Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

buzzy bee · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 3382 Location: South Cheshire

Hi

This pm, me and a workmate were sent from college, with a mini bus and a trailer in tow. We were heading for somewhere near bangor on dee, for a car that was being donated to the college. It was an '79 Allegro Vanden Plas. And it is perfect, no rot anywhere, just unwanted, so now it is destined to be worked on in practicals. It was on the road last year, but has only done about 48K with all of the papers!

Set of back to College, and one strap end started flapping, so we pulled into a layby, and what a layby, it had traffic calming islands in it, then we turn the corner and it wasn't a layby, but a little bridge, the same width as the trailer! Rolling Eyes

So we trundled accross very carefully, and have just got back!

I wonder if it will be saved, or not???

Just come back past Ricks house, and I was tempted to drop it off with you, saying it was full of rot, so left it where it was! Saw The countryman and did I see the rear doors open, or are they just like that?

Cheers

Dave

Rick · Site Admin Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22813 Location: UK

Sounds interesting, although Allegros are some way down my own list of cars I want to own, it sounds like it wants saving (just not by me!).

The A40 Countryman has no back doors on it! thats why you saw none Smile

there are doors, piled up inside under a load of junk....

Erindoors suggests using the Allegro VDP for people who want to practice driving tractors and JCBs over things - bit harsh I thought Smile

RJ
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buzzy bee · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 3382 Location: South Cheshire

Hi

I know what you mean, not my cup of tea really, but if you saw what will happen to it, you would say it needs saving! It is preistine too!!

I Erindoors implieing something about my tractor driving, only an hour ago, I was driving a big new holland and a Case puma.

Cheers

Dave

bob2 · Joined: 06 Dec 2007 Posts: 1728 Location: Malta

couldnt it be donated to a museum?
Even though its nothing special, if its pristine it should be preserved, its 30 years old next year!!

I hate to see good cars being scrapped or vandalised be it a pre war or a 1979 car like this. It has managed to live all these years untouched!!!

Dont tell Mr Clarkson about it surely though!!! Laughing

PAUL BEAUMONT · Joined: 27 Nov 2007 Posts: 1281 Location: Barnsley S. Yorks

The Allegro has one claim that merits its preservation. That is to prove that progress is not always in a forwards direction. Anyone - including the berks at BL or whatever it was called that week - who believed that it was an improvement on the 11/1300 need their heads examined!

Geoffp · Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2008 2:33 pm Post subject:

Buzzy, I would think that a car like that would be of liitle use to students who would normally be trying to grapple with the electronic systems of more modern cars. Why not suggest to them that you take it off their hands and then you will have something to waft around in luxury if the rest of you fleet should ever be off the road Smile

Geoff

Dirty Habit · Joined: 26 Mar 2008 Posts: 398 Location: West Midlands, UK

I am going to be brave and come out of the closet. (None of my mates use this forum) I like the Allegro......there I have said it. I don't have any experience of owning one and have only driven one a few times, but I find the design pleasing. I have owned several 1100/1300 and thought they were great cars also. Rolling Eyes

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peppiB · Posted: Sat Oct 25, 2008 2:01 pm Post subject:

I must also come out of the closet and say that until 4 days ago I actually owned a VDP Allegro. It was a garage find in Devon last year (26 years and no one knew it was there after the owner died) I brought it up here on an A frame, changed tyres, coil and flexible brake hoses and it flew through its MOT. I was going to use it as a runabout last winter but an enthusiast heard about it and wanted to buy it. He wanted the paint refreshing so I put it into a garage - and they sprayed it the wrong colour Shocked

To make matters worse they BRUSH painted the wheel arches and inside of the doors to match the colour they had used. the car was rendered worthless. I refused to pay the £750 they wanted and the garage would not release the car so it was stalemate. I have just written off my few hundred pounds I had in the thing and notified DVLA that I have ceded car to said garage. I never did get to drive it.
Did have photos of before and after I was going to post. Can find the original shots but not ones of the mess they made of it!! Think the original colour was russet, and they painted it bracken.