1980 Austin Allegro 3 1.3L

Description

Only 22,900 miles from new; few owners; recently recommissioned following many years in storage; driven 60 miles to the sale; a proper little timewarp!

The British car buying public are an odd lot. Put them behind the wheel of modern Audi with a square steering wheel and they don’t bat an eyelid, but when BL tried it in the Allegro in 1973 it was as if they’d replaced the steering wheel with a live grenade!

The ‘Quartic’ steering wheel was not the only thing that raised eyebrows with the new car. Its bulbous styling was deliberately different, BL's management preferring it to a stylish wedge-shaped design along the lines of the elegant Princess, the justification being that the forthcoming ‘E’ series engine wouldn’t fit.

A second face-lift arrived in 1979 in the form of the Allegro 3, which used the new A-Plus engine destined for the Metro, a new grille and bigger bumpers. Road tests were not unkind but the lacklustre styling, combined with constant press coverage of industrial strife at BL, meant the Allegro only got to seventh in the list of best-selling cars in Britain, a poor performance compared to the 1100/1300 range. Production finally came to an end with the launch of the hatchback Maestro in 1982.

This splendid Allegro 3 has covered only 22,900 miles to date and comes with an impressive history file from new. Copies of the original Longbridge build sheets show that it left the factory in April 1980 finished in oh-so-Seventies Russet Brown with matt black bumpers and grille and Beige Nylon trim. It was supplied new by Heronsgate Motor Company of Chorleywood in August 1980, the original purchase invoice showing that it cost £3,674 including £95 for Black Knight full anti-rust treatment – a good investment which seems to have done its job well.

The first two owners were both in the Ward family of Amersham, who kept the car right up until 2018. The original Passport to Service book has six stamps up to 13,895 miles in July 1986, all supported by invoices. There are also various other invoices for subsequent upkeep and a notebook detailing many of the journeys made and the money spent on petrol. Five old MOTs show the mileage gradually rising to 15,639 in June 1989.

When the next owner acquired the Allegro it had been in storage for at least 20 years, various invoices showing that he had it fully recommissioned, including fitting a new clutch kit and master cylinder, the car sailing through its MOT in March 2019 with no advisories, the mileage at this point being 15,648.  

Our vendor, who is the fourth owner, acquired the car in May 2020 and has continued to look after it well, using it frequently and adding another 5,000 miles to the odometer, commenting that it draws lots of attention wherever it goes. As you can see in the photos, it looks to be in remarkably solid and original condition throughout with just a couple of minor bodywork dents and some flaking to the matt black paint on the window trims. The paint would also benefit from a T-Cut here and there, especially the roof.

Riding on a set of period Cobra Supaslot alloys, it was driven over 60 miles to the sale and has been starting promptly and running well as we have moved it around on site. It also comes with lots of interesting period literature including road tests, sales brochures, Allegro colour card etc.

Hard to believe but of the 643,000 Allegros sold, there are now only 274 still licensed in the UK, with another 345 on SORN. This low mileage cracker must surely be among the best of them.

For more information contact James on 07970 309907 or email james.dennison@brightwells.com