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Post by howard on Sept 25, 2011 15:19:05 GMT
Umm, my ex-work colleague's grandfather died recently and this was found in his garage. Owned from new, and actually bought from my local BL dealership in Bristol. It's a 1500 Super and has done 40,000 miles. It's not been used for seven years, but sounds spot on. Interior was always covered and is as-new. Body has a few elderly-person dents, and weirdly has an area where the wing is welded to the valance rubbed back to bare metal - there's no problems there though. It drives lovely but will need the suspension repressurising. Needs a good clean and those wheels painting, and it will look terrific. They might not be to everyone's taste but such an original car of any kind is appealing, and especially as it has local significance. So, who thinks I'll end up with it?
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Post by Patrick on Sept 25, 2011 15:58:45 GMT
A 1500? Even rarer! Lovely! I was never an Allegro fan when growing up, though I can remember seeing a launch model on display at (possibly) the old Holborn Viaduct station when they came out. Then we owned one - and it's perkiness, comfy ride and overall character won us over. A nicer car than the sloppy Cortina 1300 MkIII that preceded it. They do have an effect on people - After owning his first my brother went on to own two more!
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spunkymonkey
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Post by spunkymonkey on Sept 25, 2011 16:11:54 GMT
That looks so clean you'd be a fool not to be interested, Howard!
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stefan
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Post by stefan on Sept 25, 2011 16:29:00 GMT
Nice, love allagros had one as my first road worthy car an orange 1.1 deluxe 2 door it was great
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Post by howard on Sept 25, 2011 16:34:32 GMT
I had one for 15 years. Much cheap fun was had in that car (I bought it with 18,000 on the clock) and as some of you may remember some idiot jumped on the roof and bonnet and sadly I lost heart in it So I went to see this one and basically it's a joy. I do need reminding that this car is 33 years old! I said I wouldn't but I think I MIGHT be interested. I shall certainly save it, anyhow!
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33grinder
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Post by 33grinder on Sept 25, 2011 17:54:20 GMT
What a great find! Go on Howard, you know you want it! It'd be foolish not to!
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kenr
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Post by kenr on Sept 25, 2011 20:27:06 GMT
What a nice little car. I had an 1100 in sandglow. A very comfy car and uber reliable right until I blew the engine (oops). I'd have another one in a shot. Especially a white one. I seem to gravitate to white cars. Don't know why.
Ken
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kenr
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Post by kenr on Sept 25, 2011 20:28:11 GMT
The interior trim is 'paprika' IIRC.
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spunkymonkey
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Post by spunkymonkey on Sept 25, 2011 20:49:21 GMT
(The only other tattie-like inspired car I can think of is the Renault 14 ) I'd have one of those in a shot - vastly under-rated and quite cute in a "90s style designed in the 70s" sort of way! Also completely unkillable (I tried hard enough with my old one )
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Post by howard on Sept 25, 2011 21:50:40 GMT
"Ugghhh, an automotive potato.... on wheels. (The only other tattie-like inspired car I can think of is the Renault 14 ) Still, each to their own and nice to see an unmolested example see the light of day again. " Haha, well of COURSE I'd have preferred to open the door and find certain other cars in its place, and we can only deal with what was actually there! I like it because I know I'd be able to drive it like it was an automotive two-fingered salute to the world. I know I'd get stick wherever I went but as I once owned a purple Jawa moped with bright yellow wheels I'm used to that.....how people laughed until there was a petrol strike and they couldn't buy any petrol..... But truthfully I do have such a soft spot for Allegros - I was smiling all the time I was in and around it. I expect I've pushed the price up by doing so, but as they want the money to go to charity I don't mind that much if they did! For the record, I had two 1100DLs and a Vanden Plas 1500 automatic - the latter being slower than the other two. I lost a wheel on the VP on a speed ramp but I don't hold that against the car. I remember taking the car to two garages for them to investigate a clicking which I suspected to be a balljoint but neither could find anything wrong - yet it failed a few days later in quite amusing fashion. I learned that day that if I'm suspicious of anything LOOK AT IT YOURSELF!!
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Post by Patrick on Sept 25, 2011 22:58:37 GMT
Poor Renault 14's. Victims of the appalling storage conditions at Southampton Docks. Revealed by "Car" Magazine in the early eighties, there were lines of Renaults standing up to their wheel arches in stagnant water, waiting to be ferried off to the dealers and their unsuspecting owners. I can still see the pictures now. Our first Allegro was a '73 2 door 1300DL in white, with a factory fitted sliding cloth sunroof. Bought in 1985 for £500, it had 43,000 on the clock and had outlived two little old ladies.
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Post by howard on Sept 25, 2011 23:38:36 GMT
There's a very late Renault 14 near to me in Kingswood. The owner also seems to own an Isuzu Piazza. He's another one who is obviously living in the past!!!
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33grinder
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Post by 33grinder on Sept 26, 2011 7:56:38 GMT
What was wrong with the 14 anyway, it has quite an attractive shape. Bit early for jelly-mould styling I guess, maybe that is why it didn't get such a hot reception. I think the car was designed to be 'pear-shaped' iirc. And don't forget the Fuego, another fine looking car.
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kenr
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Post by kenr on Sept 26, 2011 23:07:09 GMT
The Fuego was a great looking car. The shape was way ahead of it's time.
Hey Howard, if you don't want it......
