March issue closing date -> we are closing
Austin Allegro 1500 Special, memorable reporting day
In 2016 I made a report for Auto Motor Klassiek that I will never forget. The editorial staff had received an email from Willem Keizer from Stadskanaal, who wanted to put his Austin Allegro 1500 Special in the spotlight. I was instructed to approach Willem, which I did with pleasure. I have a soft spot for enthusiastic people and cars that are often underestimated. Moreover, I knew that the Keizer family had collected beautiful vehicles over the years. This was going to be a party, and the report was a chance to prove that an Allegro could drive without any problems. At least, that was the plan.
On a beautiful summer day in 2016 I arrived at the Keizer family. The atmosphere was immediately good and Willem and I found each other in our shared enthusiasm for cars. I found myself in a world of war vehicles, Rileys and, as Willem put it, “brand original” cars from our youth. Think of an early Golf Diesel with the original CAV pump. For a car enthusiast the day couldn't have been worse.
"No need to call"
The Austin Allegro 1500 Special was also in original condition. A beautiful car, delivered new in the Netherlands in November 1974. It showed that British Leyland could please customers with a slightly more luxurious version. I couldn't wait to take this car out into the countryside and assess it for its historic specs. “If there is anything, Erik, just call me. Although I don't think it is necessary," said Willem. Appointment made.
Dancing in the countryside
I enjoyed the ride in the Allegro, which made a soft singing sound that was of little concern. Not a rattling chain to be heard. The 1.5 E-series engine and gearbox worked beautifully once the oil in the joint crankcase was up to temperature. The seats offered a deep, secure seating position. The Allegro danced across the road. This must have been the experience of Allegro owners. A nice, classic alternative, I thought, and it felt cool to drive this rare and infamous car through the roads and paths of Drenthe.
Longer photo break, still a phone call
It was time for photos and I had selected a few locations, including the Markerheide between Stadskanaal and Borger, a sandy path with beautiful photo perspectives. I bumped into a spot, stopped and captured the Austin Allegro inside and out. When I wanted to go to the next location, the car refused to start. The starter motor did its job, but the engine did not start. Since the car belonged to Willem, I decided not to use my limited key skills. Various scenarios ran through my mind. “Ha ha, he's calling me anyway! Where do you stand? I'm coming!”
Chinese capacitor
Had it been 1975, I would have had to take a long walk to the nearest farm. But in 2016 I reached Willem very quickly with my charged Samsung. Willem was there quickly. The cause quickly became clear: a Chinese capacitor that was no longer fresh, causing the contact points to not work. Willem fixed the problem and I could continue to location two.
Have a good laugh
There, while running the engine, I shot a few more pictures. Then I drove back to the Keizer family. We had a good laugh about the breakdown story and concluded with relief that the weak capacitor had nothing to do with the rest of the technical condition of the Allegro. Because Chinese, not British. It was quite a coincidence that this report with an Austin from the seventies turned out slightly differently than expected. We downplayed the incident and confirmed that the Austin was a fine classic. An Allegro that had lasted 41 years could hardly be a bad car.
Although the three gentlemen mentioned were entertaining, they happily exaggerated the matter. And in circles of British Leyland enthusiasts (yes, there are) they are not always popular.
For a while they had the habit of deliberately buying the most beautiful Marinas under false pretenses to play their prank on the piano on the roof. beautiful restored cars that had a lot of love and work put into them, which were thought to go to an enthusiast. That was someone from the production team and a while later: Hahaha! Another piano on the roof! Laugh!
…..'An early Golf diesel with the original CAV pump'.
The really early Golf (1.5 CK) diesels simply had a Bosch VP injection pump. That one is original! Somewhere around '79 VW started with the CAV pumps. I didn't think it was a success at all. The running quality of those Golfs with a CAV pump was less nice than that of the Golfs with Bosch pumps (although the CAV pumps responded faster to accelerating). Apart from the fact that the tank filter (not the filter under the hood but that strainer basket in the tank) containing anaerobic algae often confused the speed control of those CAV pumps. In addition, until at least 1979, many VW garages had often ignored the adjustment of those pumps on the engine, where the governor reaction screw was mistaken for the idle speed screw... The cars were relatively 'new light' and the training of the mechanics was clearly lagging behind. For the 1.6 diesels with 54 hp, only Bosch pumps would be installed. Those engines often ran 300.000 km without any problems, while the 1.5CK often only ran just over half of that. Things were progressing! I have done a lot of work on those 1.5 Diesels and have resolved the teething problems to their full glory and extent.
I don't think it's that original, because these cars didn't all have a square, rounded steering wheel.
And if it really had to be luxurious English, you also had this body in a VandePlas version
They all crooned in wonderful English
My Vw Golf 1 from October 1979 was delivered with a Bosch pump at the special request of the buyer. Now after 43 years it still works without any problems. 155.000km.
According to 3 English gentlemen, it competes with the Morris Marina for the title: worst car of all time.
Yet I spent my childhood in the backseat of 3 of these Allegros (after 3 Minis). Bought new by my parents. The 1st received a recall on the rear wheel bearings. The latter had to last a year longer than planned, because the trade-in value had plummeted. It was finally gone after 3 years and more than 100000 km.
As a lover of French cars, I am shocked that the English cars from the Austin Allegro years seem to be so undervalued. Who is excited for, for example, Austin Princess?
Great that such a nice piece is written about this car!
I hope I'm wrong!
I, the Princess is a beautiful car, with a beautiful wedge shape. A friend of mine got it from his father, who didn't get it traded in anywhere. By the way, I can also appreciate the Allegro, but the quality...
I think the most beautiful English model is the Dolomite, followed by the 2000TC, both from Triumph.
Well I!
A Princess is still a dream wish for me. Grew up in the backseat of a 2200HLS. Beautiful cars.
I just have to decide which other car has to go, because 4 is too much for me.
But I would also like to have that Allegro. Or a Maxi, a Maestro and certainly a Montego.
All extremely underrated cars, but so much fun!
Drove a 10 Austin Allegro 1300 without any problems for over 1976 years. Never a breakdown, always starts and runs smoothly. Characterful car, wonderfully English.
In the list of the worst cars ever made...