Austin Metro

The Austin Metro was developed by the same designer as the legendary Mini, Sir Alec Issigonis, and was originally developed by British Leyland (BL) and badged the 'Mini Metro'. Orginally conceived as the modern replacement to the Mini, its ironic that the older car's production life outlived its successor by several years.

The Metro's orginal design / prototype number was the ADO88. Mechanically the Metro used several design traits from the Mini, especially using the classic A Series engine and gearbox sump, perhaps the most radical change was the move away from the Mini hydra-lastic suspension to the superior Hydra-gas system, which gave the Metro class leading ride levels in its class.

After years of development the Metro hit the sales rooms in 1980, and remained until 1990 when it the Austin company was takenover and the models rebadged as the 'Rover Metro' and later still as the 'Rover 100'.

The Metro proved to be an initial success, becoming one of the best selling small cars on the market at the time, despite its relatively poor construction and build quality.

1982 saw the reuse of the MG badge with the launch of the MG Metro 1300 and the MG Metro Turbo, both proved to be popular sellers with their relatively high specification and tweaked engines, in particular the Turbo model which boasted top speeds of 112mph. Infact its not uncommon to see MG models on the road today, the Metro Turbo's are now a rarer breed many having been destroyed by poor drivers or pillaged for spares and Mini-turbo hybrids.

1984 heralded a slight facelift update and the introduction of 5 door models. The Austin Metro would stay relatively unchanged until 1990 and the introduction of the Rover Metro.