Mini metro turns 40

[Ady1Participant @ady1]

I bought all sorts of heaps for under 500 quid back then

Swapped one car for a pair of hillwalking boots

…but I never touched a mini metro… no way hosey

'Mocked' Mini Metro turns 40 and finds new fans

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-54423328

[Ady1Participant @ady1]

Aye. Them were days

[Speedy Builder5Participant @speedybuilder5]

What are the chances of a modern car reaching 40 years old, and passing emission tests, its electronics working etc etc. My Austin 7 still runs and has parts easily available after 88 years. Last week I needed a cast aluminium top hose water outlet. I placed an order from a UK supplier on Friday night and received it in SW France by the following Thursday – pretty good in my books.

[Mick B1Participant @mickb1]

40 years ago we already had a family and couldn't manage in anything as small as a Metro. We were still in a Moggie Traveller.

[Phil PParticipant @philp]

I still am in a Moggie Traveller

Phil

[Mick B1Participant @mickb1]

Posted by Phil P on 21/10/2020 09:06:53:

I still am in a Moggie Traveller

Phil

Well done. How d'you stop the floorpan rotting around the rear spring hangers?

That, and the tiny mushrooms growing in the wooden rear window frames, were what saw ours off in favour of a Marina estate.

[blowlampParticipant @blowlamp]

I'm not driving a Mini Metro.

[Henry BrownParticipant @henrybrown95529]

My sister had three, the first was a cheap rot box that served her well until she couldn't stand having wet feet anymore. She went on to an MG, not Turbo, and that was a cracking little car although probably a bit sporty for her – I used to borrow it occasionally and thoroughly enjoyed every thing about it. That got traded in for a bog standard 1300 that was a bit of a disappointment after the MG but she loved it.

A car of the time, and still useable today especially the later ones, but sadly mocked by most folks that didn't own one in the good old British tradition…

[Ady1Participant @ady1]

Mini Metro

The potential and theory were wonderful

The execution and reality were a catastrophe

[Joseph Noci 1Participant @josephnoci1]

Don't wish to hijack thread to badly …

Never liked the mini, but…I have quite a few Morris's….

1951 Morris minor 850, with split windscreen

1953 Morris Minor 1000 2 door

1957 Morris Minor 1000 4 door , and

1958 Morris Oxford Traveller

Restored all to top condition, could still get almost all spares new up to 2007..

Good old Morris Motors Limited..

I really enjoyed those cars!

[john halfpennyParticipant @johnhalfpenny52803]

What nonsense Ady, but then you never owned one. Perfectly good small car (for its time). We had four in our family. Cheap reliable transport in our extensive experience; it ticked all the relevant boxes, and saved the company.

[Nick WheelerParticipant @nickwheeler]

Posted by Ady1 on 21/10/2020 10:56:22:

Mini Metro

The potential and theory were wonderful

The execution and reality were a catastrophe

Biggest problem was that they didn't fit the modern OHC engine it was intended to have, and retained the terrible A-series and gearbox.

The Mk3 Metro of 1990 with K-series and 5 speed box proved that, as it still compares well to other small cars. And for the tinkerers, a 1.8 VVC engine makes for an excellent fast road car on the cheap.

[martin haysomParticipant @martinhaysom48469]

nasty little rot boxes used to weld loads of them to get them through the mot and yes i did have one

as for the k series engine the only engine that needed the head gasket changing more often than the cambelt did lots of them too

[A SmithParticipant @asmith78105]

We ha two Metros, the first one was an ex Kodak car used for collection and delivery of films and prints all over our part of the South West, it had 98,000 miles on it when we bought it, we sold it on at 160,000. We replaced it with another, into which I fitted a 1300 engine with a Piper cam, a water cooled alloy inlet manifold and a Janspeed exhaust manifold/system. 1&3/4" SU, MG Metro Airbox. Went like the clappers and handled like a rollerskate. Most fun of any car I've had.

Andy

[Ady1Participant @ady1]

Most makes of car back then had reliability issues or dodgy bodywork, but both were not usually major issues

There was only two really bad makes, Alfa Romeo and British Leyland

Even Fords were a bit more reliable and a bit less rust prone (plus spares were a total doddle)

BL cars had good handling and were fun to drive and I agonised over a dolomite a couple of times but the marque was just so totally jinxed with issues I avoided them

The only good BL offering I ever came across was the Austin Maxi, it handled like a lifeboat but the bodywork was strong and the mechanicals acceptable

[EmgeeParticipant @emgee]

Agree the Maxi was a good unit, 1750cc engine had plenty of power and with the back seats folded flat a roomy dual purpose vehicle with good access through the lifting tailgate, mine was a 1972 model which I used for about 4 years trouble free motoring.

Emgee

[Speedy Builder5Participant @speedybuilder5]

With a Metro, you could have traded up to an Alegro, or two – But steer clear of the 1800 or "land crab" as it was known as !

[old martParticipant @oldmart]

I wonder whether a modern car would still be capable of being used when it was 40 years old, they all seem to have plastic inlet manifolds.

[Roger BestParticipant @rogerbest89007]

Metros where OK

I learnt to drive in one, my instructor had a mini first, then upgraded to the new Metro. It had appreciably more space and a bit more comfort. Neither had enough power or gears and they where noisy, but all small cars where heavily compromised in those days.

The 80s where a time of great development in cars, we don't remember how fast cars where improving because we have become used to the amazing things we have now.

[Dave HalfordParticipant @davehalford22513]

Posted by Nicholas Wheeler 1 on 21/10/2020 11:18:20:

Posted by Ady1 on 21/10/2020 10:56:22:

Mini Metro

The potential and theory were wonderful

The execution and reality were a catastrophe

Biggest problem was that they didn't fit the modern OHC engine it was intended to have, and retained the terrible A-series and gearbox.

The Mk3 Metro of 1990 with K-series and 5 speed box proved that, as it still compares well to other small cars. And for the tinkerers, a 1.8 VVC engine makes for an excellent fast road car on the cheap.

The biggest problem was a lack of paint, we had an E plate one four years old and the wings were rotted. I could never get on with having to ride them side saddle.

A lad at work got a new MG one via his dad working at Longbridge, It came with a free empty coke can and two spare wiring looms under the carpets.

The K series was a bit like the stag v8 a bit too radicle for the day, they got mistreated and broke.

[Bill DawesParticipant @billdawes]

I bought a brand new metro in 82 I think, had it about 10 years before being given a company car. My little metro went like a train, taking my wife and I, mom and dad in law and baby in the middle and towing a small camping trailer on a trip to Cornwall.

Also had that butt of music hall jokes the Allegro. It was the 1500 cc maxi engine, reynard metallic finish and very comfy plush looking seats, despite all the negative press I thought mine was an excellent car.

The Allegro and Metro set me on my love of front wheel drive and hatchbacks.

I well remember the look on the drivers face of a Sierra, tail wagging on a snow covered hill as I steamed past in my Metro.

One of my company cars was a Volvo S40, very nice car but always a keen DIYer the lack of hatchback drove me mad, a modest size piece of MDF for instance just wouldn't go in, all the more frustrating because I could see there was plenty of room inside the car.

Most of my cars I suppose have been the best I have had, improvements in quality and equipment undreamed of even in the top range models of years ago. My current car, a Kia Niro Hybrid, Excellent car!! not perfect of course, maybe next time?

Bill D.

[Author]

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