Classic & Sports Car UK – September 2019

Body is straight and shiny after £5000 of restoration work

The engine has been rebuilt and runs quietly with no leaks

Original carpets are unworn and the headlining is excellent

ThislateVdPhad£5k-worthofrestorationby

SLJHackettin2015,includinglotsofnew

metal,paintworkandrebuildingtheE-series

engine.Photosratherthanbillssupportthe

work,andoldMoTsconfirmthemileage.

It’ssolid,thoughbubblesareappearingin the

reararchlips.It appearstohavebeenrepainted

uptothebeltline,becausethecoachlinelooks

original;it’snotthebestrespray,buttheRusset

allmatches.Theplasticsilltrimsaregood,the

hubcapsmostlyundingedandthebumpersokay.

Thetyresarehalf-wornGoodyearGT70s,with

anolderMichelinZXonthespare.

Inside,theleatheris lightlycreasedandthe

veneersperfect.Thevinyldoorcardsaregood,

theclockworksandtheUnipartradioremains.

Underthebonnetit’ssuperb,withperfectinner

wings,buttheoilis darkandjustover‘min’,the

coolantsludgyinthebottomofthebottle.It

startsinstantly,idlessmoothlyanddriveswell

witha verycomfortableride.Temperaturestays

inthebottomthirdofthegauge,thebrakesare

uninspiringbutpullupstraight,andthe’boxis

asvagueastheyeverwere.Thesteeringhas

someplayinthecolumn,plusrattlyballjoints–

butnotenoughtostopit gettinganMoT.

One you can buy

The knowledge

TIMELINE

1973 May2/4-doorlaunch: 1100 base/DeLuxe;

1300 base/DeLuxe/SuperdeLuxe; 1500 Super

deLuxe/Special; 1750 Sports/SportsSpecial

1974 AprHydragaspitchingreduced;Innocenti

RegentproductionbeginsinItaly(1974-’75)

1974 OctVandenPlas 1500 added,5-speed

manualor4-speedauto;Sportupto90bhp,

Hi-LinereplacesSpecial;circularsteeringwheels

1975 AprEstateadded: 1300 or 1500 Super

JuneCrayfordannouncesConvertible(17built)

1975 OctAllegro2:improvedsuspension,rear

seatspace,refinement,ventilation;4inrims

replace 41 / 2 in;highergearing; 1500 Specialadded

1979 JulAllegroEquipe:2-door,twin-carb1750,

GKNalloys,orange/blackstripes(2700built)

1979 SepAllegro3:restyleddash,bumpersand

rearlights,frontspoiler,quadheadlampsforHL,

foglamps,laminated’screen;twin-carbHL 1500

1981 FebVdPautogets1750; 1100 replacedby

Metro998ccA-Plusunit; 1300 alsogoesA-Plus

1982 AllegroreplacedbyMaestro

FACTFILE

Sold/numberbuilt1973-’82/642,350

Constructionsteelmonocoque

Engineall-iron,overhead-valve1098/1275ccor

overhead-cam1485/1748cc‘four’,withsingle/

twinSUHS/HIF4orsingleHS6carburettor

Maxpower48bhp@5250rpmto90bhp@

5500rpmMaxtorque59.5lbft@2700rpm

to103lbft@3100rpm

Transmissionfour/five-speedmanualorfour-

speedAPMkIIauto,drivingfrontwheels

Suspensionindependent,atfrontbyupper

wishbone,lowertransverselinkandreactionarm

reartrailingarms;interconnectedHydragasf/r

Steeringrackandpinion

Brakes 91 / 2 in(241mm)discsfront,8in(203mm)

drumsrear,withservo(optionalonbasemodels)

Length12ft 81 / 4 in(3920mm)[Estate12ft 111 / 4 in

(3940mm)]Width5ft3in(1600mm)

Height4ft 81 / 4 in(1330mm)[Estate4ft 73 / 4 in

(1420mm)]Wheelbase7ft 113 / 4 in(2430mm)

Weight1848-2009lb(838-911kg)

0-60mph19.9-10secs

Topspeed83-103mphMpg22-36

Pricenew£2105-3392(1100-VdP,1977)

CLUB

AllegroClubInternational

http://www.allegroclubint.org.uk

SPECIALISTS

AllegroClubInternationalwww.allegroclubint.

org.uk/sparesBLTransverseMiniMetro 020

86543069 MEVSpareswww.mevspares.co.uk

MidlandClassicPartswww.midlandclassicparts.

co.ukAustinGarageswww.austingarages.co.uk

AJFMotorEngineersajfmotorengineersltd.co.uk

WHATTOPAY 1100-VdP/1750

Show/rebuilt £3500-5000

Average £1250-2500

Restoration £250-1000

Year 1979 Recorded mileage 41,392

Asking price £5995 Vendor G&G Classic Cars,

Cambs; tel: 07831 330388; gandgclassiccars.com

For Good overall condition; rebuilt engine

Against Bubbling rear arches; column top bush

216 Classic & Sports Car September 2019

BUYER’S GUIDE

With its slightly lumpen Harris Mann styling,

no hatchback and the notoriously poor quality

control at British Leyland, the Allegro struggled

to match its contemporaries when it was new.

Judged as a practical classic today, however, it is

a relaxed, compact cruiser with an iconic charm

all of its own. Plenty have survived with low

mileage and cherished history, and they are

currently brilliant value for money.

FOR

Cheap to buy, simple and reliable, the Allegro has

survived to defy its critics and is supported by a

keen club that can supply parts and lots of advice

AGAINST

Low values mean major work is uneconomical,

so many have been bodged over the years and

correcting those repairs can be hard

OUR V ER DIC T