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Lee Denton's early Maestro Vanden Plas is something of a rare survivor in times where most of the original Maestros have long since succumbed to the tests of time, plummeting values and the MOT man's rubber mallet. FKV 98Y is no ordinary runaround though as its story and condition suggest.
The story begins in June 1983 when the car was registered by Henlys of Coventry, the city being its home for just over 20 years. After the death of the first owner in 2003 the Owners Club were approached and the car acquired by Lindsey Smith. Having been used so little it really only needed minor cosmetic touches and plenty of "TLC" to earn it the privelege of representing the Maestro in the July 2005 Austin Centenary Cavalcade.
Lee became the third very proud owner in October 2005, the 22 year old car having covered just over 34,000 miles. "I had seen many for sale but I was searching for the best. Then I found that Lindsey Smith was selling hers so I bid and won it on ebay." In the two months since taking over the car, Lee has already had the rear bumper, tailgate and bottoms of the rear doors painted eliminating what little rust the car had. The sills had been undersealed by the original owner, so these were stripped and painted as they would have been from the factory, and all the wheels painted. The cars specification has been left entirely as standard and includes:
Equipment Specs
- Solid state instrumentation and trip computer
- Electric front windows
- Bronze-tinted glass
- Central locking of doors and tailgate
- Slide/tilt sunroof
- Radio/stereo cassette player
- Rear centre armrest
This is surely one of the tidiest early Maestros around. It's Lee's second car and stays safely garaged away from all the salt and moisture during the winter months. Some show appearances in 2006 are on the cards.
January 2006
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The Maestro
FKV 98Y - Maestro 1.6 Vanden Plas 
