Austin Maxi

[Walter White]

6 minutes ago, ETCHY said:

That Chris Cowin book looks interesting . Not seen that before.

 

It is an informative read, I would recommend it. It does read like the write up of a very well researched project. 

Having read other books on British Leyland reading this one really helps, IMO. 

[NorfolkNWeigh]

1 hour ago, lesapandre said:

They seemed to have all the ingredients but not make it.

But the one thing Donald Stokes was right about was the need to boost exports.  That way you could really pump up sales, profits and offset development costs.

The original F-Series Victor sold 390,000 cars in four years of which I think 70% were exported for example.

Donald Stokes failed alas to sell cars particularly desirable worldwide - I am not aware how many Princess for example were sold into Europe - whereas the UK was hoovering up  Golfs & Passats etc. 

However few Princesses were sold in Europe it would have been more than Ambassadors which were only produced in RHD for the UK market, why waste money pretending to have export aspirations? Pity they didn't do the same with the Sterling.

[ETCHY]

19 minutes ago, NorfolkNWeigh said:

However few Princesses were sold in Europe it would have been more than Ambassadors which were only produced in RHD for the UK market, why waste money pretending to have export aspirations? Pity they didn't do the same with the Sterling.

Oh wow yeah I forgot about Ambassadors being RHD only. That really is mental isn't it !?

[lesapandre]

Yes considering what it must have cost to change Princess to Ambassador. Seems an odd decision all round -Y Reg?

[kirton]

Morrisons Exeter yesterday. Looked in fine condition

 

[keef]

24 minutes ago, kirton said:

Morrisons Exeter yesterday. Looked in fine condition

 

http://www.classiccar-photos.net/picture/show/17542/Maxi 

[ETCHY]

4 hours ago, kirton said:

Morrisons Exeter yesterday. Looked in fine condition

 

Very nice, complete with late 70's /80's glass sunroof !

Looks better than the German crap next to it.

[bigstraight6]

3 hours ago, ETCHY said:

Very nice, complete with late 70's /80's glass sunroof !

Looks better than the German crap next to it.

It certainly does, clean uncomplicated lines unlike whatever that monstrosity next to it is. The Maxi could well be more spacious inside to...

[ETCHY]

10 hours ago, bigstraight6 said:

It certainly does, clean uncomplicated lines unlike whatever that monstrosity next to it is. The Maxi could well be more spacious inside to...

I dunno what it is with BMW these days but they're making the grille look like somebody who lives in Royston Vasey . A local car for local people..

 

[lesapandre]

[lesapandre]

But...it was the catnip that led people to say never again would they buy BL. It was a cynical bitsa at a time when demand for cars was high. It was pretty awful compared to the competition and never spawned a successor. I remember them new - owners were considered to be plonkers. Everyone else wanted an Escort, Cortina or even Chevette or Mini Clubman. Which is now reflected in current values too.

Morris Dealers got the Minor and 1100 - both fantastic innovative cars. Then they  had to sell Marina. The press launch was a disaster. Sure they sold - cheap, cheerful and available at a local dealer - but no love there. 

Whereas the Escort was THE car. XL, GXL, Mexico Ghia etc. Ford also outmanouvered BL on size - Escort hardly much smaller, Cortina bigger and more prestige. 

An interesting motoring curiosity but not much more really. They deserve to be cherished tho - it's part of it's era - but if you think about it not much more advanced than the 1952 Austin A30!

The Mk2 has a radio facing away from the driver - wonder what they were smoking that day?

More of the sad tale here:

https://www.curbsideclassic.com/uncategorized/carshow-classic-1973-morris-marina-coupe-1-8tc-is-this-the-best-we-can-do/

But the existing Marinas deserve to survive. I'm knocking it but with lots of love. Poor old Leyland they were really out of their depth and I suppose thought they were doing the right thing.

I wonder what the net and gross profit was per car compared to a Cortina. That was the crunch. Probably given their overheads not comparable. 

[Cavcraft]

Have you had this one yet, Keef?

 

 

Daws Dawson,  'CLASSIC CARS / VEHICLES FOR SALE UK (NO PARTS) 95 or older' Facebook. He's after £2,750 for it.

