RE: SOTW: Austin Metro Supercharged

[Zooks]

British Beef said:

A Sally Gunnal, not much to look at but a good runner.

Essentially this car is good for one thing - that Eaton SC. Is that worth £700??

A sorted(almost)running conversion, you could probably get your money back off ebay for just that and weight in the car!

Didnt ERA turbo minis and MG metro turbos all use roughly the same gearbox

[Beedub]

why do i want this soooo bad????

[Monty Python]

j_s14a said:

The charger's as large as the engine!

First think that struck me - maybe they should describe it as an Eaton supercharger with an engine attached to it

[Gallen]

really wants changing back to standard look though!

Edited by Gallen on Friday 21st January 12:22

[Chris71]

I used to detest the Metro and seriously lust after a (classic) Mini, but now, in my old age, I've mellowed to the Metro. I think it started once I'd driven both and realised how similar they were behind the wheel, in fact in some respect I think I'm right in saying the Metro was a step forward - didn't it have significantly better brakes for example? And the K-Series was a massive step on from the wheezing 998cc A-Series in standard form.

Don't get me wrong, I would still go for a Mini out of the two, but I no longer see them as night and day in the way I did when a Mini Cooper was my dream first car and a Metro was the hateful monstrosity that my mum ferried me to school in.

[Nickellarse]

It would be fun to trip it out leaving the shabby body in place.

Yoiu'd always be wondering if the body would fall apart when you gunned it away from the lights.

[J4CKO]

I think Metros can only rise in value now, not much, granted, but there are very few left and people do get nostalgic for all sorts of stuff, it is easy to slag them off but as has been mentioned, lost of people had many years of service, as first cars and the like. I had one for a while and it was cheap basic transport and I look back fondly on it.

I remember the buzz around the release of the Metro back in 1980, was quite a big deal and they sold like mad, I myself had a bright red Corgi version which I loved, like the Metro or not, but its part of your motoring heritage, we need to save a few as we dont really have any more British designed and built cars any more.

I love the British eccentricity of someone in their garage sticking a Supercharger on it, it is no muscle car or anything even that insteresting to most but I reckon if working right could be epic fun, supercharger and gearbox whine at the same time !

We still have a Metro for the kids to play in the fields, I am hoping it lasts and I may just get round to putting a VVC engine in it.

[jake15919]

This is just wrong in soooooooooooo many ways. Spend the £750 on a buss pass and a pair of good quality shoes.

[mrtwisty]

I'm so glad there are still blokes around like the seller who a) have the skills to do this, and b) are mad enough at the same time.
If the buyer took this to Talon Moorsport they'd have a field day, and you'd be left with one hell of a sleeper if it was kept road legal and standard looking.

[Jigsjigz]

if u like this why not just strap a supercharger to a 1.1 engine and tie it to a roller blade.

[Riggers]

Mr E said:

Pedant time. Rust is (famously) more massive than metal (it's an oxide after all).

So it will only get lighter once bits drop off....

Well that's kind of what I meant, but I take your point

[teeCup]

British Beef said:

A Sally Gunnal, not much to look at but a good runner.

Essentially this car is good for one thing - that Eaton SC. Is that worth £700??

Haha Quality!

[Jonny_693]

British Beef said:

A Sally Gunnal, not much to look at but a good runner.

Oh and fantastic shed!

[Riggers]

Maty said:

Aside from that great shed, nothing more nuts than a supercharged shed!

Could be the first-ever supercharged SOTW? :goes to check archive:

[PetrolHeadSeb]

Love it. Would never buy it myself, but quality shedding

The advert link is broken though so looks like it's not for sale anymore

[geeteeaye]

Very big mot fail coming up shortly for that heap!

[Baryonyx]

That looks like a total heap. The body looks like it's crashing down onto those awful little wheels. It might provide some excitement for 20 minutes before it blows up but in the event that it doesn't, I can't see it passing an MOT!

[pb63]

What is the bleeding point in supercharging a used toilet roll?

I'm sorry shed but this is one of your worst...

[TdM-GTV]

My sister had one of these... Hateful little car - especially when going along a dual carriage way one evening a wheel overtook us... From the metro. Many sparks ensued and a long wait at the side of the road.

I commend any man for doing something this silly but I would never buy it.

[annodomini2]

EDLT said:

Can the A-series cope with that much boost?

Apart from that, the car looks pretty rotten and driving around on the bump stops can't be good for the suspension.

The engine can, the problem's the gearbox, and drop gears.

The Metro turbo challenge cup cars ran around 200-220bhp (this is an '80s 1.3 carb push rod 5 port 8v turbo! (Based on a '50s engine))

I know of some 16v converted 1380cc turbo engines (BMW K1100 bike head) that can reliably produce well over 300bhp, I say reliably as they tend to brake the gearbox before get close to breaking the engine!