Shite from the Album

[Jozza]

I was looking through some family photo albums today for some pictures of two Montegos we had when I was young. Didn't find any good ones but here's a selection of the shite my parents owned, mainly from the late 80s/early 90s.

 

1) The 1275GT my dad had in the late 1970s:

 

 

2) A very shite all-steel Traveller that finally expired in about 1985:

 

 

3) Having decided that British Leyland cars were too reliable and rust-resistant both my parents had AlfaSuds in the early 80s, one of which lasted a grand total of 6 years from new before being killed by the rustworm:

 

 

 

4) After the AlfaSuds greater reliability was sought in the shape of two Maestros- an Austin 1300 and an MG 2000:

 

 

 

5) The MG Maestro pictured next to a delightfully shoddy Citroen 'HY' on a family holiday in 1989:

 

 

6) For reasons still unknown Dad decided to replace the MG Maestro with a Russet Brown Austin Allegro for a few months, seen here next to his MG BGTV8:

 

 

9) The MG, owned for over 20 years in all, during which time it needed two restorations:

 

 

The Allegro was replaced by a Rover 800 Sterling Mk1:

 

 

 

9) Which in turn was replaced with another Sterling, this time a Mk2, seen here in its natural environment:

 

 

10) Shortly after we got the Sterling my mum wrote off her Montego Estate Vanden Plas in a collision with a Royal Mail van:

 

 

11) Finally, in 1992 dad received a shipment of two Morris 'Z' vans- one ex-GPO as a project and one as spares:

 

 

Which made a young Jozza very happy:

 

[Lord Sterling]

... The Allegro was replaced by a Rover 800 Sterling Mk1:

 

 

 

9) Which in turn was replaced with another Sterling, this time a Mk2, seen here in its natural environment:

 

Love the Sterlings, naturally, my favourite cars, I'm running an early 2.5 Sterling from 1987

 

I've got 2 other Sterlings, one 89-G, one 95-N both 2.7s

 

Checked the Blue Sterling on the DVLA, lasted until 2003, the Red one, lasted until 2005, very good seeing as many of them lasted less than 10 years.

 

Do you remember the rear electric seats they had?

 

Lord Sterling

[HillmanImp]

For reasons still unknown Dad decided to replace the MG Maestro with a Russet Brown Austin Allegro for a few months

As we get older, we all get this urge from time to time. Some are lucky and live the dream, others can only watch from afar in admiration.

[VWPowered]

totally agree with that sadly ive hit the no cash syndrome great pics spa love the alfasud's and of cause the montego

[Station]

You owned 100% (new) shite. Nice house!I don't think my dad had a car younger than 15 years when we were growing up.

[MrRegieRitmo]

Love the Suds especially the earlier silver one & of course the D Series

[MrRegieRitmo]

Do you know where the 1275GT shot was taken? Looks an interesting place!

[VWPowered]

Do you know where the 1275GT shot was taken? Looks an interesting place!

i was going to ask if their was any more pictures of the ruin

[Richard]

That picture couldn't be more 70s if you painted it brown and put it on a space hopper.

 

[Station]

[MrRegieRitmo]

Do you know where the 1275GT shot was taken? Looks an interesting place!

i was going to ask if their was any more pictures of the ruin

Thinking about it, I'm going to stick my neck out & say it's Southampton, given that the OP is from Hants

[Jozza]

Do you know where the 1275GT shot was taken? Looks an interesting place!

i was going to ask if their was any more pictures of the ruin

It's Holyrood Church in Southampton city centre. It was bombed during WW2 and is now a memorial to the Merchant Navy. Not much has changed round there since that picture was taken.

Love the Sterlings, naturally, my favourite cars, I'm running an early 2.5 Sterling from 1987 I've got 2 other Sterlings, one 89-G, one 95-N both 2.7s Checked the Blue Sterling on the DVLA, lasted until 2003, the Red one, lasted until 2005, very good seeing as many lated less than 10 years.

Interesting. I've checked the blue one on the DVLA before but I'm surprised the red one lasted that long as it suffered from numerous niggles both big and small. The picture of it on the recovery truck was taken after it suffered sudden oil pump failure and knackered its big ends, coming to rest in the geometric centre of a busy crossroads in the middle of Yeovil. I remember both the Sterlings fondly (including the electric seats all-round!) and I occasionally find myself looking at them on eBay. If a good one turned up for a suitable price I'd get it in a shot.

[Fat_Pirate]

I'm manically rubbing my thighs at that MG Maestro in Moonraker blue! I was working at a Austin Rover dealer when they first appeared, and was asked to take the girl from accounts to the bank in one (with a very large bag of cash). It was so extremely ACE I spent an hour tearing around Kings Lynn before finally going to the bank, terrifying my timid passenger. Needless to say, there was TROUBLE on my return.

[MrRegieRitmo]

Do you know where the 1275GT shot was taken? Looks an interesting place!

i was going to ask if their was any more pictures of the ruin

Thinking about it, I'm going to stick my neck out & say it's Southampton, given that the OP is from Hants

It's Holyrood Church in Southampton city centre. It was bombed during WW2 and is now a memorial to the Merchant Navy. Not much has changed round there since that picture was taken.

No sweat!

[retro80sboy]

great thread!.

[trigger]

Some fab photos there for sure!I do worry about someones sanity when the sell a new MG Maestro for a older brown Allegro though!.