1983 Austin Metro 1.0 HLE

[RRT 22R]

Hello All.

I have been lurking around the forum for a while, wondering whether to post some information about the Minis I have. However, seeing as they have been sitting in the garage for a few years doing absolutely nothin', I guess that is not too exciting!

But today, I collected this....



1983 Austin Metro 1.0HLE purchased from the ubiquitous Ebay. It has some wonderful 80's features:-

ICE...



A clock the size of a dinnerplate...



135/65 12s (same width as a digestive biscuit)....



and of course, a bit of rot.



I collected the car from Derbyshire, and it had previously been owned by an elderly gentleman who recorded everything about the car (and I mean everything) in a folder with beautiful hand written comments and drawings. This includes the original purchase reciept, every invoice and MOT and every light bulb change. It really is a work of art and a credit to the owner. It also has the Zeibart record, which would no doubt of helped it's survival.

The 200 mile trip home was fairly uneventful - The wee beasty humming along at 70mph, the temperature gauge sitting bang in the middle and no smoke or clonks/bangs. The pick-up when flooring the throttle was bit "fluffy" and the exhaust is blowing from the centre joint, but a bit of fettling will sort this.

Not really sure what to do with it yet - I have got a nice period OEM steering wheel and some Minilites. Whaddya reckon?

[skoda_norman]

I love Metro's and that one looks like a time piece.

Call me a boring old fart but I'm not sure I'd do anything with this one? It looks too original and cared for.

That said some new wheels aren't going to hurt it; and it is your car.

Glad you saved it and I'd love to see that file too

EDIT: The HLE was the top spec wasn't it?

[hoopsontoast]

I love the BL radios, had the exactly the same version in both the TR7 and now the Acclaim. One was Motorola and one Triumph branded.
There is something about the early metro's, love em'!

[Deleted]

Wasn't the HLE the one with the Economy gearing? Higher diff ratio or altered gear 'length' or something? Sort of BL's answer to the VW Formel E?

[Siert]

Nice car... if you're not changing the wheels it may at least be a good idea to change the tires as if I'm reading the DOT code correctly from the picture they were manufacturered in the 24th week of 1998...

[will]

Nice metro, in posh spec too. Minilites look good on these IMO and will of course improve the road holding dramatically.

I've a nice K+N for one of these in the garage

Welcome to the forum btw ;D

[apbellamy]

Looks tidy. If you change the wheels, keep the steels as the early 12" wheels are really rare

[Brian Damaged]

That's lovely. I've got a real soft spot for these, living as I do about 5 minutes' drive from where they were made, and as a consequence having a lot of friends/rellies who helped make 'em.

HLE's (which were not top-of-the-range...that was reserved initially for the HLS and subsequently the uber-luxurious VDP) were from memory very high-geared. The AA, in a steady-speed 30mph test, achieved a staggering 83mpg in one, and even at a steady 56 they were capable of over 60mpg.

Anyway as you say, that one's a survivor. Lovely to see an unmolested one!!

[ianmac]

A real trip back in time for me, my father owned a W reg one I learned to drive in. It followed a Morris Marina and was a step into the future when he got it in 1982.

[RRT 22R]

Hello everyone.

Thanks for the interest.

The HLE was indeed marketed as a slightly posh version of the Metro, with the promise of greater economy.

Now, stuff for those who like to wear a coat of a certain type... (Like me..)

This was achieved with a higher compression engine (up from 9.6:1 to 10.3:1) and a different version of the SU HIF38 carb. The gearing was also longer than the standard 1.0 cars and the same as the 1275s at 3.444:1. Most importantly, the gear knob had the '4' replaced with an 'E', just like the VW Formel E Polos.

The piste de resistance was the hoop spoiler on the tailgate, just like those flashy MGs.



Drove it the 20 mile round trip to work today, and that 'special' carb continues to prevent smooth running - They have the reputation of being a pain in the proverbial to get right.

My plans are as follows:-

Swap the steering wheel for a different OEM one - The rim on the current wheel must be made from the same size liquorice as you get in a sherbert dip.

Sort the exhaust blow - Might get it on the ramps at the weekend. Probably not helping the lumpy running.

Give it a damn good clean and polish.

Try and get some 'love' on the dents in the front and rear bumpers

Get the Minilites on - Got them down from the rafters in the garage, and they too need some lovin'... They are a nice 80's set.

Think about sorting that rot...

I know it is a rare survivor, and whatever I do will certainly be reversable and hopefully in keeping.

Might try and get some pictures of the service history up - not sure how they will come out.

[skoda_norman]

This car just keeps getting better and better what with that rear spoiler!

Oct 11, 2010 20:10:22 GMT RRT 22R said:

Might try and get some pictures of the service history up - not sure how they will come out.

Please do. I've heard about these kind of records being kept but I've never actually seem them. A very big piece of the car.

[petetong]

wow, what a find.
nice one..

[radar]

Rare to see such an early survivor. I learnt in an 82 BSM Metro 1.0L that was that colour.

Do the mods, but keep them reversible...you have a real gem there

[RRT 22R]

Now then.

Thought I would give you a quick update on the Metro.

Got fed up with the awful steering wheel. I liked the way it was nice and standard, but not the feeling, so went from this:- (Please excuse the poor picture...)



