1981 Austin Maxi 2 HL 1750 - Rally car
Discussion
The old man adored these, we had 4 from new. 2 burgandy, a jewish racing gold and a denim blue.
Standard instant mods were electronic ignition, 'kenlow' fan kit, sealed beam headlight and spotlights on the grill. These moved from the original 'L' reg, (GNV 305L), to the final denim blue one which was an 'X' i think.
Drove remarkably like a giant real mini.
Standard instant mods were electronic ignition, 'kenlow' fan kit, sealed beam headlight and spotlights on the grill. These moved from the original 'L' reg, (GNV 305L), to the final denim blue one which was an 'X' i think.
Drove remarkably like a giant real mini.
The_Burg said:
The old man adored these, we had 4 from new. 2 burgandy, a jewish racing gold and a denim blue.
Standard instant mods were electronic ignition, 'kenlow' fan kit, sealed beam headlight and spotlights on the grill.
Seems to be 'the' formula. Both the blue and sandglow one had kenlow fans and electronic ignition, infact there was a whole list of mods to both cars. Sandglow one used to be a cammed up beast with the deepest exhaust note known to British Leyland.Standard instant mods were electronic ignition, 'kenlow' fan kit, sealed beam headlight and spotlights on the grill.
I had a 1750HL in blue in 1987, it was an '82 on an X.
It was clearly built by people who hated their jobs.
The hydromatic/hydrolastic suspension needed pumped up monthly and no repairs solved the problem.
It ate exhausts, due to a wound flex section at the bottom of the down pipe, and they loved to leak.
The gearbox had 5 gears although with the connection between lever and gearbox being indeterminate at best, it was rare to find them all. 5th in particular needed a twist and wrist flick which was the maxi equivalent of mastering the scandi flick in rallying.
On the upside the fold flat seats were a great advantage!
In reality it was my first car, it was freedom, it was great; but I would never want to have another.
It was clearly built by people who hated their jobs.
The hydromatic/hydrolastic suspension needed pumped up monthly and no repairs solved the problem.
It ate exhausts, due to a wound flex section at the bottom of the down pipe, and they loved to leak.
The gearbox had 5 gears although with the connection between lever and gearbox being indeterminate at best, it was rare to find them all. 5th in particular needed a twist and wrist flick which was the maxi equivalent of mastering the scandi flick in rallying.
On the upside the fold flat seats were a great advantage!
In reality it was my first car, it was freedom, it was great; but I would never want to have another.
The Maxi (as per other BL products) was great conceptually but in practice (a produced product) it was awful.
We had a dark red 1975 1750 HL - brought as a demonstrator i.e. 2 months old and 800 miles, it was cack!
Dad traded it after a very short for a (then new) Austin Princess (Wedge) - must say that was nearly as bad...went back to Ford's very soon...never returned, to BL.
We had a dark red 1975 1750 HL - brought as a demonstrator i.e. 2 months old and 800 miles, it was cack!
Dad traded it after a very short for a (then new) Austin Princess (Wedge) - must say that was nearly as bad...went back to Ford's very soon...never returned, to BL.
My parents had a black Maxi 1750 reg TCO 7T. I passed my driving test in it in 1982 and a few weeks later spent a few hours late one night repairing a 1" scrape to one of the rear wheel arches after not paying attention. I did tell them I'd done it but was chuffed with the repair!
I would be interested if the car is still around.
I would be interested if the car is still around.
mgtony said:
Keeef, are you planning on doing any paintwork on that? I've got a nearly full 5L container of Russet Brown cellulose paint. Had it knocking around for years and have no use for it. 
I'd be interested in that Tony.I think every panel has damage on.
Just surface rust, nothing major, but I'd like to have a go at spraying it a panel at a time. Black hamerite is OK for protection but ..... 
Edited by keeef on Wednesday 28th December 20:57
keeef said:
mgtony said:
Keeef, are you planning on doing any paintwork on that? I've got a nearly full 5L container of Russet Brown cellulose paint. Had it knocking around for years and have no use for it.
I'd be interested in that Tony.I think every panel has damage on.
Just surface rust, nothing major, but I'd like to have a go at spraying it a panel at a time. Black hamerite is OK for protection but ..... My uncle had a Maxi 1500. It was the first (and only) car he ever bought new - kept it for nearly 20 years. By the end the floor was mostly welds interspersed with pockets of rust. Even when it was new getting it in 3rd and 5th could be a challenge! He repaired agricultural machinery for a living so he was used to crunching gearboxes.
The Allegro was denied the hatchback it was originally designed with because it was the Maxi's USP.
The Allegro was denied the hatchback it was originally designed with because it was the Maxi's USP.
Edited by BraveSirRobin on Friday 30th December 20:20
So many memories being posted so here's mine!
My parents had a single carb 1750 and in 1982 my Christmas present was being insured to drive it as a Learner, wow.
Took my test in it and as the damn thing would never change from 3rd to 2nd, dad had tought me to double de-clutch. Examiner was a bit taken aback when I ended up performing this trick approaching a junction but still passed me. Wonder if that would work today?
Of its time, a great machine and theirs rarely missed a beat.
My parents had a single carb 1750 and in 1982 my Christmas present was being insured to drive it as a Learner, wow.
Took my test in it and as the damn thing would never change from 3rd to 2nd, dad had tought me to double de-clutch. Examiner was a bit taken aback when I ended up performing this trick approaching a junction but still passed me. Wonder if that would work today?
Of its time, a great machine and theirs rarely missed a beat.
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