Mk1 Metro Turbo

[SJAM]

Hi Guys - just visiting from another group.

I have an old Y-Reg Mk1 Metro Turbo on Ebay at the moment number 290274104612. A potential buyer has asked me how many of these do I think are left (i.e how rare is it)?.

Does anyone keep a register or know of some way I can very roughly estimate it?

Apparently about 20000 Metro Turbos were made from 1982 - 1989. By the fact that you see alot of the later ones still, and virtually none of the early ones, I'm guessing around 5000 were early and 15000 late. Assume that most have been written off, scrapped, or dismantled for mini conversions (grrr!), I'm guessing somewhere between 500 - 1000 are left.

Does this sound reasonable? - would love to hear any comments...

Cheers,
Stu.

[wildoliver]

I assume yours is the one with the sunken lights? (looks like Amy Winehouse on a bad day).

They aren't a rare or valuable car, that said there aren't many around anymore as they do rot well. The value is in a totally original one, I haven't looked at yours yet but if it has been "barried" up it's probably worth 1k max with MOT and tax and most buyers will break it for the engine to go in a Mini (although god knows why it doesn't make the interesting car they expect it too.).

However if yours is tidy or restorable at least and as it left the factory even better with it's original book pack etc. Then it may well sell to someone who wants it as a keeper, although don't expect thousands for it.

I do like a good Metro though, there is a lovely VVC metro on ebay at the moment, total sleeper looks like a standard metro but would go so well and it is seriously clean.

[Mr POD]

SJAM said:

Hi Guys - just visiting from another group.

I have an old Y-Reg Mk1 Metro Turbo on Ebay at the moment number 290274104612. A potential buyer has asked me how many of these do I think are left (i.e how rare is it)?.

Does anyone keep a register or know of some way I can very roughly estimate it?

Apparently about 20000 Metro Turbos were made from 1982 - 1989. By the fact that you see alot of the later ones still, and virtually none of the early ones, I'm guessing around 5000 were early and 15000 late. Assume that most have been written off, scrapped, or dismantled for mini conversions (grrr!), I'm guessing somewhere between 500 - 1000 are left.

Does this sound reasonable? - would love to hear any comments...

Cheers,
Stu.

The correct answer to the question is I've no idea but when was the last time you saw one (for sale or overwise)

The mk2cav.com cavalier owners club contacted the DVLA about the number of Calibre's and convertibles still registered and it came to 41 and 456 IIRC out of 500 and 1500 built, so I'm thinking 2000 max for the Turbo.

Anyway great for sale thread http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&am...

click the link !!!

[SJAM]

Mmm, thanks guys, I know its a tough one, so all I can do is give it a very basic estimation. You're right though, it's not a particularly valuable car, i didn't expect it to be, but in terms of the number of them you see out and about it could be one of a generous handful left in a useable state...

I certainly enjoyed owning it and most people I've spoken to that have had one said it was a great little car. Unfortunately, I've put sooo much of my life into it that I really can't bear the thought of it being broken up. Fingers crossed...!

Thanks again,
Stu.

[wildoliver]

I've had a look at the listing, looks a nice car and a great write up, I'd have tried to sort a few of the problems maybe but the bidding is looking strong.

[wadgebeast]

I would have guessed your 500-1000 is about right. Will the MGOC have a better idea? They have a register for the fwd M models - maestro, montego, metro.

[SJAM]

Yes, that may be worth a try - thanks. The only problem I have with registers is that alot of people don't report them. I run a TVR register site, and of the 63 of my particular model, less than half have bothered to write in (and we know nearly all still exist because a chap down the road services & rebuilds most of them!)

Guess I could take that register figure and multiply it by two then...!

Yes, I know, I would have liked to have sorted all the problems, but I've just taken a job in London and have a hellish commute (= no spare time once the family is factored in). Hopefully the fact that it got through MOT fine should reassure most people that it's not actually a complete basket case!

Stu.

[SJAM]

Guys it appears that there are far fewer of these that we thought. I've had two people comment that in 2006 there were only 30 odd still registered, and 3 or so still on the road. Wow!

Goes to show the "rot rate" is pretty high for these cars...!

[Mr POD]

SJAM said:

Guys it appears that there are far fewer of these that we thought. I've had two people comment that in 2006 there were only 30 odd still registered, and 3 or so still on the road. Wow!

Goes to show the "rot rate" is pretty high for these cars...!

Rot, Reliability of the gearbox, and the fact that it's an 'easy' mod for a mini conversion.

IIRC later ones had the ECU tweeked to give less midrange torque which the gearbox could cope with better ?

[SJAM]

Yes, I forgot about the gearbox. We shredded one when my girlfriend missed a gear at a roundabout. To her credit she actually didn't crunch it that bad, but I've never told her that.

The reason I stopped using mine back in '99 and it went into storage was that the fuel tank rusted internally which put loads of cr*p on the filter and the electric pump kept losing its prime. It wasn't until I got it out again that I worked it out. Wonder if any others suffered the same way...

My Mum and Dad had about 5 kind "offers" to take it away for free while it was on their drive for 6 months!

So yes, I guess this lot can all add up...

Nice to know there's more Bugatti Veyron's out there though ;-)

[Mr2Mike]

SJAM said:

Guys it appears that there are far fewer of these that we thought. I've had two people comment that in 2006 there were only 30 odd still registered, and 3 or so still on the road. Wow!

Goes to show the "rot rate" is pretty high for these cars...!

My uncle recently sold an A reg Mk1 Turbo that was originaly bought my father when it was about 6 months old, and has been in the family ever since. Someone from the Metro Owners Club mentioned those figures to him as well. Sadly most of them seem to have been cannibalised for turbo'd mini projects.

ETA: It had a few small patches of rust, but was structurally sound. Then again my dad used to spray an entire 5L can of Waxoyl into it every other year; it must have weighed twice as much as the original cars!

Edited by Mr2Mike on Friday 14th November 08:56

[AMT]

info on these cars ..well the metro in general can be found here ....including a mk1 tickford turbo
and a few frazer tickford one too

http://www.metroownersclub.org/forum/index.php?sid...

[SJAM]

Thanks for all your help on this guys. I'm very happy with the sale price and although I haven't met the buyer yet, hopefully this means that he/she will be a good home.

Hopefully also, this might help raise the value of these early cars a bit - I think they're old enough now to be on the increase (at least a little!)

Cheers!
Stu.