1978 Austin maxi 1750HL

[bmcnut]

I'm getting in there early because this week is dragging like no other week ever. So I'm just going to post one pic of how it all started.



I'm hoping to pick the car that bodyshell became at the weekend. Still waiting for that to sink in.

[colnerov]

Good to see a pic of your old man (Morry) eu natural.

[bmcnut]

Just got it home. Back where it belongs after 11 years. I'm going back outside just to see if it's actually real.

[bmcnut]

Took it for a little drive. It drives perfectly but I'm going to take the wheels off and give a proper look tomorrow. It's got a knock at the front which might be steering rack. It means so much to have this car back, even though I never regretted selling it ive bought it back for different reasons. I fancied another classic for a year or so and this thing just sort of came back. It's the third time I've had my hands on it, the first time was in about 1990 when a schoolmate told be his dad had a maxi for scrap and did my dad want it. Dad liked the number plate and that it was a blue hl. Handy that he had a brand new bodyshell sitting in the garage. Being sentimental about a car is one thing but this is something else. I love this lump of metal.

[igor]

As said in your other thread wonderful that you found this and got it back.

[bmcnut]

First job for today was to look outside and check that yesterday really happened.


Yup. Second job is to try and get the passenger door unlocked. I think something inside the door is seized and it's a pain to get the door trim off when you can't open the door. Then get it up in the air tomorrow and have a look underneath, and an oil change.

Still can't believe it. Cheers dad 💙

[bmcnut]

So, before important things get looked at, importanterer things like steering wheels. It came back with this


It now has this. My motolita.


It originally had a dark walnut dash in it and grey carpets, but it's now got a lighter wood dash which I prefer, and new black carpets. Now to find my gear knobs.

Also sorted a keyfob for it. Like I said, important things.

[lordyoung1980]

Mar 16, 2024 14:53:54 GMT bmcnut said:

Just got it home. Back where it belongs after 11 years. I'm going back outside just to see if it's actually real.

I was never a fan of Maxi's but this pic has changed my mind. Love the colour as well.

[bmcnut]

Colour is nautilus blue, a standard maxi 2 colour. Looks different with the chrome instead of the black bits on a maxi 2

First problem sorted. Passenger door wouldn't open. After a lot of swearing I managed to get the door trim off with the door shut. The problem was what I suspected, the car has central locking and the brass block that holds the solenoid rod to the lever rod had slipped but not come loose, jamming it all up.


Ill leave the door card off while i test it to make sure it doesnt happen again. And I found my gearnobs. And waxed the dash. And loved it a bit more.

[jjeffries]

My Dad’s first new car, at that point with four of us sons to haul around, was a J-reg 1500 Maxi from Henleys in Bristol (replaced a used Corsair). Trafalgar blue to lighter blue Ambla. Towed a Bailey caravan all over, had to have a new long-block at some point, not sure if there was financial assistance from B.L. I remember that once my Mum pulled on the handbrake and a good portion of the floor it was attached to came with it, not from rust, more like a sardine can.

Yours is a corker and that article about your dad is great.

John

[bmcnut]

Gave it an oil change this morning and took the wheels off to have a look at the brakes, everything looks great underneath still. It's going to a local garage in a couple of weeks to get it up in the air and have a proper look with someone else's eyes. And get it on the brake rollers. It pulls up nice and straight so I don't think there's any thing to worry about other that the knock from the steering rack. Took it out for a little drive. The attention it gets is silly. It's still massively rich so needs a bit of a tune up too.

Got it home. Played with pics on my phone, realised something quite mad if I went negative. 🙃

[glenanderson]

Steering wheel is a big improvement. 👍

[bmcnut]

Took the front wheels off today to have a look in-between the relentless hail downpours. Steering rack is pooched and needs gaiters and bushes, possibly a new rack, and maybe a couple of ball joints due to splits, brakes might get refreshed but work OK. I don't think the cars been far since it's been gone. Everything else looks really good under there. Couldn't actually do anything because I havnt got anything, so I fitted my new plates to replace the euro things.

[bmcnut]

I've just been doing an mot check on the car and found something I kind of suspected, but not to the extent of what I actually found out.

In 2007 the car had 41711miles on the clock. In that year dad used it as his daily and show car before becoming unwell. I sold it in 2013 and it had its next mot in 2015 and showed 45211 miles on the clock.
I've just been outside and checked. It currently shows 46044miles, which means it's only done 830miles since I sold it. It hasn't really been anywhere🤣

[jjeffries]

Could we see pics of the engine bay, please?

John

[bmcnut]

Mar 24, 2024 2:30:39 GMT jjeffries said:

Could we see pics of the engine bay, please?

John

As you wish



I've given the airbox and cam cover a degrease, and wiped the slam panel and off side inner wing, but thats it. The near side inner wing hasnt been touched and shows how dusty and grubby it was, and areas where the paint has failed. The state of the engine was one thing that made me think it had done more miles, but it still sounds healthy and is cleaning up very easily.

[redratbike]

cracking looking car and great that’s it’s back with you

if you after buying a set of period wheels for it i have a set of dunlop in 114.3 pcd 5.5j x 13 that need a refurb ?

[bmcnut]

Mar 24, 2024 11:44:32 GMT redratbike said:

cracking looking car and great that’s it’s back with you

if you after buying a set of period wheels for it i have a set of dunlop in 114.3 pcd 5.5j x 13 that need a refurb ?

Nice set of wheels and thanks for the offer but I'll stick with the 14s, the tyres are good and they're a spot on fitment. Thore alloys are the sort of wheels that would look awesome with the split rim treatment.

[bmcnut]

Had plans to have a proper look underneath today but ended up being busy so didn't get out to the car for long. so decided to give its face a clean. Took the badges off to clean the grill properly. I think they might stay off.


Hmmmm spotlights or no spotlights🤔

[redratbike]

no spotlight and take the over riders off too 👍