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Post by howard on Sept 27, 2011 0:33:34 GMT
I'll let you know, Ken! I'm toying with getting rid of more stuff so I can justify it So long as it's saved - that's the main thing I care about. As long as it's a sensible price I'll be there. Maybe I should revise my signature to what I actually am going to be left with. DAF32LE x2 (1966) DAF33 x1 (1973) DAF44 x1 (1975) DAF66 Coupe x2 (1973-74) Saab Sonett (1973) Saab 99 Combi Coupe (1978) Saab 9000 CS Carlsson (1991) Vauxhall Corsa (2000) I make that TEN And I would be struggling to get rid of any of the others - at the moment. This time last year I had 23 cars....
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kenr
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Post by kenr on Sept 27, 2011 6:28:25 GMT
Ah, a car obsessed maniac, a man after my own heart. Fab!
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Post by howard on Oct 18, 2011 12:00:22 GMT
From one maniac to plenty more - I've just ended up buying that Allegro......
No surprises there then!!!!
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33grinder
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Post by 33grinder on Oct 18, 2011 12:23:35 GMT
Well done that man - you knew it made sense.
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Post by howard on Oct 18, 2011 18:04:23 GMT
Ended up getting it for a song, and not a very good one at that, although it does come with the usual requests: send photos of the car when she is back on the road, and come and visit us at the seaside! Both requests that it will be a pleasure to comply with. Have a few surprises for the previous owner too, if I can get permission from certain people! I hope my X-ray vision that enabled me to see through the dirt to what was underneath hasn't let me down. From what I can see as she has always been garaged it will be a comparative pleasure to coax her through an MOT as she is so clean. We'll see. I've got to arrange to get her home first! Probably some time next week. It's an Allegro. So why am I excited? Simple. The smell. So familiar, yet so distant. Memories came flooding back when I sat in it. I have a photo album here (pre-digital of course) full of photos of where my Allegro took me and the happy times I had with the Allegro club. It always seemed to be sunny back then. Who said nostalgia doesn't have an effect?
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kenr
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Post by kenr on Oct 19, 2011 22:43:29 GMT
Oh well done Howard! They are great little cars, as comfy as anything and just nice to drive. Congrats mate!
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Post by howard on Oct 20, 2011 10:11:33 GMT
Wow, looks like it's being collected and delivered on Monday. Quicker than I thought, but I'll have space by then!
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Post by Patrick on Oct 20, 2011 11:07:59 GMT
S'funny that whilst the Allegro had quite a "modern" looking dashboard, they kept the flat wooden one in the Maxi for as long as they did. The Mark3 make over Allegro fascia was an awful quality, I remember seeing one and thinking it was made out of tupperware it was so 'flexible'. Rumour has it that there was almost going to be an Allegro Mark IV had the Maestro not been sorted out in time!
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Post by howard on Oct 22, 2011 0:07:49 GMT
A Mk2 dashboard, for those who care. Work to be done: Nothing too taxing there, I'd say!
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Post by howard on Oct 22, 2011 11:31:38 GMT
"Wow, that is a poverty-spec special that dash is" - you've obviously been spoilt, Richard! Tells you all you need to know and nothing more. At least i got a de-luxe entertainment system in the bottom right She shall have music wherever she goes! But yes, from memory it looks exactly the same as the bottom of the range 1100DLs I had all those years ago. Don't remind me of the skin-removing properties of the "de luxe" vinyl seating. I'm glad I have cloth in this bugger, that's for sure. The seats were also covered from new so they are as perfect as you could hope to find. I reckon I could have her tidied up presentably in a day or two, although like any old car the more you dig the more problems you'll find (but I think I've done OK here).
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kenr
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Post by kenr on Oct 22, 2011 20:23:12 GMT
Lovely little car Howard, nothing major there that I can see. Fab!
Ken
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Post by Patrick on Oct 23, 2011 0:29:34 GMT
I think the four dial dash came as standard on all the MK2 Allegros. The SDL/HLS having a clock. In the Mk1's it was only available on the Higher Spec ones. I've got the original launch brochure somewhere.
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Post by howard on Oct 23, 2011 21:04:02 GMT
"I can appreciate your love of the Allegro, but I can't find love for them myself" - that's perfectly fair. I don't take it personally! You know that my basis for liking them is not because they are the best cars ever, but simply because I grew up with them, drove them, and actually enjoyed them. I know they are far from being the worst car ever made and it's my challenge to prove this with my latest purchase by running it for pennies over the coming year. Hopefully!!!
My first car was a 1969 Morris 1300 automatic, and that had that fab strip speedo. I loved that car so much even though it was totally rotten underneath. I still managed to sell it for £15...
I confess I grew up liking BL stuff when my brother and friends preferred Ford or Vauxhall. Loved my Maxis, Princesses and Ambassadors which were always pretty good and cheap to look after. Maybe I just bought wisely, even if some cost a tenner a piece......
Hard to think I bought my first Allegro when I thought the Ambassador was costing me too much in fuel!!!! Some things never change!
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Post by howard on Oct 26, 2011 17:07:41 GMT
Car is here and running/driving perfectly. Have had a good old cleaning session and I now reek of Leyland's finest. Have to say I'm very pleased! Managed to get most things working properly and there doesn't seem to much left to do. I'm confident enough to chuck her in for an MOT just to see what happens!
Photos will follow when I get some camera batteries sorted out!
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Post by starider on Oct 30, 2011 5:55:41 GMT
Hi,my dad had a 1500 "Aggro" and I have to admit it was probably one of the best riding cars I've driven[appart from from the Citroen DS21].The 1750 Allegro went like "s**t of a stick"and was quite hairy to handle at speed.My favourite car that I owned during the mid-70s was a Morris 1800 "land-crab"[so much room in the back,the kids could walk around],extremely comfortable and an excellent tow car. Enjoy your Allegro,there cann't be many left. starider.
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Post by Nick the man with a daf.... on Nov 7, 2011 22:20:47 GMT
very nice !!!
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