Re: Built to last
Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2012 9:41 pm
He's bound to say Allegro and I'll second that!
Much was made of the minor's rotodip paint and rust proofing process , which generally has worked , the main rust problems often caused through lack of use , maintenance and allowing water ingress through doors etc. The 1970s cars are less on the road in part due to the desire to preserve and keep older cars , not valuing what we had in the 70s ( I would like an Allegro Estate and a Triumph Dolomite if I had the space ). With the Historic Classic Tax rate getting fixed at 1972 rather than the rolling (25 ? 20 years that it was when introduced ) , the extra £100/200 or so up front annual cost could mean a Minor Van better value than an Ital Van. In own family two allegros disappeared - one traded in for a Morris Minor and the other under a 30 ton 8 legger tipper truck when the truck ran away in the yard where the allegro parked up prior to its MOT due later that day. I also lost a nice and warm Mk 1 Astra under a reversing council dust cart.
I should have kept the Hillman Huskys Minxs but didnt have the knowledge or time at the time to keep the repairs going.
Also Triumph 1300/Dolomite range, MGs don't seem to do too badly (mind you they have a large following) and the Austin Maxi, Rover SD1 and the 3 litre before it - and of course the good old Minor! But I agree, not many of these cars had good reputations for anything, but that's why we like them now, along with (well perhaps this is going a bit too far) little Jimmy Osmond.