Beschreibung
1985 metallic Moonraker Blue Austin Maestro 1. 3 manual, only 18, 331 miles, MOT until 22/ 03/ 25 (11 months)
The Maestro has had only 3 previous keepers. It was first registered on 16th September 1985 to the Austin-Rover dealer Marn in London, from whom Miss Audrey Baker bought the car on 14th October 1985, the second owner bought the Maestro in 2006 (but never used it, just kept it in storage) until the third owner (Mr. Peter Line) bought the car on 20th September 2013. The Maestro is well-known in the South Hants Vehicle Preservation Society Car Clu, of which Mr. Line was a very active member until he sadly died at the end of 2020, and we bought the car on 18th April 2021. The Maestro is completely original and unmolested, still has its original number plates and has the early series 1 dashboard.
About 5 years ago, Mr. Line chose instead of repainting the roof (because the lacquer was pealing off in places), to fit a Union flag. Not to everyone's taste (I didn't like it at first, but it has since grown on me), but it is on the top of the car, so not too disturbingly obvious. I think this is only a wrap rather than painted on, but I'm not sure.
I was never given any service history for the Maestro. The only evidence of the recorded mileage that I have is as follows:-
1) 14, 002 miles on 12th August 2013 (MOT test certificate)
2) 14, 457 miles on 28th July 2014 (Historics Auctions valuation report at £2, 800)14, 638 miles on 14th August 2014 (MOT test certificate)
3) 15, 660 miles on 6th October 2015 (MOT test certificate)
4) 17, 002 miles on 2nd October 2017 (MOT test certificate)
5) 17, 688 miles on 20th October 2018 (MOT test certificate)
6) 18, 083 miles on 3rd October 2019 (MOT test certificate)
7) 18, 259 miles on 19th October 2020 (MOT test certificate)
8) 18, 266 miles in April 2021 (Historic Auctions description, in which they stated that the excellent condition of the car was commensurate to the very low mileage)
9) 18, 327 miles in March 2024 (MOT test certificate).
The downsides of this 39 year old car are very few indeed. The interior is in excellent condition (except for a tear in the cloth seat on the top edge at the nearside rear, where our cat decided to sharpen his claws, and the roof lining is stained and sagging at the front). The exterior is also very good, but for a large scuff on the nearside rear door - see photos.
The tyres have lots of tread and aren't cracked or perished, but they are a few years old. The Maestro has door speakers fitted as standard, plus a Goodmans FM radio / CD player. The boot is full of assorted spare parts (mostly unused, worth over £400) which includes
1) 1x original Motorola AR BL534A push-button LW/ MW radio
2) 1x Timax BL8M rear silencer (unused)
3) 2x LHS rear light clusters
4) 1x RHS rear light cluster
5) 1x LHS front headlamp unit
6) 2x LHS front indicator units
7) 1x RHS front indicator unit
8) 1x LHS front headlamp glass lens
9) 1x RHS front headlamp glass lens
10) 1x LHS rear quarter window glass with frame and rubber seal
11) 1x RHS rear quarter window glass with frame and rubber seal
12) 1x LHS rear quarter window rubber seal
13) 1x RHS rear quarter window rubber seal
14) 1x inlet manifold
15) 1x windscreen wiper arm mechanism
16) 1x PMFP 28 fuel pump (new)
17) 1x rear brake drum
18) 1x pair rear brake shoes (new)
19) 1x LHS door mirror assembly with glass
20) 1x RHS door mirror assembly with glass
21) 1x speedo cable
22) 1x FKC 1160 clutch cable
23) 1x manual choke cable
24) 1x bonnet release cable
25) 1x speedo cable
26) 1x Continental 202 770 25 fan belt 9. 5 x 810 (new)
27) 1x Austin Rover ADU 8494 Electronic Fuel Control Unit 73271A
28) 1x Lucas 6DA wiper control unit
29) 3x switches (hazard warning lights, rear fog lights, windscreen wiper wash)
30) 1x Austin Rover AKM 5323 workshop manual
31) 1x Rover workshop manual
32) 1x Haynes workshop manual
I have added LED lights inside the headlamp units behind the glass, giving a solid white light bar with the sidelights and a moving yellow bar with the indicators (this is in addition to the standard sidelights and indicators). If the sidelights are on when an indicator is selected, the yellow indicator side LED bar strobes across and the white sidelight LED remains on on the opposite side (see video).
The V5 document is in my name, and the two original sets of keys come with the Maestro. It passed its MOT on 23rd March 2024 with just a couple of advisories, which have since been fixed.
The car is located in Colden Common (SO21 1SB, half way between Winchester and Southampton, Hampshire), and you are welcome to visit to view the Maestro before making any offers. The first person to pay £3, 000 will secure the car, although lower offers will be considered. This Austin Maestro has the infamous A series 1. 3 engine (with single SU carburettor and automatic choke) driving the front wheels through a 4 speed manual gearbox. We have owned the car for 3 years, during which time we have driven only 64 miles (partly because we didn't want to add many miles to what is one of the lowest mileage examples, but also because we have 9 other classic and vintage cars in addition to our daily drivers), so it is now being offered for sale to someone else who can use and enjoy it more (and to free up some space here).
The Maestro will qualify next year for Historic registration, after which it will be MOT, road tax and ULEZ exempt. It is already eligible for cheap classic car insurance (I pay only £96 per year for fully comprehensive cover).
Although this is a "poverty-specification" Maestro, it does have light grey cloth upholstery, which is much more comfortable than the vinyl seats found on many base level classic cars. However, it does not have such luxuries as power steering, electric windows, central locking, electrically adjustable door mirrors or seats, heated seats, ABS, traction control, fuel injection, etc - all things that can and will fail on a modern car. Unlike our Austin Maxi, the steering on the Maestro is light enough not to require power assistance.
The Maestro is however, good fun to drive. It starts first time every time and easily keeps up with modern traffic, returning excellent petrol economy in the process.
