Project Metro Rag Top

[The Old Bloke Next Door]

Possibly.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Wow I'd love to look at a soft-top and hard-top shell sat side by side, it'd be well interesting to see what lengths Rover had to go to to build what is a pretty ridiculous vehicle overall. Chuck up a few photos of the soft top shell will you?

[GeordieInExile]

Wow I'd love to look at a soft-top and hard-top shell sat side by side, it'd be well interesting to see what lengths Rover had to go to to build what is a pretty ridiculous vehicle overall. Chuck up a few photos of the soft top shell will you?

Given how dreadful the crash protection and structural rigidity was in the regular 100 I shudder to think what even a 30mph collision would do to the cabriolet.

[The Old Bloke Next Door]

Wow I'd love to look at a soft-top and hard-top shell sat side by side, it'd be well interesting to see what lengths Rover had to go to to build what is a pretty ridiculous vehicle overall. Chuck up a few photos of the soft top shell will you?

 

Its sat in a corner of my workshop, now full up to above the top of the wind screen frame with various junk. I will post some pics in due course.

[Peter C]

 

Gulp.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Just looking at your photo those B-pillars look impressively DIY! Great stuff.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

1CFA56BB-B445-40AB-A394-8A4976E92811.jpeg

 

Gulp.

 

With this youi've gotta remember that the bodyshell was designed and tooled in the late 70's, and just sold for a much longer duration than its concurrents. I'm sure a mk1/2 fiesta or Mk1 Nova would fold up in comparable fashion but theyd both been pensioned off well before Rover 100's started getting Euro NCAP tested. Folk used to say theyre dangerous, but they were just 'old'.

[Pillock]

It does look like someone's side project that somehow got cleared for production. They just started welding steel stock to a Metro shell until they could cut the roof off without it instantly folding, and launched it.

 

I'm also blown away that you can just turn up a handful of shells without difficulty for this.

[The Old Bloke Next Door]

With this youi've gotta remember that the bodyshell was designed and tooled in the late 70's, and just sold for a much longer duration than its concurrents. I'm sure a mk1/2 fiesta or Mk1 Nova would fold up in comparable fashion but theyd both been pensioned off well before Rover 100's started getting Euro NCAP tested. Folk used to say theyre dangerous, but they were just 'old'.

Indeed, I lent my son my 1995 Rover 100 which was a one owner 15000 mile car when I bought it. He drove it into the back of a 56 plate Punto writing both cars off. The Metro took the shunt well and he walked away uninjured.

 

[Peter C]

With this youi've gotta remember that the bodyshell was designed and tooled in the late 70's, and just sold for a much longer duration than its concurrents. I'm sure a mk1/2 fiesta or Mk1 Nova would fold up in comparable fashion but theyd both been pensioned off well before Rover 100's started getting Euro NCAP tested. Folk used to say theyre dangerous, but they were just 'old'.

Yes but a lot of us are enjoying old cars today and those of us who have chosen such steeds are potentially putting their lives at risk every time they get behind the wheel. I am lucky to have a penchant for what were and still remain safe cars.

 

 

I am not saying that we should all be driving Volvos and I’ve seen the Fifth Gear episode where a Volvo 940 crashed into a Renault Modus but I would probably refuse a lift in a Rover 100 Cabrio, regardless how cool they are.

[drivewaymyway]

1CFA56BB-B445-40AB-A394-8A4976E92811.jpeg

 

Gulp.

 

 The Ultimate in crumple zones.. not all bad though, the witnesses on the top of the bus would have survived without a scratch.. These cars were mostly driven by bored housewives taking the dog for a walk in the woods or meeting up with the Gardener in a Hotel as MR and MRS Smith.. ( I am an avid watcher of Inspector Morse ).. My Wives family had them from new and used it for shopping on a Friday so consequently when we got them as 'hand me downs' they were 6 years old and 10k miles.. we used a Metro / 100 for everything, slow and reliable and I'm sure the cause of my hearing loss but cheap in every way.. did 20k miles a year in them and got shot when the rust came through.. 1st one we sold with 120k on it and second one with 140k on it.. No major work done just servicing and tyres.. compared to modern stuff they were easy to park and keep clean due to being similar in size to a roller skate..

[UltraWomble]

No matter how old and "classic" these become I shall never love a K series Metro above an A series one.

 

And Ive lived with both types.

Sorry. But for me the joy* of greasing nipples and topping the dash pot up on a Sunday morning far outweigh playing Kettle roulette.

 

Still - good save, someone has to do time on the K series shovel for the future generations....

[Peter C]

I have fond memories of driving my then girlfriend's (I am talking 25 years ago here) K-series 1.1 litre 5 door Metro to a field near Amersham for a bit of outdoor nookie. Amazing what you could do in the back of one of those.

 

The little Metro was probably 15 years old and had 150k miles on the clock when my (then ex) eventually sold it. During her ownership all that it needed was routine servicing. Reliability and running costs were never an issue but the complete lack of passive safety features makes me cringe when I think how much time I spent in that car.

[Pillock]

Just read the development story over on AROnline and apparently the bodies weren't as flimsy as suggested and there was no strengthening needed at the front, just a U-shaped structure at the rear.

 

Still wondering if these would have been better as a two seater, flatter hood and "speed bumps".

