs and a Toyota turbodiesel of all things!

[Eddie Honda]

I fear this might break the internet but I'm going to post it anyway. The Maxi diesel is not just a myth and one does actually exist in Pakistan!

Yawn. You're missing the gag completely. We all know of that 1.5l Toyota-lumped yoke.

 

Any reference to Maxi Diesel is shorthand for factory 1750.

 

http://autoshite.com/topic/22168-austin-maxi-1750/

[quicksilver]

Yawn. You're missing the gag completely. We all know of that 1.5l Toyota-lumped yoke.

 

Any reference to Maxi Diesel is shorthand for factory 1750.

 

http://autoshite.com/topic/22168-austin-maxi-1750/

I'm well aware of the Maxi diesel meme and how it came about, thank you very much. If *everyone* already knows about the Pakistani car then how come it has never been mentioned here in the five years I have been a member? I just thought members might like to know there is more truth to the joke than they may have realised.

[theorganist]

Lol that was an amusing thread. I think I had heard about the Pakistan Maxi diesel.

[dollywobbler]

That was quite a snipe to be fair. Easy now! Frankly, anything that moves us away from that sodding in-joke has to be a good thing! I was glad to hear of an actual diesel Maxi and am interested to see what this one turns out to be like!

[nigel bickle]

Much luck Peter, and here's hoping you won't need it!

[jakebullet]

Probably* get your money back selling the roof rack to some scene vw tosser.

[drum]

Here's hoping it hasn't gone a bit soft underneath (and that it has the elusive rotary diesel).

[Braddon81]

This will be perfect for pretending your Clark Griswald on a European Vacation!!

[overrun]

"Terribly sorry old boy, my fault!"

[Lord Sterling]

Excellent! Welcome back Pete. Another Maxi too. What else have you got to make the Maxi a 3rd car then?

[Louise2cv]

I'm pretty sure that diesel maxi guy used that real diesel maxi as evidence for his imaginary diesel maxi. So most of the people witnessing the whole diesel maxi affair would be well aware of actual diesel maxis. Diesel maxi guy provided no further evidence for the existence of his diesel maxi (or was it his dad's? Echoes of Eccentric Richard) apart from angry assertions that it definitely was a diesel maxi and that everyone else was wrong.

 

HTH

 

Or, in other words CHILL OUT gang!

[quicksilver]

I've just re-read the Maxi diesel thread and I'd forgotten just how bizarre and hilarious it was. There's so much craziness there I didn't remember the Pakistani car being mentioned so apologies for bringing it up again. If you had a spare 2.5 lacs you could have bought it and had an epic collection thread from Islamabad.

 

I'm off to Costco to stock up on veg for my Maxi - E-series diesels will run on the veg, right?