To this:-



Mk1 MG Metro leather bound wheel - Makes a huge difference to the way it feels to drive. The standard wheel has been safely stashed away... Also had a look at the rough running and found the vacuum advance/retard elbow had split, so I popped a new one on, gave it a quarter of a turn on the mixture screw and now it runs like a dream . Happy days!

It has received a wide range of comments from friends and family, with most people not understanding why on earth I would want such a thing - But I love it!

I can't seem to take any decent images of the amazing service history, but here is a page from when the gentleman adjusted the valve clearances:-



And a copy of the original sales receipt - £3,945!

[RRT 22R]

Hello again.

As the weather was nice this afternoon, I managed to find time to have a little fiddle with the Metro. First on the list was the exhaust, which was blowing from the center joint. So it was up on the ramps, and split the joint.



I gave the joint a clean, applied some assembly paste and whacked it back together. Result. Had a good look at the floors whilst I was there, and they are all good and have not been welded - Good old Waxoyl!

This has been annoying me since I picked the car up.



So off with the bumper...



Blocks of wood, hammers and an bit of cleaning...




Not perfect, but much better. Gave the whole car a polish, but it was getting dark, so no more photos.

I know it is not as exciting as hauling out the engine and fitting a V6 in the boot, but I think this one needs to be subtle. Minilites next. What do you guys think?

Also, a couple of questions - How do I get that little 'New' tag before my thread title? And how do I change the title?

Thanks.

[bmboy]

What a stunning little car. I don't think I would own one but if I did it would be yours! I think its great that you are keeping it as it was intended and not chopping it about like a lot of people would be tempted to do. Look forward to seeing the minilites. :-)

[RRT 22R]

G'day.

Thought I would just give y'all a bit of an update.

I have been running the Metro as my daily for the past few weeks, and it has been running sweetly, making all the right A-series noises. My plan has always been to change the wheels to a set of Minilites, as I think they really suit the car, but having said that, Minilites look the shiz on all cars. ;D

Anyhoo, got them down from the rafters and found this



Mmmm... Not sure they looked this bad when I took them off a Mini about 10 years ago...

So, after many evenings with the wet and dry paper, and boosted by a fine selection of sore fingers and swear words, the Metro went from this...



...to this.



Much better! I took it for a little spin on the new wheels, and it has transformed how the car drives. The tyres are only 145s up from 135s, but the wheels increase the track by about 100mm and it corners sooo much better. Win win. More pictures soon.

Whilst I was in the garage, I had a look at this. 1275 Metro engine with an HIF44, alloy inlet, Maniflow LCB and stainless exhaust.



Which currently lives in here..



I haven't had it started for around a year, but I checked it over, made sure it wasn't seized, oil on the rocker shaft, fresh fuel, battery charged and Bingo! More A-series related joy.

I want to add just one more photo -




This is my all-time favourite awaiting my swearing/head scratching/tea drinking attention. I have got some advice for those Rat Look chappies - Buy some old British tin - They Rat Look themselves! ;D

[RRT 22R]

Hello!
Thought I would give you all a little update on the Metro. I have done about 2,000 miles in it over the winter - It appears to be a car that polarizes opinions to say the least. Most people have a Metro story relating to body rust/trim disintegration/poor starting and therefore dislike the little blue box (my wife). Some, however think it is cool (my children). I like it because it makes all the right A-Series noises and it is a bit different. In fact, I have not seen another Mk1 Metro on the road since I have had it - They must be getting thin an the ground.

It has behaved itself too, never failing to start during the awful weather we had in December. The carb has been a constant issue though and last week the clutch felt a bit funny. The 'felt a bit funny' led to 'no clutch at all' on the way home from work last week, so I thought I would give it some love.

A bit of a poke around resulted in a hand full of clutch fluid from the dust seal on the slave cylinder, so I ordered a repair kit. I took the cylinder to work, stripped it and gave it a nice soak in the ultrasonic bath.



All reassembled...


...and fitted.



Out with the Ezibleed. Nothing. No fluid getting out of the clutch master cylinder. So off that came and had the same treatment

Got the master cylinder back in after much swearing - It must be the first thing to go in once the shell is painted, the access is abysmal. Then, with the help of my trusty assistant Jay, and after much Up! Down! Up! Down! bleeding, I had a clutch again.
Now, during this enforced maintenance outage, I took the opportunity to sort that carb once and for all. So a previously loved replacement, sourced from the ubiquitous 'bay, was purchased. The previous owner obviously kept it stored at the bottom of a muddy pond, so it too got the strip and sonic bath. No pictures during, but this is the after.



So this was installed and it ran like a bag'o nails. Just as I was reaching for the Profanisaurus, I remembered I hadn't filled the dashpot damper with oil. So some 3-in-1 was poured in... and it ran just like it did before I swapped the carb. Needless to say, some new combinations of swear words were created and I came to the conclusion it wasn't the carb after all. Cock. It had new plugs, points, condenser, coil and leads just before I bought it, so some further investigations are required.

Anyway took it for a cruise (still lumpy and stuttery...) in the sunshine and took some snaps.

Enjoy.

[gazjon]

Damn thats one clean metro, am really starting to feel the love for early metros now

[Mad Max]

Wow! This makes me feel really guilty about the lack of polish on mine! That is one gorgeous beastie, and that boot spoiler is ultimate win! Now I feel guilty about my scabby bits/denty bits! Nice to compare the specs with my HLS, as Ive got the rev counter and digital (yes digital) clock where your big ben is fitted.

On another note, how cool do they look de-bumpered!!