New purchase

[John S]

I can proudly declare I am in the same position as F170 GGT as I have recently acquired this little number - a late top of the range Montego VDP 2.0 Auto registered 01/08/88 for 75 quid. Whaddya think? It has done 127,000 miles and is rusty in every place imaginable + all the hotspots but it breaks my heart for it to be scrapped as it runs sooooo well. M.O.T. 'til December and no tax. I have bought it to copy the leccy window setup and to take the electric stainless steel mirrors etc. IF I send it to the crusher I shall try and make sure every part is used.

PS: Is the side tinted glass compatible with maestros?

[D87 SMW]

Yes, I am in a similar position myself. Today I bought a 1984 Austin Maestro 1.3L in Oporto Red - A615 NFV. I do have my concerns regarding its' condition, though. I have one key for the drivers door, another (which doesnt one tiny bit look like a car key) for the boot (the lock is supposed to turn 180 degrees - this one goes round and round and round...) a key similar to the one I have for GG which is for the ignition, and for the passenger door, there is no key.
The exhaust manifold gasket is blowing, there is an incredible amount of rust on the rear o/s wheel arch, yet the rear n/s arch in near perfect! The front o/s arch is near perfect, but the front n/s arch has a few big bubbles of rust coming through.
I gave it a good wash today, water dried, crap still there.
Got the spray wax out, nice buffing mitt, very shiney now.
Anyway, pictures will follow...

[John S]

What's the history of your A reg car then? How many owners/miles? (If you haven't said already). Quite a rare colour I think, Oporto red. What do you reckon to the MK1 dash?

PS: The other Rich (WTT) did promise me some parts - which are still welcome! Everything works on the car but I would not refuse electrical spares e.g. regulators in case they were to go wrong. On the plus side I'm hoping to run the car and have some fun until the test is up :D

[MaestroMatt]

Good luck with the new car F170! Sounds like one hell of a project! Oporto red is my favourite Maesty colour (as luck would have it! M170 is right, it is rare as it was discontinued quite early on) and I love the 3 piece mark one dash - you might find it squeaks a bit when you drive - it's normal. Down to the nitty gritty: does the engine run well and how much did you pay?

[D87 SMW]

Arnold belonged to an elderly woman. When she died, her husband wanted it to go to a good home as it was sentimental to him. The chap we bought him (don't quite know if it is a he yet) from used it to carry loads of goods (as he run a market business) - we found this out when he had to unload literally a bootfull of stuff.
At the moment, the clock is showing 86000 miles (less than GG!!!) but the chap said the cable was coming loose from the clock, so we will record the milage before and after a short trip out in it to see if it is working. If it isn't, then I hope someone can help!
I am liking the MKI dash, it is better than the MKII one for warping and earthquakes! Not sure about the cheap placcy glove box front though.
Today, as I may have said already, I cleaned it up and waxed it. I also took the headlights and indicators apart and cleaned them individually and thoroughly. The grille was showing its age, and so a spare can of Rover Silver Birch (this may be the wrong colour, though) we had for GG's wheel trims did the trick. Looks great at the front. Well, except where someone reversed into it and the last owner filled the dent with putty.
I know it is Oporto Red as I checked it with the codes on the table in the Paint Codes thread. (Code CMP)
The dashboard does squeak quite a bit, the top part on the drivers side is actually quite loose.
The engine I believe had been reconditioned 20,000 miles ago. It has had a new clutch very recently too. Except for the blowing manifold gasket which makes it noisy and smelly, it runs ok. (Not quite sure why the chap took out the choke cable though. Anyone ever fitted one and want to tell me how it is done?)
I do have a problem with the revers lights, I have not checked the bulbs yet, but it is wierd to me how neither of them came on earlier.
I like the vinyl headlining, and the rear seats are nice too. But the front drivers seat it sort of bent to one side. :banghead:
Anyway, I needed another car urgent like, but it had to be a sort of project car (more so than GG!) and not over £250.
I found four adverts for cheap Maestros, two of them being MG Maestro 2.0i's!
The other one was a L reg Clubman in Flame Red, but that is more or less the same as GG, so I thought that was pointless.
This 1.3L was advertised at £200. I thought this was reasonable as Maestros of that age are getting rare and prices are becoming slightly higher. (I.e. I saw a standard 1.3 with metal bumpers A reg for sale at £550!)
Anyway, as the car had been reversed into, and even broken into last week, the chap decided to drop the price to £150, which he wouldn't budge from.
So, £150 and three hours later, we started the real restoration project.
It's so nice to see two Maestros together, isn't it.
Isn't it?

