Austin allegro - Off the road at last - Orb>>

www.gazette-news.co.uk/news/24066905.colchester-po.../

This one made me smile, I have seen the car lots of times over the past few years. Petrol tank rusted out and removed, with a fuel cell (rally type) fitted in the boot. Steering lock removed as well as lots of bits of the dash. No actual need for an MOT or "tax" but having been behind it often, not a "smoker" and surprisingly nice chap driving it. He also had another one for "spares" which he said was still on his driveway and would fix if needed.

Austin allegro - Off the road at last - craig-pd130

Cosmetically it looks bad but it's certainly had cover sills, if not full sills so whether it's in poor structural condition is something only a full MOT test could tell.

Seeing an Allegro described as a 'vintage' car did tickle me. It's vintage by dint of age, not quality or class!

Austin allegro - Off the road at last - bathtub tom

If the only reason was a noisy exhaust, then a lot of others are at risk. The tatty condition may annoy BIBs, but surely it's not a reason for banning it from the road, without a thorough inspection. I suppose as it's MOT exempt it may have serious safety related problems if it isn't inspected.

Any idea what the unit is down at the side of the driver's footwell?

Austin allegro - Off the road at last - elekie&a/c doctor
Looks like a stereo amplifier. Probably used to drown out the noise from the exhaust system.
Austin allegro - Off the road at last - mcb100
Looks like a speaker next to it, screwed to the dash above the footwell.
I’m guessing another speaker on the passenger side, and a device plugged in via a jack plug for high quality in-car entertainment.
Austin allegro - Off the road at last - madf

Horrible badly built cars. (Two as company cars)

Austin allegro - Off the road at last - RT

If the only reason was a noisy exhaust, then a lot of others are at risk. The tatty condition may annoy BIBs, but surely it's not a reason for banning it from the road, without a thorough inspection. I suppose as it's MOT exempt it may have serious safety related problems if it isn't inspected.

Any idea what the unit is down at the side of the driver's footwell?

it was thoroughly inspected - the officers who first examined it called in their roads policing officers with more specialist lnowledge.

Austin allegro - Off the road at last - bathtub tom

Petrol tank rusted out

Friend had one with that problem. Stopped to fill up and lost half of it over the next few miles.

Austin allegro - Off the road at last - Big John

Petrol tank rusted out

Friend had one with that problem. Stopped to fill up and lost half of it over the next few miles.

IT was and still is a problem with many older cars with steel petrol tanks - the latent heat of evaporation always tends to cool the tank which render it prone to an almost permanent layer of condensation especially when not being used. This caused me real grief a few years ago with my kit car that had a triumph spitfire petrol tank mounted inside the boot. I stored the car for a while after my son was born the fuel tank was rusted through when I re commissioned it. I found a replacement and thoroughly rust proofed it to stop a recurrence.

I had a 1973 Allegro 1750 SS back in the day that was already over a decade old. I must admit I rather liked it, engine was torquey, it had a 5 speed box (unusual then) and the seats were fab.

Edited by Big John on 27/01/2024 at 00:06