1987 Austin Maestro 500 City (Updated 09/09)

[blacksaff]

So I've just taken purchase of this. I first got offered this van as a swap for my Sierra. The deal never came off due to lack of time and I kicked myself for missing out on it.

Fast forward a few months and the original guy who offered me the swap made me aware that the current owner wanted rid of it.

This time I wasn't going to miss out! I shot up toTelford and bought it.










I'm really pleased with it, got loads of plans for it but firstly to recommission it.



It's not the first time this van has appeared on RetroRides either. Some Googling by me found this!

retrorides.proboards.com/thread/178174/1987-austin-maestro-bristol-reduced

By now you'll some of you will know my formula;

Lowering + Banded steels + Attention to detail = End Product

I'm seriously thinking of putting this back to a BT van as it was to begin with.

Look forward to reading your comments.

Many thanks

[shielsy68]

back to original would be nice too see

[astranaut]

Love it! Haven't seen one in ages, my very first driving experience was in one of these, my mates dad owned a building firm and replaced all the Maestros with Escort vans so me and my mate were allowed to use one as a field car, I stuck it in a tree when I was 11, and as far as I know it's still there memories....

[cavboy80]

Lovely survivor, i had the car version and loved it, so comfy and reliable. Be good to see it return to its BT past, though you could go down the AA route.
My Grandads last Patrol van before he retired in 1987 was one of these. It replaced numourous Escorts and one Ital van.

[mk2polobloke]

Blimey, this ain't fair. How comes you have sooo many cool cars?
Looks like it's had a few bits repaired since the original post? What's the standard of repair on the o/s rear quarter/under the fuel filler like?

[Mercdan68]

Superb, keep it in that livery!

[jimspolicev8sd1]

Keep it as it is. It's a beauty!

[blacksaff]

Thanks all,

shieldy68 - Yes I think I'd like the idea of putting it back to BT. It's a real appeal to me.

astranaut - You've just made me all nostalgic mate, my uncle has a farm in Lancashire and he taught me to drive in a field in the old VW Caddy pickup that lived on the farm. Had done many a handbrake turn by 11. He wasn't happy when I dented the sump on a tree stump!

cavboy80 - Thanks mate. I'd love to do an AA replica but I think that would be the hardest to replicate with all the equipment etc. I like the idea of going back to BT as that what it was originally. I love the old commercial liveries.

mk2polobloke - Mate I'm bordering on having an addiction I reckon! I don't have a mortgage, a wife or children! That's the only way I can have them all I knew about the damage in the previous post but I haven't had a good proper look in to the van but you can be sure all the updates will be on here.

[blacksaff]

mercdan68 - I do love the British Rail era, one of my earliest memories was having an InterCity 125 train set. How 80s is that!!!

jimspolicev8sd1 - Thank you very much pal. You know how important period replication is doing your SD1.

[darrenh]

love it! i've nearly bought a hotpoint van 3 times now (seller keeps pulling out) theres just something very natty about using an old fleet vehicle. something which is so mundane and throw-away at the time, now having a bit of renaissance in our hands

[SmokeEm]

Love it - original but slammed on banded stellies does it for me!

Bookmarked

[mexicansteve]

Looks good as is, those seats look mighty comfy. But it was a telecom van, sooooooo that would be cool too. And I'm the anti slam and band brigade, so personally that would ruin it for me. That being said, it's yours!
Incidentally, while at the beach today I saw a Maestro van in oxide red pootle by, nice to see even as tatty as that one was. Enjoy.

[simes]

May 3, 2016 17:08:44 GMT blacksaff said:

Nice Deltic.

[blacksaff]

darrenh - I couldn't agree more, period fleet vehicles are very cool. What sort of van is the Hotpoint van out of interest?

SmokeEm - Thanks for the bookmark, hope not to disappoint.

mexicansteve - Thanks pal, not spent long in those seats yet but I know what you mean about looking comfy. I like the fact they're not cloth and are vinyl. Reserve judgement about the wheels and suspension, I never go super low or super wide. I just like to go OEM+ as opposed to 'Scene'.

simes - I hate to be an anorak, but it's not a class 55 'Deltic'. It's a class 45 'Peak'

[br00klyn99]

That's epic!

[bmcnut]

I'm all over this like a tramp on chips! its awesome! Ive got a picture in my head of how id like it to look and its seems like its going that way. Sorting out the way it sits rather than sitting it on the floor sounds like a good start. Watching with interest.

[darrenh]

May 4, 2016 17:07:01 GMT blacksaff said:

darrenh - I couldn't agree more, period fleet vehicles are very cool. What sort of van is the Hotpoint van out of interest?

its a bedford astravan

[grifterkid]

Another fine motor sir...!!!

I think this need to be taken back to 'Telecom' specification as soon as possible.

Wonderful stuff that I cannot wait to keep an eye on...

[darrenh]

May 5, 2016 11:17:35 GMT grifterkid said:

Another fine motor sir...!!!

I think this need to be taken back to 'Telecom' specification as soon as possible.

yeah! and get some vinyls made "make someone happy" and busby on the side

[blacksaff]

br00klyn99 - Thanks pal.

bmcnut - Hoping not to disappoint you fella, there will be some height and width adjustment to come.

darrenh - Now that is supercool!! Mk1 or Mk2 Bedford Astravan? My old man was a BT engineer of the era and I had Busby stickers and other stuff. That brings back some memories.

grifterkid - Thanks pal, needs to go back to BT livery really doesn't it. Hope you enjoy watching the progress.