RE: Austin Maestro van: Would You Really Want To
Tuesday 18th July 2017
Nostalgia can do funny things to people, the power of the old rose tints seemingly able to cloud judgement that would otherwise tell you a beige 1.3-litre Maestro van should be precisely as exotic and desirable as it would have been when new back in 1985. Which is to say not especially.
I'm willing to be told I'm being unnecessarily harsh here. I've a good friend who's a passionate Maestro fan and, though not my cup of tea, I'll indulge his love for his MG version on the basis it does at least have some manner of eccentric cred. I'm still holding out for him to tell me why this van version should be worth eight grand though. Eight grand!
For some context, I put a search into the PH classifieds to see what else of this vintage £8K could get you. Well, you could have a rather nice looking Porsche 924 S for starters. OK, not considered one of the most desirable cars to ever leave Stuttgart. And pricey for one of these. But the history sounds appealingly detailed, the car looks nicely original and, well, it's not a beige Maestro van, is it?
Austin Maestro van: Would You Really Want To?
You Know You Want To has a slightly funny turn
Now I realise everything has a value and rarity can do unexpected things to those of surviving examples of previously unloved machinery. And that someone decided they were going to preserve a machine of this nature does rather boggle my brain. One thing's for sure, you're very, very unlikely to come across another Maestro van as seemingly immaculate as this one. And you would hope you'd be able to recoup some of that price hiring it out to film companies requiring authentic set dressing for 80s street scenes. Enough to justify that incredible figure though? Someone tell me it does, because, hand on heart, I'm not out to give the car a kicking. I'm just mystified!
Tell me I'm missing the point and it's worth every penny as a historical artefact worthy of a good home, whatever the cost. Part of me wants to believe!
AUSTIN MAESTRO VAN
Price: £7,995
Why you should: You won't see another like it
Why you shouldn't: Possibly 7,995 reasons
See the original advert here.
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Discussion
My uncle had two of these, he brought one over to Ireland with him and it was his work horse for many years.
Personally I'd have one. But then again I find the styles of the cars from the late 80's/90's to be the pinnacle of car design. They were all uniquely different to a fault. Whereas today, you'd be mistaken for thinking that Vauxhall Astra that just passed you was actually a Renault Megane.
Personally I'd have one. But then again I find the styles of the cars from the late 80's/90's to be the pinnacle of car design. They were all uniquely different to a fault. Whereas today, you'd be mistaken for thinking that Vauxhall Astra that just passed you was actually a Renault Megane.
A friend of mine had the diesel version as his work vehicle, it went far better than anyone would expect - especially after he had "adjusted" the fuelling. The handling, in particular, was very good. He once took it to a car club track day at Knockhill where it surprised the hell out of everyone - he had no trouble keeping up with a 205Gti round the track and the day ended up with people queuing to get a run in it!
Wild Rumpus said:
A friend of mine had the diesel version as his work vehicle, it went far better than anyone would expect - especially after he had "adjusted" the fuelling. The handling, in particular, was very good. He once took it to a car club track day at Knockhill where it surprised the hell out of everyone - he had no trouble keeping up with a 205Gti round the track and the day ended up with people queuing to get a run in it!
That'll be your mate Lewis Hamilton, then.rossub said:
Wild Rumpus said:
A friend of mine had the diesel version as his work vehicle, it went far better than anyone would expect - especially after he had "adjusted" the fuelling. The handling, in particular, was very good. He once took it to a car club track day at Knockhill where it surprised the hell out of everyone - he had no trouble keeping up with a 205Gti round the track and the day ended up with people queuing to get a run in it!
That'll be your mate Lewis Hamilton, then.Had them as company vans many moons ago and no , i didnt work for BT. I had the record of 7 replacement A series engines in the 3 year lease. Eventually found the fault of a knackered radiator for the majority although one gold seal engine didnt have any oil coming from the block to the head , so lasted 500 miles before cooking. The change to Vauxhall Astras afterwards was less eventful and recovery off the M25 was a thing of the past.
Cool that is has survived, never ceases to amaze me the love some folk can find for seemingly unlovable vehicles, it was unremarkable during its day, a tool of various trades and largely forgotten but people trot out the same nostalgia from every decade, this being eighties, Rubiks Cubes, Duran Duran and that drink called Quatro, but there were loads of less obvious things, and this is one of them.
If an 80s 911 is worth 200k, then this is worth 8 ! you cant go tot he tip in a 911, I joke but you get the point, for someone it will be their dream vehicle, not many, granted but they are out there, we have sold various stuff over the years and expected no interest, phone goes mad, you never know why, or can even imagine someone reasons for wanting it until it is sold, would be good for tv work, maybe 8 grand is a bit strong but it definitely has a value and I personally love to see the mundane stuff alongside its more glamorous contemporaries at car shows and the like.
If an 80s 911 is worth 200k, then this is worth 8 ! you cant go tot he tip in a 911, I joke but you get the point, for someone it will be their dream vehicle, not many, granted but they are out there, we have sold various stuff over the years and expected no interest, phone goes mad, you never know why, or can even imagine someone reasons for wanting it until it is sold, would be good for tv work, maybe 8 grand is a bit strong but it definitely has a value and I personally love to see the mundane stuff alongside its more glamorous contemporaries at car shows and the like.
I used to work on this in the Met Police during the 90's.
They were awful things to drive but could be repaired with a toolkit from a Christmas Cracker.
Just keep on top of the rust.
Having an A series engine and an SU carburettor they can be tuned quite easily to put out 70bhp.
My Father in law took his 1.3 Maestro to a Mini specialist in Hastings, who took 40 mins to nearly double his horsepower for about £90.
They were awful things to drive but could be repaired with a toolkit from a Christmas Cracker.
Just keep on top of the rust.
Having an A series engine and an SU carburettor they can be tuned quite easily to put out 70bhp.
My Father in law took his 1.3 Maestro to a Mini specialist in Hastings, who took 40 mins to nearly double his horsepower for about £90.
t design. But £8k is a joke.I remember doing up a Metro in the early eighties and the gearbox specialist who did all the gearbox rebuilds for the local BL dealer had two - bought them for 10 grand the pair.
OK he might have got some discount as a subcontractor to the BL dealer but even in those days 5k for a brand new van was pretty cheap
Maestros didn't drive as badly as some have suggested, the A series engine was obviously old and asthmatic but I think the gearboxes were from VW and the handling was at least average for its time iirc
OK he might have got some discount as a subcontractor to the BL dealer but even in those days 5k for a brand new van was pretty cheap
Maestros didn't drive as badly as some have suggested, the A series engine was obviously old and asthmatic but I think the gearboxes were from VW and the handling was at least average for its time iirc
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