[Pillock]

 the complete lack of passive safety features makes me cringe when I think how much time I spent in that car.

 

It's OK, you've got a much bigger crumple zone if you're both on the back seat

[Peter C]

It's OK, you've got a much bigger crumple zone if you're both on the back seat

 

And I had two airbags!

[sierraman]

With this youi've gotta remember that the bodyshell was designed and tooled in the late 70's, and just sold for a much longer duration than its concurrents. I'm sure a mk1/2 fiesta or Mk1 Nova would fold up in comparable fashion but theyd both been pensioned off well before Rover 100's started getting Euro NCAP tested. Folk used to say theyre dangerous, but they were just 'old'.

Past it’s sell by date is the word you are looking for.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Yes but a lot of us are enjoying old cars today and those of us who have chosen such steeds are potentially putting their lives at risk every time they get behind the wheel. I am lucky to have a penchant for what were and still remain safe cars.

 

I would probably refuse a lift in a Rover 100 Cabrio, regardless how cool they are.

Your loss chief!

 

As for 'putting our lives at risk every time we get behind the wheel' that's a bit melodramatic!!!! I must be lucky to still be here taking into account the hundreds of thousands of miles I've done in ropey old motors with no airbags etc.

[BeEP]

I've driven tens of thousands of miles in Metros and much older BL offerings.  I try not to drive into large lumps of metal that have Euro NCAP written on the sides.  Or anything else.  I seem to still be alive. 

 

My Austin 1300 was demolished by a drunk driver in a Ford Ranger pick-up on a dual carriageway, at dual carriageway speeds.  I refer you to the fact that I am still alive (not even a scratch in fact). 

 

Am I lucky?  I don't think so, particularly.  I am also not prone to believe the widespread myth that crashing in an old car will result in instant death.

 

Sorry, rant over.  As you were.

[Aston Martin]

A few weeks ago, I saw an Opel Manta with a front facing child seat in the passenger seat.

 

I nearly rang social services. OK, not quite, but it seemed stupid to me.

[Felly Magic]

The 100 rusted every bit as badly as it's forebears, and removing the roof made a flimsy car even flimsier, bear in mind Rover Group were completely skint when it came to developing this lash up, and I suspect wasn't even crash tested at all, as they would have simply gone 'oh fuck' as the front and rear wheels touched, it really was a car that should have been taken out the back and shot instead of redesigning it to fit Rowenta jug kettles, it shouldn't even have got to mk2 status, as by 1985 it was years behind the competition from overseas, even the mk2 Fiesta was a bit old hat by 86

[Peter C]

Your loss chief!

 

As for 'putting our lives at risk every time we get behind the wheel' that's a bit melodramatic!!!! I must be lucky to still be here taking into account the hundreds of thousands of miles I've done in ropey old motors with no airbags etc.

Maybe just a bit, my bad.

 

Like you, I’ve also clocked up tens of thousands of miles in crappy old cars but and it’s a big BUT, that was before the days when even a small hatchback was equipped with enough safety gadgets and crumple zones to comfortably win in a collision with a jalopy. Also, considering today’s traffic speeds and (bad) driving habits, drivers of old cars are more at risk of accidents and injuries than in the old days when everyone drove without airbags, ESP, ABS....

 

I feel like I’m an obstacle for other drivers to avoid whenever I take either of my Mercs for a drive but at least I have 1.5 tonnes of German metal around me.

[sierraman]

I’ve got to say I do like being in something solid and substantial. We had an old Fiesta when we first had kids, sacked it off mainly because it was fucked but also because I didn’t want the kids being ferried about in something with absolutely no rigidity in the even of someone running into them.

[Noel Tidybeard]

looking at the videos i'd rather take a metro than a sierror!

[The Old Bloke Next Door]

Had a look at another one from the same seller. Its been in a container for years, looks like its all there, alloys are in the boot.

All the panel fits look good, usual external rust problems, I didn't look underneath but expect it will need welding.

Interior a bit tatty.

He tells me engine runs. 

Asking price £400, location close to junc. 9 M6, Walsall.

 

There are also a large amount of  body panels, bumpers, plastic trim, a new hood, new zip in plastic hood window and many other parts available as a job lot or individually priced.

 

Any interest Message me and I'll pass on contact details

[UltraWomble]

 

 

Still wondering if these would have been better as a two seater, flatter hood and "speed bumps".

[The Old Bloke Next Door]

Its sat in a corner of my workshop, now full up to above the top of the wind screen frame with various junk. I will post some pics in due course.

The problem with having lots of storage space is I keep buying more junk

 

 

Arrived at unit this morning and there has been another illicit visit from some low life.

Smashed auto glass and my Metro has been pushed over it?

Something has been dragged over the rear of the roof.

And the rear number plate has been nicked from my Land Rover.

 

Strange thing is the gates were still locked, non of my vehicles have any broken glass and no parts  appear to have been nicked apart from the number plate.

[Rod/b]

Make sure you report the plate theft

[The Old Bloke Next Door]

Will do, found the self tapers on the floor so I guess not nicked for scrap value, front plate still attached. 

I'll have to find the V5 and up date to my current address.

[UltraWomble]

Depending on what size it was I have a blank  NOS squareish "bestplate" ally rear number plate in the shed