Longevity..

Post by **Defender110** » Tue Apr 10, 2012 5:05 pm

Mickey taker wrote:Well if you ask me it all started to go wrong when they ditched the morris minor and brought out the allegro

Are yes the Allegro where British Leyland re-invented the wheel and made it square! Thankfully only the steering wheel!

Willy · Post by **Willy** » Tue Apr 10, 2012 5:39 pm

And after the Allegro came the biggest rebound in automotive history

Dollywobbler · Post by **Dollywobbler** » Tue Apr 10, 2012 5:57 pm

Must be said though, a Maestro fits the bill of 'longevity' quite nicely. They are brisk enough in A-Series 1.3 form, and engines don't really get much more simple. Utterly dull though and not entirely pleasant to drive - certainly not compared to a BX.

sdelasal · Post by **sdelasal** » Tue Apr 10, 2012 6:45 pm

Is that the 'Go Compare' guy in that photo ? - Shame someone didn't sit on him back then.

Post by **mat_fenwick** » Tue Apr 10, 2012 8:59 pm

I can't stand the adverts, but he really can sing!

citsncycles · Post by **citsncycles** » Tue Apr 10, 2012 9:48 pm

Must be said though, a Maestro fits the bill of 'longevity' quite nicely. They are brisk enough in A-Series 1.3 form, and engines don't really get much more simple. Utterly dull though and not entirely pleasant to drive - certainly not compared to a BX.

I'll give you one reason why Maestros don't fit the bill for longevity - Rust! They make 70's Citroens look rust resistant!

Well if you ask me it all started to go wrong when they ditched the morris minor and brought out the allegro

Donning the anorak for a moment, wasn't the Morris Minor replaced by the Marina? At least it was slightly more spacious than the Minor, even though it shared most of the running gear. The Allegro replaced the 1300 range, in a master stroke that produced a vehicle that was slower, thirstier and less spacious than the vehicle it replaced. I had a series 2 Allogro 1300, and it wasn't a bad car to drive, but rear seat space was awful, and the boot was cunningly shaped to be big until you put a single item in it.

Ugh. Don't get me started on the scrappage scheme. Kia and salesmen were the only people who profited. Well done Mandleson! Slimeball.

The last BX I owned was a scrappage scheme rescue, luckily it was taken to a dealer who liked old Citroens and who gave the owner a similar discount if he found the BX a home

I also predict that anyone with machining skills and a lathe and/or upholstery skills and/or who can weld will become increasingly popular.

Umm... I'm a bit rusty on them, but there's a Victorian Singer industrial treadle sewing machine in the dining room, a 30's treadle operated lathe in the garage and another converted to electric in the front room! Been getting plenty of practice with the welder though, although I'd argue that the panel beating skills needed to make the repair sections in the first place are at least as important as being able to weld them in.

Paul296 · Post by **Paul296** » Wed Apr 11, 2012 2:26 am

mat_fenwick wrote:Just Google 'Irv Gordon' to read about his Volvo P1800 he's owned from new, and now coming up to 3 million miles.

I did . . .

WOW! I think a round of applause is in order? Get your very own 'Irv mobile' here . . .

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Volvo-P1800s- ... 43aec01ee3

God, they're lovely.