1985 Austin Metro 1275 Auto

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Discussion

Sammo123

Original Poster:

2,119 posts

184 months

Tuesday 25th October 2022
quotequote all
littlebasher said:
I had a yellow 1.3S at one point as i couldn't afford an Astra or Nova 1.3SR

Not sure what the S stood for, but it wasn't Sport. Did have the 1275 engine though.

Didn't enjoy having to be on your hands and knees to put petrol in it either, definitely suited short people
Haha that was something I only noticed the other day. Should be interesting at refills laugh

Sammo123

Original Poster:

2,119 posts

184 months

Tuesday 25th October 2022
quotequote all
Getragdogleg said:
I have to ask, is that mould on the plastics ?

Cool little survivor car even if it is mould !
The plastics have been decorated according to the previous owner. Not by him. I'll be sorting that.

Getragdogleg

8,863 posts

186 months

Tuesday 25th October 2022
quotequote all
Sammo123 said:
Getragdogleg said:
I have to ask, is that mould on the plastics ?

Cool little survivor car even if it is mould !
The plastics have been decorated according to the previous owner. Not by him. I'll be sorting that.
Oh, well each to their own and all that.

smile

Sammo123

Original Poster:

2,119 posts

184 months

Tuesday 25th October 2022
quotequote all
Getragdogleg said:
Oh, well each to their own and all that.

smile
Probably the same person that fitted the awful spot lights!

Getragdogleg

8,863 posts

186 months

Tuesday 25th October 2022
quotequote all
Sammo123 said:
Getragdogleg said:
Oh, well each to their own and all that.

smile
Probably the same person that fitted the awful spot lights!
They do at least look a bit "period correct" Halfords specials.

A sticker in the rear window with the Metro touch would complete the look.

Sammo123

Original Poster:

2,119 posts

184 months

Tuesday 25th October 2022
quotequote all
Getragdogleg said:
They do at least look a bit "period correct" Halfords specials.

A sticker in the rear window with the Metro touch would complete the look.
I was thinking a set of these under the boot lid would be the finishing touch laugh


Getragdogleg

8,863 posts

186 months

Tuesday 25th October 2022
quotequote all
Sammo123 said:
I was thinking a set of these under the boot lid would be the finishing touch laugh

Has it got 6 X 9s in the shelf ?



Sammo123

Original Poster:

2,119 posts

184 months

Tuesday 25th October 2022
quotequote all
Getragdogleg said:
Has it got 6 X 9s in the shelf ?
No they're 13cm speakers. Once again, not ideal but nothing that can't be sorted.

Getragdogleg

8,863 posts

186 months

Tuesday 25th October 2022
quotequote all
Sammo123 said:
Getragdogleg said:
Has it got 6 X 9s in the shelf ?
No they're 13cm speakers. Once again, not ideal but nothing that can't be sorted.
"Profile" brand thick rubber and grey carpet floor mats would also be a period correct thing.

Sammo123

Original Poster:

2,119 posts

184 months

Thursday 27th October 2022
quotequote all
Only one more sleep before the Metro arrives bounce

In other news, I bought this for a bit of light reading. I'm off to collect a 1275 manual block on Sunday laugh


Sammo123

Original Poster:

2,119 posts

184 months

Thursday 27th October 2022
quotequote all
Out of interest, what tool kits do people tend to keep in the boot of their classic? I've never bothered with the BMW as it's always been reliable (until it broke of course laugh ) but I reckon the Metro is going to put up a bit more of a fight on a day to day basis.

ttthilvester

99 posts

153 months

Thursday 27th October 2022
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Sammo123 said:
Out of interest, what tool kits do people tend to keep in the boot of their classic? I've never bothered with the BMW as it's always been reliable (until it broke of course laugh ) but I reckon the Metro is going to put up a bit more of a fight on a day to day basis.
For many years it would have been a Unipart tool roll, which (from memory) had a full set of AF spanners (ring one end, and open the other), adjustable spanner, 1 x Philips screwdriver, 1 x flat head screwdriver, plug spanner, and a set of feeler gauges.
Pretty much the only tools I used (apart from socket set) for all the years I had a run of British cars - AH Sprite, 997 Cooper, Mini 1000 (2), 1275 Midget, 1275GT Clubman, MGB GT, GT6 MK3, MG Metro Turbo.

