Can we talk about the Austin Allegro VP

[21st Century Man]

Begging your pardon, Mr Grumpy Sir, but it was very probably Oporto Red and it would have had the Brushwood velour trim, Russet was a solid Brown and predated the Maestro, it was replaced with Clove Brown which was a Maestro colour.

[DonkeyApple]

My father bought a small fleet of Allegro VP’s for his managers. They all left the company. Coincidence?

A not very interesting and not remotely relevant little fact is that the binnacle on the Allegro VP, as shown above, fits the binnacle dash recess of the Range Rober from that era like a glove. A perfect fit. Yet the one in the Range Rover doesn’t.

[newoldfart]

forzaminardi said:

Possibly because it's a bit before my time (although I do remember seeing plenty as a child), I don't really get the animosity for the Allegro. Sure it's by no means the best car of it's era, but it's commonly mentioned as one of the worst cars ever - with a lot of comments aimed at it's 'square' steering wheel. Does it really deserve that poor reputation?

Yes

To me it looks like quite a nice design and in context of some of today's odd steering wheel arrangements, even the 'square wheel' doesn't look too far-out. Does anyone have any genuine memories of the Allegro to give a more impartial view?

[Yertis]

DonkeyApple said:

A not very interesting and not remotely relevant little fact is that the binnacle on the Allegro VP, as shown above, fits the binnacle dash recess of the Range Rober from that era like a glove. A perfect fit. Yet the one in the Range Rover doesn’t.

This information is completely irrelevant to me – and yet for some reason I'm delighted that you shared it.

[Mr Tidy]

Great thread - even if it is getting off the topic of the VDP!

So apologies in advance.

Back in the early 90s for some reason I bought a stripped and caged MG " Mousetrap" that I used on a few track days - Goodwood and Castle Coombe spring to mind.

It got nicknamed "Puffing Billy" because every time I went round a corner it left a smoke screen - but it was just so much fun for very little cost.

I thought it handled pretty well, but it did roll quite a bit - and the lady in mine had lost her voice!

Anyway, back on topic I would imagine a VDP driven sensibly might be quite a pleasant way to travel with that level of trim.

[john2443]

Staying O/T, I saw one of these last week, my first thought was "FFS, some dhead has stuck a Rolls grille on a Range Rover" then I realised what it was and thought "Inspired by the Allegro VDP - random grille stuck on a badly design st box"

At least the Allegro was reasonably cheap! Why would anyone with a few hundred grand to spare buy something so awful. I suppose you could have said in 1973, why would someone with £973 to spare buy a VDP when they could have had a standard Allegro or an Escort!

[Mr Tidy]

john2443 said:

I suppose you could have said in 1973, why would someone with £973 to spare buy a VDP when they could have had a standard Allegro or an Escort!

Well I suppose some retiree back then might have fancied a VDP to replace their Company Jaguar or Rover!