1978 Austin maxi 1750HL

Good to see a pic of your old man (Morry) eu natural.

Took it for a little drive. It drives perfectly but I'm going to take the wheels off and give a proper look tomorrow. It's got a knock at the front which might be steering rack. It means so much to have this car back, even though I never regretted selling it ive bought it back for different reasons. I fancied another classic for a year or so and this thing just sort of came back. It's the third time I've had my hands on it, the first time was in about 1990 when a schoolmate told be his dad had a maxi for scrap and did my dad want it. Dad liked the number plate and that it was a blue hl. Handy that he had a brand new bodyshell sitting in the garage. Being sentimental about a car is one thing but this is something else. I love this lump of metal.

First job for today was to look outside and check that yesterday really happened.


Yup. Second job is to try and get the passenger door unlocked. I think something inside the door is seized and it's a pain to get the door trim off when you can't open the door. Then get it up in the air tomorrow and have a look underneath, and an oil change.

Still can't believe it. Cheers dad 💙

I was never a fan of Maxi's but this pic has changed my mind. Love the colour as well.

My Dad’s first new car, at that point with four of us sons to haul around, was a J-reg 1500 Maxi from Henleys in Bristol (replaced a used Corsair). Trafalgar blue to lighter blue Ambla. Towed a Bailey caravan all over, had to have a new long-block at some point, not sure if there was financial assistance from B.L. I remember that once my Mum pulled on the handbrake and a good portion of the floor it was attached to came with it, not from rust, more like a sardine can.

Yours is a corker and that article about your dad is great.

John

Steering wheel is a big improvement. 👍

I've just been doing an mot check on the car and found something I kind of suspected, but not to the extent of what I actually found out.

In 2007 the car had 41711miles on the clock. In that year dad used it as his daily and show car before becoming unwell. I sold it in 2013 and it had its next mot in 2015 and showed 45211 miles on the clock.
I've just been outside and checked. It currently shows 46044miles, which means it's only done 830miles since I sold it. It hasn't really been anywhere🤣

As you wish



I've given the airbox and cam cover a degrease, and wiped the slam panel and off side inner wing, but thats it. The near side inner wing hasnt been touched and shows how dusty and grubby it was, and areas where the paint has failed. The state of the engine was one thing that made me think it had done more miles, but it still sounds healthy and is cleaning up very easily.

Nice set of wheels and thanks for the offer but I'll stick with the 14s, the tyres are good and they're a spot on fitment. Thore alloys are the sort of wheels that would look awesome with the split rim treatment.