Still have most of its contents somewhere. smile

Edited by ttthilvester on Thursday 27th October 11:42

littlebasher

3,800 posts

174 months

Thursday 27th October 2022
quotequote all
Sammo123 said:
Out of interest, what tool kits do people tend to keep in the boot of their classic? I've never bothered with the BMW as it's always been reliable (until it broke of course laugh ) but I reckon the Metro is going to put up a bit more of a fight on a day to day basis.
I thought it was just a hammer and WD40

Sammo123

Original Poster:

2,119 posts

184 months

Thursday 27th October 2022
quotequote all
ttthilvester said:
For many years it would have been a Unipart tool roll, which (from memory) had a full set of AF spanners (ring one end, and open the other), adjustable spanner, 1 x Philips screwdriver, 1 x flat head screwdriver, plug spanner, and a set of feeler gauges.
Pretty much the only tools I used (apart from socket set) for all the years I had a run of British cars - AH Sprite, 997 Cooper, Mini 1000 (2), 1275 Midget, 1275GT Clubman, MGB GT, GT6 MK3, MG Metro Turbo.

Still have most of its contents somewhere. smile

Edited by ttthilvester on Thursday 27th October 11:42
I might have to put together a little tool roll like that to chuck in the boot in that case. Plus cable ties etc. I've already bought a little jump start pack for when the inevitable flat battery happens laugh

I'm also thinking about fitting a battery cut off switch somewhere so that it can't started without knowing where that is. Plenty of utter scrotes round our way that might see it as an easy target frown

Tricuspid

113 posts

78 months

Thursday 27th October 2022
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hilly10 said:
I bought my wife one for her first car, it was 1992 and two years old when we got it, she loved it apart from the brakes.
Mate of mine did his apprenticeship at a BL garage, apparently the first Metros came without front brakes. Some problem on the assembly line which lasted months, so the brakes came in a box and the dealership had to fit them before delivery. Apparently it made driving them off the transporter quite interesting!

Sammo123

Original Poster:

2,119 posts

184 months

Thursday 27th October 2022
quotequote all
It’s loaded up and ready for delivery tomorrow morning bounce


Sammo123

Original Poster:

2,119 posts

184 months

Friday 28th October 2022
quotequote all
It's arrived biggrin









Of course in typical BL fashion it decided leaving the trailer under its own steam was too much like hard work. The engine was started and within a few seconds a strange noise emanated from the engine bay. The oil filter seal had decided enough was enough and was dumping oil all over the guys trailer! So we had to push it off the trailer and into my work car park laugh I've got an oil filter coming this afternoon so I can get that sorted and then hopefully take it for a drive smile

Sticks.

8,888 posts

254 months

Friday 28th October 2022
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Looks good. I doubt it's the same with the auto but the manual used to leak oil badly (or well) where the gear linkage went into the box. In my youth I'd do @ 500 miles a week in my MG Metro and use a pint every week despite 2 seals being pushed in.

Sammo123 said:
Out of interest, what tool kits do people tend to keep in the boot of their classic? I've never bothered with the BMW as it's always been reliable (until it broke of course laugh ) but I reckon the Metro is going to put up a bit more of a fight on a day to day basis.
Something which was touched on earlier was keeping it in tune. With the MG I'd regularly be setting the points, timing and mixture and it kept it very responsive. I imagine you can still get Gunson's timing light, dwell/multi meter and gas tester on eBay.

Some years later I had a base Metro City which served me well, being broke at the time. Despite having nothing desirable about it, not even a radio it was stolen after I'd sold it to a friend. Yoofs, easy to steal, joyriding (albeit slowly). So take care.

I hope you enjoy yours as much as I did.

Mine back in 87.




Touring442

3,096 posts

212 months

Friday 28th October 2022
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Opaline! A good colour for ARG stuff. It suited the MG's well.

Sammo123

Original Poster:

2,119 posts

184 months

Friday 28th October 2022
quotequote all
Here’s a couple more pictures.

The very clean engine bay.



The original service book and Metro manual.



I’ve also bought a little jump pack for when the inevitable flat battery occurs!