Steve. :) (The longest post I've ever written.)

[MaestroMatt]

The engine I believe had been reconditioned 20,000 miles ago. It has had a new clutch very recently too. Except for the blowing manifold gasket which makes it noisy and smelly, it runs ok. (Not quite sure why the chap took out the choke cable though. Anyone ever fitted one and want to tell me how it is done?)

Exhaust gasket may prove to eb a bitch of a job. The part will be cheap enough but you will pay with the skin of your knuckles from what I have heard about it.

Are you sure it is not an auto-choke? They weren't standard on the 1.3L but I guess they could be fitted - possibly with the engine recon? If the chap had simply removed the choke cable, I doubt whether the car would start without you having to rev the hell out of it for the first 10 minutes.




I do have a problem with the revers lights, I have not checked the bulbs yet, but it is wierd to me how neither of them came on earlier.

There is only one light. You see, a problem shared is a problem halved!




This 1.3L was advertised at £200. I thought this was reasonable as Maestros of that age are getting rare and prices are becoming slightly higher. (I.e. I saw a standard 1.3 with metal bumpers A reg for sale at £550!)


I have noticed that they are getting more expensive again. Time was, you could get them for nothing (I had a 1.3L for free and I know of at least one other that was offered free to a good home). No longer though, I had to pay a full £300 for my VP - extortion of the highest order. They are clearly becoming classics.

I can't believe that you haven't posted a single picture of it yet!

[D87 SMW]

MaestroMatt,
There are two reverse lights on it, the same on all Maestros...
I have the choke cable for it and there is a round hole in the right side of the dashboard that it slots into.
I will get some pics of it uploaded when I take some and get them processed. See, I only got the car yesterday, and I don't have a diggy camera. :( :banghead: :laugh:
Just going down to the garage to see GG and Arnold so I may be offline for a while.
P.S: MaestroMatt, I love that avatar - howd'ya do it??? :confused: :) :eek: :cool: :laugh:

[MGTurbo]

With the hot weather, and a rich mixture, it may well not need a choke and run fine except a lower idle speed when cold.

An early 1.3 should have an autochoke as stated, and it may be worthwhile seeing if the fuel ECU is still under the dash and trace the multi plug in the engine bay. It would then be easy to convert back, you would only need to source a good stepper motor and seals and bolt it back onto the carb. My 1.3 had the autochoke and it worked faultlessly throughout the time i had it. So much for it being a crap system, its a simple lack of understanding as to how it works, and its so basic, i cant understand why people love them manual choke conversions!

Gareth

[MaestroMatt]

Originally posted by F170 GGT
MaestroMatt,
There are two reverse lights on it, the same on all Maestros...


You know, you're right! A moment of foolishness there. I was clearly thinking of a lesser make of car.

I agree with Gareth about the auto-choke. If it starts playing up, change the rubber O rings - takes all of 10 minutes and makes your car think you have spent about £500 on it. After I replaced them on mine, the idling improved, the performance improved and the MPG improved, not to mention the flawless starting-from-cold which is the reason I did it in the first place. Don't convert it back - use the hole to fit an electric mirror control!

[D87 SMW]

I do have a problem with the rear n/s door window. Its not winding right down, it goes so far then stops moving even while I'm still turning the handle. I believe this window had been smashed when some b:censored:d broke into it. :banghead: :banghead: :banghead:
Another problem, the drivers seat feels really low, and the back of the seat is leaning back on one side. :banghead: :rolleyes:
Plus the cigar lighter on the passenger side of the dash is loose - I think the metal part behind the dash has come away. :rolleyes: :banghead: :censored:
The rear wiper needs a new clip to hold it on - it dropped off when i lifted it up to wash the car yesterday. :rolleyes:
Other than that, it's ok.

[SimonR]

M170 - Cracking Monty!

I think I saw this one listed on eBay a few months ago and remember hoping that it'd find a sympathetic new owner.

Lets see a few pics of the rust so that we can assess just how bad it is....

Good luck

Simon R

[MaestroMatt]

Originally posted by M170 RFA
PS: Is the side tinted glass compatible with maestros?

Pretty sure it is - the Autoglass chap that failed to fit my windscreen said that Month windscreens were an inch or so shorter than Maestro ones, but all the other glass was the same. My car has bronze tinted glass all round - looks rather lovely, I would recommend it highly.

