Is it worth the trouble ???

[Anglevan]

I've just been offered an Austin Maestro 1.3 for nowt - i've just got to collect. Now I can blag a tow car and a trailer so it's only my time and cost of a tank of diesel. I'm told it's solid been in a garage - stored for a while so expect some fettleing. But is it worth the hassle ?? What are these like ? any major issues that send these to the bean can factory? I'm not bothered about rot so long it's not round it's ears and I dont mind owning a bit of british tat .. (quite like the idea of rescuing somat BL that someone else would scrap)Whats your thoughts ??

[Guest]

It'll be an old A-series so you shouldn't have much trouble finding mechanical bits I wouldn't have thought!I know a local yard with a Maestro van if that's any good to you, might yield some odds and ends.

[Cavcraft]

Good laugh that's for sure. Wheelarches, sills etc rot for fun, seats can disintegrate and plastics on par wih the yardstick of shiteness the Mk2 Mondeo.For free though it has to be worth a stab.

[brammy777]

I say take it, its free so at least you wont be losing too much if it does turn out to be a rotter.Like already said, engine parts arent too hard to find. Be sure to post pictures afterwards.What year is it?

[Lankytim]

I like em, pretty plucky little motors. As has been said its the sills and rear arches that love to rot.

[Anglevan]

Cheers for quick replies - I'm just waiting on the lad with the trailer to say i'm ok to borrow it this saturday then i think i'll be off for it. Does anyone know if these run on unleaded or not ?? I've not owned owt BL since i had a 1972 Austin 3 litre some 10 years ago.. so will be interesting to visit the marque again ...

[Anglevan]

It'll be an old A-series so you shouldn't have much trouble finding mechanical bits I wouldn't have thought!I know a local yard with a Maestro van if that's any good to you, might yield some odds and ends.

I might be getting in touch after the weekend

[meggersdog]

I have one for sale on t'bay at the moment.Only had a couple of calls and no one has viewed it yet.It's priced up a fair bit more than nowt though.Door bottoms and wheelarches rot away.Parts are readily available from Rimmer Bros.When I got mine the steering was notchy and clonking.Lower steering column bush replaced for 7 quid, delivered next day, fixed this.They do need half choke for the first few miles until warm otherwise they splutter.Oh and the headlinings always sag.

[garbaldy]

some off my best memories come from british tat i will never forget the sight off a sh1ty brown allegro bounceing across 5 yard rigs with masive chods off earth flying all over the place or the time a few off us bought an old pink maestro boy could that take some punishment it just wouldnt die i would say go for it they acctually drive alright and arent as bad as people tink there are many other examples but i wouldnt want to bore you all to death

[dollywobbler]

I once had a Maestro with the headlining held up by drawing pins. That could be a pain in the arse. Literally.They'll take unleaded. Not sure if all Maestros are safe on it but the worst that happens is your valve clearances close up, and you then have to buy an unleaded head. Or pinch one off a later engine in a scrappy.

[M'coli]

Give me a shout for parts if need be, I have a few contacts on Triple-M.

[STUNO]

Just do it.

[Father Ted]

I once had a Maestro with the headlining held up by drawing pins. That could be a pain in the arse. Literally.They'll take unleaded. Not sure if all Maestros are safe on it but the worst that happens is your valve clearances close up, and you then have to buy an unleaded head. Or pinch one off a later engine in a scrappy.

Sally's* headlining was power stapled up. I ran Sally on one tank of 4* to three of unleaded. Never gave me any issues at all.*Sally Gunnell - looked fugly, ran well.

[Pillock]

From memory, my great uncle had a F-plate Maestro with the 1.3 motor, and he had to specifically ask for it to be converted when he bought it to run on unleaded. I remember because the dealer forgot.

[v6pop]

Yeah go for it!!

Kind of liking the look of these now..............

 

 

[dollywobbler]

From memory, my great uncle had a F-plate Maestro with the 1.3 motor, and he had to specifically ask for it to be converted when he bought it to run on unleaded. I remember because the dealer forgot.

I'm guessing that the 'conversion' involved little more than retarding the ignition timing a bit.

[vicsmith]

They`re actually really nice to drive, lovely ride and a stable feel.