So the Austin Allegro. “Let's do something different than the competition. We come up with a USP, a Unique Selling Point! ”A good plan. But if 'that' otherwise comes down to the mounting of a square-like steering wheel? It would give more upper legroom for the driver. It was not a success.
The entire Allegro was not a success
That despite the Hydragas gas suspension. This gas suspension made it possible to connect the suspension from the front and rear of the car to each other, which resulted in better driving characteristics.
That Hydragas system was developed by Alec Issigonis in collaboration with Alex Moulton of Moulton Design Ltd. The man who also the Triumph TR7 signed. The BL system was a simplified version of the hydropneumatic suspension of Citroën.
The styling of the Allegro was a missed opportunity.
In the days when hatchbacks were all the rage, the Allegro only had the line of a hatchback. He had an ordinary boot lid. In fact, with the Austin Allegro, project number ADO 67, all the good features of its predecessor, the Glider, have been discarded. It is precisely the most characteristic point of that car that is retained: the Hydragas suspension. Furthermore, the Austin Allegro is a step back in everything. It is slower than the 1100, it has less road holding and it offers less space. Except for the driver's thighs. Even worse: The sketches from the initial phase of the project showed a razor-sharp, beautiful car.
The cautious advertisers' interest was already reflected in the tests then. The car 'seemed like a good purchase' and 'The Allegro series can look forward to considerable interest from buyers'.
Pros and cons
On the plus side: the Dutch models had a heated rear window as standard (joke: comfortable when pushing) and that window also remained nice and clean during the ride. The 45 pk 'strong' 1,098cc A-Series engine was a thing to keep the entry price low. It was and is a sweet little tower. But that didn't stop in the Allegro. The 1.300 cc version was a significantly better option. Later there was also an 1500 cc and an 1750 cc version. And it had a full year warranty. And they knew that at Austin.
The success also did not come with the later round steering wheel. And in Germany people talked about the 'Austin Ellendro'. At home it was "All Agro". The production of 1973-1983 nevertheless continued.
In the resit
More than 1100 million units were built in all forms of the Austin Glider / Morris 1300-2. The Allegro will not get any further than such 650.000 units in ten years. In recent years there has been a cautious interest in these poor children. Their purchase bears witness to nostalgia and tenderness. And the prices prove that not all classics are priceless yet.
Below the line gold and goes for the Austin Allegro's of course whatever goes for Citroën BXsen. Lada's, Yugos, Ural and Dneprs. 99% of the stories you hear about it are birthday stories from neighbors, uncles and acquaintances who have never had such a copy themselves.
Go for the top!
And people who want to go for extravagant stylish & luxury? They are of course looking for an Allegro in VandenPlas version. Top! Or do you think his chrome grin is a bit sad. Come on! You won't see any of that from the luxurious interior!
Allegro is Italian for cheerful….
Why missed opportunity? I can hardly be a 'pathetic looking'? make up your car! ??
And I think the VandenPlas is even more sad!
What horrible design mistakes these were….?
yes the VANDEPLAS a flag on a mud boat nothing more and nothing less
was my 2de car first mini thick content baby larger car Allegro 1100
20.000km on the counter hammer to give a start on the starter if he did not start 30.000km clutch broken and slightly dashboard had to occasionally ne good beat give up in the winter start problems, I had to do away.
With great pleasure I think back to our Austin Allegro station wagon. 8 I had it for years and without problems. That was in 1976 or 77, I don't remember that. He was almost new when I bought it, a nice red one. Because the wheels were positioned at the corners, it was a spacious car. Only oil use at the end. Buy a liter of oil at Hema every week as standard. When the suspension also started to cause problems, I exchanged the Allegro.
In 1978 kicked off the brakes of my Austin Healey Sprite 1 day before we would travel to Switzerland. A corn-yellow 1100 rushed from the Ford dealer in Utrecht who also did not know what to do with it.
On the descent of the Susten pass I can still see the aggressively blinking German behind our blue plumes of smoke breathing in. Once we passed by, he almost angrily shrugged his shoulders out of the sliding roof. These Allegro's were happy to eat oil. Just got home again but then sold quickly. This did not rust, but it was technically quite crippled.
From 1976 to 1985 driven smoothly in my first Allegro (an MK2 1300). Nice car, spacious and efficient, followed by various expressions from BL, AustinRover and Rover. Out of nostalgia later bought another Allegro (not because of the legroom) and still owns it, although it needs some TLC due to its age. I cherish the obstinacy of the design and accept the (minor) defects.
That is the true spirit! Perfection is for people without feeling 🙂