[D87 SMW]

I doubt that the rear windows of the Montego would fit the Maestro. The Montego rear door curves in slightly at the bottom of the window, whereas that of the Maestro is straight down.
Well that's my impression anyway. :rolleyes:

[John S]

Originally posted by F170 GGT
I doubt that the rear windows of the Montego would fit the Maestro. The Montego rear door curves in slightly at the bottom of the window, whereas that of the Maestro is straight down.
Well that's my impression anyway. :rolleyes:

True...I've found out that it must be the estate versions only that have glass of the right shape :banghead:
I say that I've bought a car but it's more of a 'template' of a car i.e. only a rough guideline to how it looked from the factory as most of it has been eaten away by the dreaded tinworm! It would pass the next couple of MOTs but would not be all that viable to restore - would be far better to buy a rust free M -reg 2.0 Auto and then swap the door cards and electrics, exterior shiny bits, alloys and then respray to the same colour theme. All that would be done then would be to transfer the F reg number over. I can't afford to do that - especially at the moment. I may keep it in my grandmother's shed as it is though.

Note the subtle BMW spoiler!

[John S]

And some more pics:-

PS: I've got the original alloys with new tyres. Are they so rare that they are worth restoring or can they still be easily bought new?

[John S]

And finally:-

[e692wtt]

Blimey, just in the same condition as my now-defunct VDP! Sad that these cars rot so badly so often. My Monty isn't anywhere near so bad, but I think that Azure Blue is a rust-resistant colour anyway. Have swapped over the seats and many of the top-of-the-range luxuries to my Monty, and am having the alloy wheels ('metric', remember!) refurbished after getting 4 remoulds for £60 from a place in Scotland.

The other other Rich.:eek:

[John S]

Originally posted by e692wtt
Blimey, just in the same condition as my now-defunct VDP! Sad that these cars rot so badly so often. My Monty isn't anywhere near so bad, but I think that Azure Blue is a rust-resistant colour anyway. Have swapped over the seats and many of the top-of-the-range luxuries to my Monty, and am having the alloy wheels ('metric', remember!) refurbished after getting 4 remoulds for £60 from a place in Scotland.

The other other Rich.:eek:

Good one 'other other' Rich! Do you know whether or not the VDP centre caps are still available? I hope to refurbish the wheels and sell them on. I've got two centre caps in total but one of them has a broken clip:(

[e692wtt]

I've got all 4 centre trims, all with VDP on, but only one has its 'metal ring' to hold it on securely (the other 3 rattle horribly!). I don't know if the centre trims are still available, but you can always try Rover or a Unipart dealer... at a price... or scour the scrapyards.

To be honest, the £25 Alloy Wheel special deal that is available (via Matthew Semple?) may be a better deal than doing your wheels up, as they will take standard tyres (these alloys are 'metric' - very costly tyres, if you can get them!) available at any tyre depot...

Having said that, look at the 'Traders' (can't remember...) Forum, the bottom one on the Forums Home Page, under 'Metric Tyres' thread (or similar... started off by Maria in the first days of this 'new' Forum) - the chap was most helpful and the 4 Tyron Remoulds were £60 delivered by TNT (but to trade premises only, or picked up from the local TNT warehouse/depot). I'm too far down this second path, I guess...

Hope this helps

The other other Rich.:cool:

[E_T_V]

Ermm today I was a little crazy, drove 2 hours to see a car with 200k on the clock and came home with it.

What do you think?

[E_T_V]

oops second time lucky...

[tony]

wow from here it looks brilliant has a nice shine ,at this rate johnathan will have to rename the club again ,campers and convetables r us

[E_T_V]

Nahh not shiny, just been flashed over with a poor paint job to make it sell. Need a whole paint job to make it all shiny black rather then the 3 colours it it now! Any recommendations in the sheffield area?

[John S]

Originally posted by E_T_V
Nahh not shiny, just been flashed over with a poor paint job to make it sell. Need a whole paint job to make it all shiny black rather then the 3 colours it it now! Any recommendations in the sheffield area?


That looks alright, and quite nice how the roof matches the wheel trims. Were those MG doors intentional I wonder? At least it's not in as much a state as my Montego :)

[tony]

Originally posted by E_T_V
Nahh not shiny, just been flashed over with a poor paint job to make it sell. Need a whole paint job to make it all shiny black rather then the 3 colours it it now! Any recommendations in the sheffield area?
if you find anyone let me know and i will have mine done as well

[E_T_V]

it is all a bit of a cut and shut really but I'll explain all another day.

