Pug_XUD_KeenAmateur wrote:just a mention, doesn't the early 2.2 Princess with the B series lump have an unusual claim to fame in being the only production car with a Transverse 6?
Yes, I believe you may be right I can't think of another...
Always had a soft spot for the Princess and Ambassador. ...That said, the same is true of most of the cars to come out of Longbridge. For all it gets a kicking, I was pleasantly surprised when I eventually had a shot of an Allegro, wouldn't mind one at all really.
Current fleet:
07 Volvo V70 SE D5, 85 Sinclair C5, 84 Trabant 601S, 73 AC Model 70, 62 Rover 110.
I have to admit the "All-Aggro" was far from perfect, particularly in chassis rigidity stakes, but it was a world leader in other areas (first production car with an Electric/thermostatically controlled cooling fan, amongst others I believe). The drive on my '77 1300SDL was not at all bad, and once it had the correct rotor arm fitted it was an eminently reliable, first turn starter that was fun around town even if I did feel for the engine a bit on A roads. I think 50mph would count as the top cruising speed with any mechanical sympathy although it would push 70 at a scream...
Was still a reliable runner when it died of rot in about 2008 with over 75k on the clock. I always thought the silhouette had a hint of scaled-down muscle car about it too, strangely a thought which also applies IMO to the frontal profile of the Estelle & 3/4 view of the Rapid. (Actually, from a low-down frontal view I kid myself my 120LSE had an air of the Aston Martin Vantage about it lol)
We had an all-aggro for a short while - in regulation brown of course! It was a stop gap between our last GSA (which died when the rear subframe disintgrated) and a Mk1 BX 14E.
It's worth looking for some of the early design drawings of the Allegro before the bonnet line was significantly to fit the existing parts bin heater box among other bits...
Current fleet:
07 Volvo V70 SE D5, 85 Sinclair C5, 84 Trabant 601S, 73 AC Model 70, 62 Rover 110.
I owned an old English white 1100 for a while. Lovely car, I really liked it.
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Dave
2011 Peugeot 3008 1.6hdi Exclusive EGS.
'04 C5 auto estate 2.2 hdi. Gone.
Bx 1.6 TGS Auto 50k A rare beast by all accounts. A bit tired but getting better by the day. Gone.
'96 XM 2.5TD VSX.......Sadly sold. What an idiot! I should have held on to that.
I learned to drive in a 1977 princess 2200HLS, white with a blue velour roof. It was my dad's. I then ran about in it for a while until my uncle bought a princess also and gifted me, although I think my dad gave him money, a 1975 allegro 1100. I had great fun in that car it never broke that I can remember. A lot of things happened in that car, quite possibly the conception of my first child lol. Fond memories.
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Skoda Karoq 1.6tdi 2018
Peugeot boxer 2016
In the family
Cupra Leon 1.5tsi tourer 2024 daughter 1
C1 vtr+ 2010 daughter 2
Vw golf 1.9gttdi 150 spare toy.
I learned to drive in a 1.3 Marina... I still hate them with a passion to this day
Shame as I think from a cosmetic/styling point of view the Marina coupé looks sensational but it was so let down being nothing more than a restyled Moggie Minor - another car I hate with a passion...
Jim you hate the Moggie?!! Philistine! Actually I hired a Marina many years ago and it used two lanes of the motorway at 60mph. Truly frightening.
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Dave
2011 Peugeot 3008 1.6hdi Exclusive EGS.
'04 C5 auto estate 2.2 hdi. Gone.
Bx 1.6 TGS Auto 50k A rare beast by all accounts. A bit tired but getting better by the day. Gone.
'96 XM 2.5TD VSX.......Sadly sold. What an idiot! I should have held on to that.
My brother did a double somersault over a hedge, it was witnessed by a family member, in a 1.8 marina saloon, every panel was bent, every window broken, we had to cut a hole in the hedge to get it out as the farmer wouldn't let us go across his newly planted field. They were strong things, he walked out of it without a scratch. My cousin, who was coming the opposite way and brother missed by about 2 feet thought he had witnessed a death.
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Skoda Karoq 1.6tdi 2018
Peugeot boxer 2016
In the family
Cupra Leon 1.5tsi tourer 2024 daughter 1
C1 vtr+ 2010 daughter 2
Vw golf 1.9gttdi 150 spare toy.
Proper interesting program about the Agro here, including convo with the designer and pictures of what it was originally designed like (at 5mins 03 secs if you're impatient), it was actually a rather nice looking car at the 'Drawing Board' stage
and a favourite of mine, on a similar subject; featuring the Marina & Allegro as part of a documentary about 'what happened to our car industry'. Its saddening. Surprisingly its narrated, and IIRC produced by Jeremy Clarkson, who is perhaps not the fool he has carved out a career being. Agro & Marina at 13mins approx
Last edited by myglaren on 28 Feb 2017, 19:00, edited 1 time in total.
Reason:YouTube tags
I briefly owned a Rover P5B ex Ministry car in the 70's and oddly enough a lad about 10 miles away owned the sister car with the next reg up. Sadly mine was stolen but I do remember showing a very loud Sierra how to do a proper traffic light GP start! [emoji57]
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Dave
2011 Peugeot 3008 1.6hdi Exclusive EGS.
'04 C5 auto estate 2.2 hdi. Gone.
Bx 1.6 TGS Auto 50k A rare beast by all accounts. A bit tired but getting better by the day. Gone.
'96 XM 2.5TD VSX.......Sadly sold. What an idiot! I should have held on to that.
Wow, I must have missed that episode of The Car's the Star when they were on telly! What a shame the original design got so watered down, I fancy it looks a bit like a Jensen Interceptor (crossed with a Wedge, but nevertheless...)
I can't think of another...
Actually I hired a Marina many years ago and it used two lanes of the motorway at 60mph. Truly frightening.
