The Austin Allegro is a small family car manufactured and marketed by British Leyland under the Austin name between 1973 and 1982. The company produced this model from 1973 to 1928, and it had the exact vehicle built by Innocenti from 1974 to 1975 in Italy. Throughout its ten-year production run, Austin made 642,350 Austin, most of which were sold on the domestic market, accounting for less than a third of the 2.1 million 1100s and 1300s sold in the previous 11 years.
History of Austin Allegro
Austin Allegro (1973 - 1975)
With great enthusiasm, Austin released the Allegro in May 1973 after a long period of design phase and development that cost £21 million (roughly £270 million or $353 million in 2022). They launched the model with up to 1,200 cars of production every week from the Longbridge manufacturing lines. The automobile was available in 12 different engine sizes and trim levels, ranging from 1100cc to 1750cc, with two or four doors and considerable equipment grades for the era. BMH didn't try to replace the Austin 1100 when Leyland Motors joined British Motor Holdings in 1968, surprising Leyland's management.
Because of this, Austin accelerated the construction of the Allegro. In their rush to market, executives may have overlooked this because Allegro's primary competition was being offered as a flexible hatchback vehicle and was becoming successful.
Austin Allegro 2 (1975 - 1979)
The Allegro 2 had identical bodyshells but a different grille, reverse lights on most variants, and interior improvements to increase back seat capacity. The Estate received a new coachline across the wing top lip and window margins. Suspension, engine mounts, brakes, and driveshafts were all modified. Austin discontinued the Allegro's quartic steering wheel in early June 1975, probably to provide an opportunity for older cars to be sold and distributed. With only 100 days in manufacturing before the Series 2 edition, the Series I Allegro estate is rarer than most others in the lineup. British Leyland stated in late 1976 that it was in initial negotiations with trade union leaders about moving the Allegro assembly from Longbridge to Seneffe, Belgium. The Belgian facility was already building automobiles for continental Europe using UK CKD kits. The relocation was intended to free up space at Longbridge for the upcoming ADO88 Mini successor. The company meant the relocation to free up space at Longbridge for the upcoming ADO88 Mini successor. The manufacturer Mini abandoned the ADO88 project, and the Austin Metro, a much less optimistically constructed replacement for the Mini, was not released for four years. The Belgian facility shut in the early 1980s as Allegro sales in mainland Europe had slowed, and BLMC's Austin-Morris business had more manufacturing capacity than market growth.
Austin Allegro 3 (1979 - 1982)
The Allegro 3, announced at the end of 1979, used the "A-Plus" version of the 1.0L A-Series engine created for the upcoming new Metro and showcased some minor adjustments in a desire to maintain the pace up. However, two companies joined the competition with their new models: Ford Escort III and Vauxhall Astra Mk.1/Opel Kadett D. This event made the Allegro 3 outdated, and Austin experienced a hard time marketing the Allegro 3. March 1982 marked the end of Allegro's almost decade-long production. In November 1982, Austin put the Austin Maestro into production and unveiled it on March 1, 1983. Despite the introduction of the Maestro in 1983, there was still enough inventory of Allegro 3 models to keep stores stocked into the following year.
Price
In 1974, the UK base price for the Austin Allegro was reported as £1,159 (£12,870 or $16,808 in 2022).
Features
During its 10-year production run, Austin Allegro received significant upgrades of features from the company. Austin Allego features include a Hydragas suspension system, quad lamps for the headlights, foglamps, laminated screen, rear pillar vents, pointy rear end, square rear lights, and squared-off rear wheel arches. Austin installed special leather seats featuring reclining backrests, deep-pile carpets, sound insulation, and a new instrument panel in walnut to attract its customers. The Allegro estate comes equipped with a coachline and a rear wash-wipe. Allegro 2 has improved suspension, braking, driveshafts, and engine mounts. Non-UK markets received the Allegro 2 with four round headlights instead of the usual rectangular ones. Allegro 3 received a new grille, revised Leyland badge, larger bumper, and more side indicators. Austin improved its interior to be modern with its unique round four-spoke steering wheel. The Allegro adequately criticized the ADO16's driving position and coupled acceptable interior room with a significantly larger trunk than the ADO16's counterpart.
Even though today, the Quartic wheel isn't regarded as odd, it was widely criticized by typical Brits and even the authorities.
Specs
The Austin Allegro 3 engine delivers 44 hp (33 kW) at 5,200 rpm and 52 lb-ft (71 Nm) at 3,000 rpm of torque. The Austin Allegro accelerates from 0 to 60 mph (97 kph) in 17 seconds with a top speed of 87 mph (170 kph) and a curb weight of 1,852 lbs (840 kg). Austin offered the Allegro as a front-wheel-drive (FWD) model with a 4-speed manual transmission powered by an A-Plus 1.0L A-Series engine.
Release Date
In May 1973, Austin released the Austin Allegro, which was discontinued in March 1982 after a decade-long production.