My Maestro

[BikerGran]

My daily drive is a 24 year old Austin Maestro automatic, fondly known as Doris.

She's not in bad nick for her age, totally original and unrestored, but she has a couple of problems and I've been wondering whether I should change her for a later model with an unleaded head, and preferably upgrading to power steering and electric windows.

But I'm reluctant to part with her, we've been together over 3 years now and get on very well - besides she has lovely brown tweed seats!

Picture from the Austin centenary meeting at Longbridge in 2005.

[BikerGran]

Anyway, after discussing it on the Owners Club forum, I've been told I'd be mad to swop this for a car with a later bodyshell as they got progressively worse and the really late ones are going into holes all over the place!

Then I found that one of the MMOC members was swopping the engine out of his 1.6 auto for a 2.0L injection one, and his 1.6 engine was advertised on Ebay.  Well it's not any more cos I'm buying it!  It's got an unleaded head, and the later crankcase breather system which means I won't have problems with the breathers getting full of 'mayo' and causing oil seals to blow, which is what's happened to mine.  He's also got almost evrything needed to fit PAS to my car AND electric window winders - and what's more, he and his mate - another club member - have offered to fit it for me!

So now I have to find someone to sypathetically do the bits of welding it needs (I can get it done well at an astronomical price, or adequately but ugly for a low price - I need something in between!) and there's a DIY job of replacing the sagging roof lining, and Doris will have a new lease of life - I'm a bit chuffed!

[tazet]

That's great Bobbi 

[davesatan]

there was one for sale on ebay 150 quid

[panthershaun]

Nice one Bobbi, its good to keep old friends rolling.

Bodged the Land Rover yesterday to stop the drivers door falling off , I'm hoping she can hang on until the Pop is done or I find time to swap bodies on the 2cv so she can take a well earned rest and get rebuilt.

[Manky Monkey]

Lunatic, Postie Dave & I were summoned to Flap's place today to help him take his Landy off road.
It's been parked outside his house for 8 months without moving. He's planning on replacing the chassis with a brand new galvanised jobbie but hasn't gotten around to it. Meanwhile, the tax & MOT had run out & today the DVLA task squad descended & wheel clamped it. 200 quid release fee -ouch! So we had to dismantle the fence around his garden so he could back the Landy in. Mrs Flap was out at the time so didn't see him wheel spinning across the lawn, but she ain't gonna be pleased.