MG Metro

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Launched in 1980, the Austin Mini Metro was intended as a more modern and spacious replacement for the venerable old Mini.

Some of the Mini's underpinnings were carried over, namely the 998cc and 1275cc A-Series engines, much of the front-wheel drivetrain and four-speed manual gearbox, and suspension subframes. However the remarkably spacious hatchback body shell was all new with revolutionary split-folding rear seats that are now a common feature. It used the effective Hydragas suspension system found on the Allegro which gave surprisingly good ride and handling, allied to excellent brakes. 

Hailed as British Leyland's savior at the time, the Metro quickly proved popular with buyers and during the early part of its production life was the best-selling super-mini in the UK, before being eclipsed by the updated Ford Fiesta. The Metro range was expanded in 1982 to include the Vanden Plas and MG versions.

The MG's engine was fitted with a modified camshaft, bigger valves and twin outlet exhaust manifold but retained a single SU carburettor which gave it 72bhp at 6000rpm, sufficient for a top speed of 105mph. The suspension, steering and brakes of the standard car were unchanged as these were more than adequate to cope with the uprated performance, but the car was given a handsome set of pepper pot style cast-alloy wheels shod with low-profile tyres. It also gained a sporty interior with red seat belts, red carpets, a rev counter and a sports-style steering wheel.

With under 350 MG Metros still registered on the DVLA database, this once extremely popular model is now a rare machine indeed, most having been delivered to the scrap-man years ago.

This very smart example somehow managed to escape his clutches and has covered just 33,000 miles from new. It comes with a detailed file of documentation that includes its original order form and bill of sale, along with a raft of MOTs from 1988 to 2014 (24 in total) and a handbook and service book with three stamps. There are also numerous bills and photographs on file.

Recently released from a large private collection, it has been fully serviced and given a fresh MOT which expires in April 2016.

The recent resurgence in interest in ‘80s and ‘90s BL products looks set to continue which is good news. Although much derided at the time, their products were little worse (if any) than most cars on the market and at least BL attempted to provide a range of alternative design ideas, even if they were let down by patchy build-quality and used the car-buying public to do the final-stage testing and development.

Our very own Consultant James Dennison learnt to drive in his Mum’s MG Metro, so no doubt he will be bidding enthusiastically as he is always banging on about how good it was…oh those rose-tinted specs!