[MaestroMatt]

An excellent purchase - congratulations!

[D87 SMW]

Nice one, Dan!
...but where's George? :(

[E_T_V]

Don't worry he is still about and in daily use as usual. Tonights job is to clear out the garage so George and Jane can sleep together.

Lets hope they don't have any babies.

[Quality]

Originally posted by e692wtt
My Monty isn't anywhere near so bad, but I think that Azure Blue is a rust-resistant colour anyway.


My Monte is Azure blue, and the door courners are at least as bad as M170's, at least the arches were slightly less bad, and now filled in that lumpy way that doing it for te first time leads to. :rolleyes:

[D87 SMW]

:laugh: I'll end up littering these forums with piccies soon!

[D87 SMW]

...as I said...

[D87 SMW]

... :rolleyes:

[D87 SMW]

... ;)

[D87 SMW]

Note the MKII steering wheel. Don't worry - I got a MKI version today which I will fit asap.

[Austin-Rover]

So you got the pics then Steve?

:p

[D87 SMW]

Pics? What pics?

:laugh: :laugh:

[E_T_V]

Originally posted by F170 GGT
:laugh: I'll end up littering these forums with piccies soon!

Oops too late ;) :laugh: :p

[MaestroMatt]

Nice looking car, Steve, and in the best of all Maestro colours. The 1.3L is in a peculiar place on the tailgate though! I love the big red A+ on the air filter cover (mine says "R Series Electronic Control" or some such late-seventies-dawn-of-microchip-technology-design way like the "solid state technology" on the electric dash). Good bodywork as well, shame about the slight dent on the bonnet - will that push out? The hoses all look OK as well but check and probably replace your fuel hoses - my car is the same age and since I have had it, two much perished fuel hoses have sprung leaks. Best to change them while it is still up to you where and when you do it!

[D87 SMW]

Yes it's a very nice colour when it's shiney. I've washed it, waxed it, hosed it and so on and it is still dusty! :rage: :banghead:
I think the car has had a new tailgate fitted - the 1.3L isn't supposed to have a rear wash wipe, nor is it supposed to have a n/s wing mirror!
The bodywork is fairly good, only two arches out of the four have any rust on them.
Ah, the dent on the bonnet. :( :banghead: Apparently someone reversed into it before we bought it. Instead of knocking it out, someone has filled it with filler. :rolleyes: :banghead: :rage:

[D87 SMW]

Oh - and I'm sorry some of the piccies have been spoiled by a certain BMW 318i... :banghead: :rage:

[Austin-Rover]

Originally posted by F170 GGT

I think the car has had a new tailgate fitted - the 1.3L isn't supposed to have a rear wash wipe, nor is it supposed to have a n/s wing mirror!


Those two bits may not be original - but they are worthwhile additions - especially the n/s mirror.

[John S]

Looks great but I'd get those wheeltrims replaced pronto! Where are the black sticky side strips? They should still be available from MG Rover dealers.

[D87 SMW]

Harldy worthwhile - the rear washer is playing up. I have water now leaking down the inside of the A pillar and pouring out of the sill.
The n/s wingmirror is adjustable whereas the drivers one isn't.

:banghead:

[D87 SMW]

Originally posted by M170 RFA
Looks great but I'd get those wheeltrims replaced pronto! Where are the black sticky side strips? They should still be available from MG Rover dealers.

:laugh: Wheeltrims are last on my list!

[MaestroMatt]

Originally posted by F170 GGT
I think the car has had a new tailgate fitted - the 1.3L isn't supposed to have a rear wash wipe, nor is it supposed to have a n/s wing mirror!

Hmm, didn't know that - the later 1.3L cars, with the mk 2 dash, had both. The bidet was a single unit on the two I had - the washer was part of the wiper mounting. A replacement tailgate could be the reason for the dodgy positioning of the 1.3L badge though!

[MGTurbo]

Rear wash wipe and passenger door mirror were both options that many specifed at purchase time, i know so, because my A reg 1.3L came with them! Have some of you not considered the fact that the tailgate may be original but the 1.3 badge may have been removed for previous spray work and then refitted in the wrong place? I see it very often on modern cars where the badge is in a wrong position and it looks very odd.

Gareth

[D87 SMW]

Hmmm. Still don't like them. Especially because the rear washer's acting up, and the wingmirror is a MKII adjustable one. :( :rolleyes: