1985 Austin Metro 1275 Auto
Discussion
Morning 
Seeing as my E28 5 Series has decided to relieve itself of most of its compression I figured I better get myself another 80's classic to run around in while I strip the BMW engine.
Enter stage left......... A Metro!
My parents had a 998 Metro when I was a kid and we used to go everywhere in it. When my Brother and Sister came along they had to get something bigger so the Metro was passed on to my Grandad who proceeded to use it for another 10-15 years until it was just a pile of rust. Now realistically I was too young to really remember much about it, but I definitely remember sitting in the back of it.
Anyway, after thinking about what I might fancy as a run around and dismissing a classic Mini because they're extortionately expensive, I settled on a Metro. It had to be an Austin or an early Rover, I didn't want the Rover 100 shape. Plenty of searching ensued and all I was coming up with was rather crusty examples. I know that generally they're all rusty these days but I just didn't want something that was going to have to be welded back together before I could use it.
Eventually I spotted a little silver Metro on Facebook. The ad said it was solid with no signs of rust anywhere, had only 7000 miles from new and drove like a dream (it's a Metro, so possibly a nightmare!). I contacted the owner, got plenty more pictures and had a chat with him over the phone. The car is up north and I don't have the time to go up there and look at it, so based on a "good feeling" I left him a deposit for it.
This is said Metro.
The current owner transports cars for a living so is very kindly delivering it to me next week. Once it arrives I'll get it on a ramp at work, give it a check over and then press it into daily service I'm actually quite excited!
Seeing as my E28 5 Series has decided to relieve itself of most of its compression I figured I better get myself another 80's classic to run around in while I strip the BMW engine.
Enter stage left......... A Metro!
My parents had a 998 Metro when I was a kid and we used to go everywhere in it. When my Brother and Sister came along they had to get something bigger so the Metro was passed on to my Grandad who proceeded to use it for another 10-15 years until it was just a pile of rust. Now realistically I was too young to really remember much about it, but I definitely remember sitting in the back of it.
Anyway, after thinking about what I might fancy as a run around and dismissing a classic Mini because they're extortionately expensive, I settled on a Metro. It had to be an Austin or an early Rover, I didn't want the Rover 100 shape. Plenty of searching ensued and all I was coming up with was rather crusty examples. I know that generally they're all rusty these days but I just didn't want something that was going to have to be welded back together before I could use it.
Eventually I spotted a little silver Metro on Facebook. The ad said it was solid with no signs of rust anywhere, had only 7000 miles from new and drove like a dream (it's a Metro, so possibly a nightmare!). I contacted the owner, got plenty more pictures and had a chat with him over the phone. The car is up north and I don't have the time to go up there and look at it, so based on a "good feeling" I left him a deposit for it.
This is said Metro.
The current owner transports cars for a living so is very kindly delivering it to me next week. Once it arrives I'll get it on a ramp at work, give it a check over and then press it into daily service
I'm actually quite excited!
however expect an interesting shifting/erratic trans 
its a design feature Turbobanana said:
Superb!
My mum could only drive automatics due to a problem with her right ankle (she used her left foot to drive). Once she left the Mini phase she discovered Metros and had a couple, one of which was like yours (albeit a 5 door).
This looks like a decent, honest car. Don't expect fireball performance but they're not a bad car at all. Ride height looks good on yours so it probably has the right amount of fluid in the hydragas suspension. If not, find a local garage with the right kit and knowledge or buy yourself a pump - makes a world of difference to how they drive.
Enjoy!
Luckily the garage I did my apprenticeship at many moons ago has a hydragas pump so I'll be heading over there to give it a pump up.My mum could only drive automatics due to a problem with her right ankle (she used her left foot to drive). Once she left the Mini phase she discovered Metros and had a couple, one of which was like yours (albeit a 5 door).
This looks like a decent, honest car. Don't expect fireball performance but they're not a bad car at all. Ride height looks good on yours so it probably has the right amount of fluid in the hydragas suspension. If not, find a local garage with the right kit and knowledge or buy yourself a pump - makes a world of difference to how they drive.
Enjoy!
Also, I went to my Nans for dinner this evening. My Grandad passed away about three months ago and she’s been going through his things and offering various bits to family members that she thinks might like them. She went off to my Grandads wardrobe and came back with his favourite jacket.
My Grandad worked as a mechanic for an Austin and later Rover main dealer from around the late 70’s to when he retired in the late 90’s. This jacket was given to him by the director of the company when they changed over to Rover and he kept it all that time. It’s in amazing condition, same as anything else my Grandad owned, and it fits me really well! I was really chuffed when my Nan offered it to me and although it says Rover I think it will be a nice thing to wear at car shows when I take the Metro.
It’s weird to think that my Grandad would’ve been carrying out PDIs on these little Metros when they were brand new!
My Grandad worked as a mechanic for an Austin and later Rover main dealer from around the late 70’s to when he retired in the late 90’s. This jacket was given to him by the director of the company when they changed over to Rover and he kept it all that time. It’s in amazing condition, same as anything else my Grandad owned, and it fits me really well! I was really chuffed when my Nan offered it to me and although it says Rover I think it will be a nice thing to wear at car shows when I take the Metro.
It’s weird to think that my Grandad would’ve been carrying out PDIs on these little Metros when they were brand new!
OLDBENZ said:
In 1983 my mother gifted me her Triumph Spitfire as a 21st birthday present and bought herself a new Austin Metro. To save a few bob she bought her Metro from a company which sourced new LHD cars in Belgium, shipped them to the UK and converted them to RHD for UK sale. After all that messing around those cars undercut the new home market cars by about 25%. I remember my mother's Metro cost GBP2880. This nonsense was a thriving industry at the time.
Once I've got it I'll have to see if there are any tell tale signs of it starting life as LHD.
ttthilvester said:
The only brand new car I've ever owned - a 1989 MG Metro Turbo, which I had for a couple of years.
Was faultless while I had it - it handled well, was comfortable, had decent space, was fairly economical, and quick enough on 'B' roads and in traffic (think 0-60 was a shade under 10 seconds).
Only sold it because I had the opportunity to buy a MK1 MR2, which I'd always wanted.
Lovely looking car Was faultless while I had it - it handled well, was comfortable, had decent space, was fairly economical, and quick enough on 'B' roads and in traffic (think 0-60 was a shade under 10 seconds).
Only sold it because I had the opportunity to buy a MK1 MR2, which I'd always wanted.
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 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
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