76MST001 – Austin Maestro

Description

Introduced in 1983, the Maestro comprised a small family 5-door hatchback vehicle manufactured by British Leyland at their Morris Cowley works. It had a 5-speed manual gearbox and a basic 1.3L engine rising to 1.6L on later models. It incorporated many innovative features for its time. It had a bonded laminated windscreen, homofocal headlights, body-coloured plastic bumpers, an electronic engine management system, adjustable front seat belt anchorage positions, an asymmetrically split rear seat and a 12.000 mile service interval. When it was launched in 1983, the critics hailed it as roomy, comfortable and good to drive. Just over 600,000 Austin Maestro cars were sold and it was sixth in the best selling category in 1983 and 1984.

Our Oxford model incorporates the physical features of the original and is registered A673 JNG from the first year of production – 1983. Its authentic colour scheme of bright red is offset with black exterior trim, silver headlights and silver/black radiator grille. Note particularly the body-coloured bumpers. The interior features ivory seating and a black steering wheel. The Austin badge with blue flash is embedded into the radiator grille whilst to the rear, the Austin badge appears with green and blue graphics with the Maestro name printed in silver on the offside.

Despite its innovative features, the basic version of the Maestro was not long-lived with the MG and Vanden Plas upgrades proving more popular in both performance and appeal. However, the Maestro paved the way and as well as morphing into the MG Maestro, it was also available as a 2-door van.