![]() ![]() The Austin Allegro was seven years old and the Morris Ital was also launched in 1980 but was effectively a reworked version of the nine-year-old Morris Marina, and BL's latest all-new car was the 1976 Rover SD1. The Mini, for example, had been in production for 21 years by the time of the Metro's launch. British Leyland's troubles were largely attributed to out-of-date technology and design of most of its model range. The issue was resolved by BL promising to advertise the car only as the miniMetro.Īt the time of its launch, the Metro was hailed as British Leyland's saviour, as the company was facing a serious financial crisis and there were fears that it could go out of business. Once the result was announced, the manufacturer of trains and buses, Metro Cammell, objected to the use of the Metro name by BL. They were offered a choice of three names, Match, Maestro or Metro. The name was chosen through a ballot of BL employees. Initially, the Metro was sold as a three-door hatchback. The hatchback body shell was one of the most spacious of its time and this was a significant factor in its popularity. The Metro used the Hydragas suspension system found on the Allegro but without front to rear interconnection. Some of the Mini's underpinnings were carried over into the Metro, namely the 998 cc and 1275 cc A-Series engines, much of the front-wheel drivetrain and four-speed manual gearbox, and suspension subframes. It was intended as a big brother, rather than as a replacement, for the Mini, the earlier Mini replacement project, ADO88, having been replaced in late 1977 by a new project, LC8, for the development of a larger car which could compete more effectively with the successful superminis, such as the Ford Fiesta. On 8 October 1980, BL introduced the Austin miniMetro. The Rover 100 was finally cancelled in 1998, ironically being out-lived (by two years) by the original Mini it was meant to replace. A direct replacement in the supermini class did not arrive until 2004 with the CityRover. From 1990 until its demise in 1994, the Metro was sold only as a Rover.Īlthough the new Rover 200 (introduced in 1995 and smaller than previous 200 models) had originally been designed as a replacement for the Metro, it was not marketed as such after its launch. There were also van versions known as the Morris Metro and later, Metrovan.Īt the time of its launch, the Metro was sold as an Austin. It was re-badged as the Rover 100 series in 1994. It was intended to complement the Mini, and was developed under the codename LC8.ĭuring its 18-year lifespan, the Metro wore many names: Austin Metro, MG Metro and Rover Metro. It was launched in 1980 as the Austin Mini Metro. Yes, a five-speed box would have to wait another ten years until the K-Series powered Rover Metro.Ĭhunky alloy wheels, red seatbelts and some suitably loud graphics completed the package and the MG remained a popular model in the range right until the end.īy then it had been joined by the Metro Turbo – also an MG model – and of course, the Maestro and Montego-based MG cars.Īnyone who has ever driven an MG Metro will remember it being a fun car to chuck about, although along with that came a fair amount of welding work – which along with the cars being robbed of their engines by classic Mini owners explains why the Metro in all its guises is such a rare sight today and especially the MG versions.The Metro is a supermini car that was produced by the Austin Rover Group division of British Leyland and its successors. The 1275cc A-Series was treated to a Cooper-like cylinder head, different cam and twin carbs, the 72 bhp result being not quite a GTI contender but certainly fast enough to be fun and capable of just over the ton at 103 mph flat-out… with the engine screaming in fourth. Launched in May 1982, the MG Metro used the same recipe which had made the Mini Cooper such a winner – no surprise considering the Metro was essentially a squared-off Mini under the skin. Indeed, the Cooper Metro was later renamed the Monaco. By then of course the Midget and MGB had been axed, so a performance Metro was an ideal way of keeping the MG flame alive. In July 1981, BL admitted it was working on an in-house go-faster Metro but it wasn’t to bear the Cooper badge. Janspeed, Turbo Technics, Wood and Pickett and even John Cooper Garages all produced enticing go-faster Metros with period alloys, wild cams and twin carbs. Initial production concentrated on shifting the bread-and-butter models although at launch several aftermarket tuners were invited to work their magic on early production examples. The ‘British car to beat the world’ was launched in October 1980 to great acclaim and it really was a make-or-break car for the struggling BL – or rather, Austin Rover as it would become. ![]()
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