Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

Rootes75 · Posted: Tue Oct 20, 2020 11:14 am Post subject: Any Metro Fans?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-54423328
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Various Rootes Vehicles.

Miken · Joined: 24 Dec 2012 Posts: 544

As a machine toolmaker apprentice i helped build part of the production line that machined Metro cylinder heads.
"Today young man, your going to learn how to scrape a surface truly flat using engineers blue and a hand scraper. Don't worry this machine bed is only 40 foot long". It took weeks.

Ray White · Joined: 02 Dec 2014 Posts: 6303 Location: Derby

Does the Metro have any redeeming features?

If so; sorry, but they have escaped me.

Sorry, no offence intended.

Rick · Site Admin Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22437 Location: UK

badhuis · Joined: 20 Aug 2008 Posts: 1390 Location: Netherlands

Same here. I think it was a good design and very practical but not my cup of tea.
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a car stops being fun when it becomes an investment

mikeC · Posted: Tue Oct 20, 2020 5:44 pm Post subject:

I had the misfortune to be given a Metro as a company car; I hated it, but then I don't like Minis either Laughing

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in the garage: 1938 Talbot Ten Airline
Recently departed: 1953 Lancia Appia, 1931 Austin Seven, 1967 Singer Chamois, 1914 Saxon, 1930 Morris Cowley, 1936 BSA Scout, 1958 Lancia Appia coupe, 1922 Star 11.9 ... the list goes on!

ukdave2002 · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 4104 Location: South Cheshire

When I was learning to drive Metro's seemed to be the driving instructors vehicle of choice, I like mini's and would love to restore one, can't see me restoring a Metro!
That said the price of Mini's has gone a bit bonkers, so maybe I will have to settle for a Metro!..the MG Metro was supposed to be good fun.

I may have got this wrong, but when launched were they not described as "Mini Metro's" ?

Dave

Penman · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 4755 Location: Swindon, Wilts.

Hi
With a full, or near full, tank the early ones had a nasty habit of spilling petrol on the road just in front of the O/S rear on left hand bends and corners, could be quite tasty on a wet road.
The filler cap behind the flap was just about level with the top of wheel (not the tyre, the wheel) Later it was moved upwards to the waist line or above.
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Bristols should always come in pairs.

Any 2 from:-
Straight 6
V8 V10

Ray White · Joined: 02 Dec 2014 Posts: 6303 Location: Derby

I remember my Dad getting it in the neck from Mum when he set fire to her MG Metro! Shocked

It was an accident, of course, but they certainly go up well!

Secretly, she was glad of the excuse to go back to driving a Mini Cooper s which she always preferred.

Who wouldn't.???

Rootes75 · Posted: Tue Oct 20, 2020 8:08 pm Post subject:

I have never been taken by them.

My sister had one as her first car and it was awful to drive, I remember my Father and I having to replace the gearbox on it and then she quickly sold it on.
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Various Rootes Vehicles.

Rick · Site Admin Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22437 Location: UK

Penman · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 4755 Location: Swindon, Wilts.

Hi
I forgot to mention the large bruise I developed on the inside of my right knee which kept getting bashed against the key when getting in, it was just too low down the column.
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Bristols should always come in pairs.

Any 2 from:-
Straight 6
V8 V10

Ray White · Joined: 02 Dec 2014 Posts: 6303 Location: Derby

...and what about the galloping rust? The Metro (ADO88) was a dreadful rust bucket - much worse than the mini - which is the main reason they are thin on the ground today.

Bitumen Boy · Posted: Wed Oct 21, 2020 2:33 am Post subject:

Not my favourite but I do notice the few that are around, seem to remember Dad had one for a while back in the late 80's when he couldn't scrape up the brass for something better, though it did get us from Notts to Devon and back without problems one summer before being replaced with, IIRC, the first of the Acclaims he had.There's a chap down in Fleur-de-Lys who's restoring one, I was having a word with him about the rusted out hulk on the driveway which has been a spares donor. I followed one along a road in Blackwood a month or two back that must have been burning nearly as much oil as petrol judging by the exhaust smoke, it looked quite tidy body wise but I doubt it would get another MOT without the engine being replaced or rebored.

V8 Nutter · Joined: 27 Aug 2012 Posts: 587

. I followed one along a road in Blackwood a month or two back that must have been burning nearly as much oil as petrol judging by the exhaust smoke, it looked quite tidy body wise but I doubt it would get another MOT without the engine being replaced or rebored.[/quote]

So many British Leyland/B.M.C. cars were oil burners, it was to do with the block casting techniques they used. B.L.'s official position on oil burning was "If it does 250 miles to a pint that is acceptable". Apart from the oil burning Metro's were always on the limit when it came to MOT emissions. It was common practice to lean the mixture down until it would hardly run just to get an MOT then richen it up again afterwards