Bit of a long shot, but...! French Austin Maxi for sale!

[ren16tx]

Bit of along shot, but its a bit different and intersting,so thought it worth a mention...........
Austin Maxi, (same as a BX, but different!!) Very Rare Left hand drive model on french plates,and yes, its in France! near Le Mans,
Has been off the road some several months,think it may be a 72/3 car,
i've never seen a french Maxi so must be VERY RARE! be great fun driving it over here (im trying to talk myself out of it )
PM if interested, i have the contact details
chris

[DLM]

They're pretty rare here too - do they rust less than what they were trying to copy (The Renault 16)? Or is that a stupid question - nothing seems to rust faster than a Renault 16 (with the possible exception of the BL 1100/1300).

Usual BL story with both the above cars - good car or potentially very good car, completely underdeveloped.

[ren16tx]

Maxi's did rust badly,but certainly not as bad as R16's! by gum i've had some rusty 16's, but i think Simca 1100's were worst! the one car that didn't rust so bad, and lasted very well was the humble Austin Allegro,
im so tempted with the maxi............. i just can't............

[Way2go]

im so tempted with the maxi............

I remember the informal advertising for the Maxi when it was a current model " Ton-up Double Bed" because the seats would fully recline,slide & fit into a level position front to back in the car!

[stuart_hedges]

I remember the informal advertising for the Maxi when it was a current model " Ton-up Double Bed" because the seats would fully recline,slide & fit into a level position front to back in the car!

I remain convinced that my first girlfriend was conceived in a Maxi. Her dad used to wax lyrical about the way the Maxi's seats converted to a double bed with a real gleam in his eye!

[DLM]

the one car that didn't rust so bad, and lasted very well was the humble Austin Allegro

But who in their right mind would want one? Having said that, I do think the estate shape was an interesting oddity.

The debacle of the Allegro replacing the 1100/1300 (ugly as sin, no perceptible improvement) was an automotive blunder unmatched until Ford introduced the last Escort (ditto). Hell, they're still on the road., but...

As for the Simca 1100, I didn't own one for long enough for it to do anything other than break down. However, my ex-wife's family tell an apocryphal story of a family member's hands disappearing into a large rust hole when the front shock-absorber test was administered to a prospective Simca 1100 purchase.

Do you get the "Gazoline" magazine in France? Pure restoration magic and old cars used rather than garaged, without that peculiar British characteristic of opening a wallet and letting someone else do the job on your "classic" in the faint hope of capital appreciation.

[cavmad]

The Maxi was a brilliant car and very under-rated. My dad had two or three and they accomodated five kids plus associated luggage on many a fortnights holiday all over Britain no bother at all. Shame that car is in France, I'd love to buy it.

[jeremy]

Never appealed to me when they were current - suppose the shape or lack of it put me off as well as it being BMC FWD - which always seemed to go wrong. Sort of car that was sensible.

Just think what BMC would have achieved it it looked better and not so stodgy alongside the Ford Mk111 (and 11) Cortina.

[simonbx17]

i had a 78T 1750HL in metallic blue and it had a broken displacer so it leaned great laugh..........it was my first car at 16.

the thing with bmc cars was the lack of development and money they had quite a few firsts in the industry i.e the princess had hidden wiper spindles, front wheel drive straight six and they where good at badge engineering.

[cavmad]

True, and the Maxi was credited with being the first hatchback, though that could be tenuous. Early ('69?) ones with cable change boxes must be bloody rare now, and I'll repeat the Maxi was a brilliant car.

[ren16tx]

i had a maxi for several years,even driving it to spain, loved it, i haved emailed for further details on this french maxi, and yes, i would love it
chris

[simonbx17]

True, and the Maxi was credited with being the first hatchback

maybe but wasn't it the renualt 16 the first hatchback

[cavmad]

I always thought that too Simon but another potential candidate could be the Austin A40 Farina?

Chris, no way you can buy the Maxi I take it?

[ren16tx]

the R16 was the 1st hatchback,introduced in 1965,the maxi came in 1968,or there abouts, but after the R16, the A40 was more an estate car than a hatchback,
if i could work it, i certainly would have this maxi! just a slight problem with funds currently! but in a few months, who knows!! a Maxi would fit in well with my R16 and Simca 1100 hatchback!!!
chris

[Way2go]

A short story of & buying guide for the Maxi, giving a few tips:

Story of the Austin Maxi