[ETCHY]

2 hours ago, Cavcraft said:

Have you had this one yet, Keef?

 

 

Daws Dawson,  'CLASSIC CARS / VEHICLES FOR SALE UK (NO PARTS) 95 or older' Facebook. He's after £2,750 for it.

Great reg & a great colour. That's a very good looking Maxi.

 

[keef]

2 hours ago, Cavcraft said:

Have you had this one yet, Keef?

Yes, thanks.

[406V6]

On 1/13/2020 at 6:45 PM, Walter White said:

I too have thought about where it all went wrong for BMC, BLMC, British Leyland and Austin Rover. 

Reading the Chris Cowin book provided plenty of insight. 

.......

I've got the Cowin book and would only recommend it with caution. I've already got a shelf full of car books, many dealing with British Leyland and its previous companies. I didn't learn anything new from the Cowin book. If you don't have many other car books, fine, you'll probably learn a lot from it. If you have got other car books, don't bother. On the other hand the Barney Sherratt book about The Austin is brilliant.

[keef]

Just found this on another thread.  

This thread was meant to be about the Maxi, but a lot seem to want to turn it into something else.

Please start your own thread if you want to talk about the downfall of BL or similar.

[keef]

And another. :-

Not sure if you can tell the thread and contributer from the url on these?

[ETCHY]

On 3/25/2019 at 8:20 PM, BL Bloke said:

A couple years ago I sold my 1969 Maxi to a member of the Austin Maxi Club after it had been sitting in a council lock up for nearly 20 years. The colour is Porcelain Green.

 

DSCF8325 by timothy jones, on Flickr

 

DSCF8327 by timothy jones, on Flickr

 

DSCF8328 by timothy jones, on Flickr

 

DSCF8330 by timothy jones, on Flickr

 

I have owned 4 other Maxis in the past, when I find photos I'll post them too.

I was just looking back through this thread & spotted this one.

It's the absolute spitting image of the one my neighbours had when I was a kid. Theirs had a silvery grey dashboard though & I can't make out if the one above is or not.

It can't be my neighbours car though as that went to the scrapper sadly (gearbox failed).

I do like that colour & that grille really does make them look so different somehow.

[omegod]

We had a near luminous yellow/green Maxi 1750 which I remember well, has anyone ever done a nutty engine transplant on one of these?

[JeeExEll]

The morning after 'Friday-Night-All-You-Can-Eat-For £8' at 'The Vindaloo Curry Lounge', and Bob just had to let off a lonnnngg loud ripper right there in the spacious Maxi.  Couldn't keep it in.

Maxi looks like it's about to be sick. It was Russet brown earlier.

 

[keef]

14 minutes ago, JeeExEll said:

The morning after 'Friday-Night-All-You-Can-Eat-For £8' at 'The Vindaloo Curry Lounge', and Bob just had to let off a long loud ripper right there in the spacious Maxi.  Couldn't keep it in.

Maxi looks like it's about to be sick. It was Russet brown earlier. And Bob's pants were white.

 

Shoestring was a good TV series.

https://www.imcdb.org/v541549.html

[High Jetter]

Yeah, shame it was done on such a small budget though...

[ETCHY]

 

[bunglebus]

Internet Movie Car Database has a few Maxis including

 

 

Loads more here

 

[keef]

MGL 799X

✗ Untaxed

Tax due: 
1 January 2001

Incorrect tax status?

MOT

No details held by DVLA

Incorrect MOT status?

[ETCHY]

Shame, I hate seeing cars like that. The front wheel angle doesn't look too good.

[ETCHY]

On 1/25/2020 at 10:19 PM, bunglebus said:

Internet Movie Car Database has a few Maxis including

 

 

Loads more here

 

So, what are people's thoughts do you prefer the early front without the vertical grille badge or the later front with it?

Whilst I like both i'm erring slightly more towards the earlier front, as I like the clean lines & overrider bumpers.

[JeeExEll]

[keef]

1 hour ago, ETCHY said:

Shame, I hate seeing cars like that. The front wheel angle doesn't look too good.

Front subframe rotted out.

image by keef, on Flickr

[ETCHY]

7 minutes ago, keef said:

Front subframe rotted out.

image by keef, on Flickr

Flipping heck  ☹️