They Rebadged It, You Fool!
Retro Cars|Winter 2019
40 years ago, the UK waited with baited breath for the ‘British Car to Beat the World’. 20 years ago, Rover dealers were still trying to boot the last ones out of their showrooms. Ahead of its 40th birthday, we put the first and last Metros head-to-head
Craig Cheetham
They Rebadged It, You Fool!

“Lynn, I’m not driving a Mini Metro” - so went one of the most famous lines from Steve Coogan’s second series of I’m Alan Partridge. Partridge’s long-suffering secretary had picked up some brochures for the new Rover 100, but his point blank refusal to drive one resulted in him sacking all but one staff member in order to afford the bigger 200 - despite the ‘substantial savings’ on offer.

And there, in one throwaway sitcom line, lay the problem with a car that had for almost two decades been a part of the fabric of British society. There was nothing actually that wrong with the Rover 100 (except, maybe, for its well-documented awful crash protection), but it was just way, way past its sell-by-date by the time it was pensioned off. As the production line drew to a halt in 1998, rivals included the Peugeot 206, Ford Fiesta Mk 5 and Toyota Yaris.

The poor Rover didn’t stand a chance, as despite having a more modern powertrain, the basic bodyshell and running gear could trace its roots back to the 1980 Austin Mini Metro - a car that was sold as a rival to the Fiesta Mk 1, Talbot Samba and Phase 1 Renault 5. The market had shifted quite considerably, leaving the Rover, with its narrow track, external roof gutters and boxy cabin looking very old indeed. It was a sad end for a car that had once carried all of the British car industry’s hopes and dreams.

Indeed, the original Austin miniMetro, to give it its full and rather awkward name, was of such critical importance to British Leyland that it became the reason why we never saw a Rover SD1 estate, the Metro saloon and a properly facelifted Allegro. All the projects were cancelled to pour resources into getting the Metro ‘right’. The Jaguar XJ40 was almost a victim, too, but was rekindled when BL sold Jaguar privately in 1984.

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der Winter 2019-Ausgabe von Retro Cars.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der Winter 2019-Ausgabe von Retro Cars.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

WEITERE ARTIKEL AUS RETRO CARSAlle anzeigen
The Incredible ULK
Retro Cars

The Incredible ULK

It had turned green, had an appropriate number plate and did something quite remarkable - what else were we going to call the new Retro Cars project car?

time-read
5 Minuten  |
Winter 2019
They Rebadged It, You Fool!
Retro Cars

They Rebadged It, You Fool!

40 years ago, the UK waited with baited breath for the ‘British Car to Beat the World’. 20 years ago, Rover dealers were still trying to boot the last ones out of their showrooms. Ahead of its 40th birthday, we put the first and last Metros head-to-head

time-read
10+ Minuten  |
Winter 2019
One Saved - On To The Next…
Retro Cars

One Saved - On To The Next…

After last month’s mechanical woes, we’ve finally finished our MG ZS project car. Here’s our final instalment, followed by an all-new project

time-read
3 Minuten  |
Winter 2019
Reverting To Type
Retro Cars

Reverting To Type

The S-TYPE was a huge car for Jaguar; the first model developed from the ground-up under Ford’s stewardship and its first mid-size executive car since the Mk2. Two decades on, how does it fare as a classic?

time-read
8 Minuten  |
Winter 2019
Knightsbridge Or Kensington?
Retro Cars

Knightsbridge Or Kensington?

Tempted by the Metro’s swansong? Here are two virtually unused examples for sale at the same dealership

time-read
2 Minuten  |
Winter 2019
360' Kickflip
Retro Cars

360' Kickflip

This BMW E30 may appear relatively unassuming, but to the trained eye there are clues that all is not as it seems. No-one, however, will be expecting the self-styled 360i’s fi repower!

time-read
6 Minuten  |
March 2017
Copper Wink
Retro Cars

Copper Wink

When Kicker Audio decide to build a showcase for their latest speakers, they don’t mess about. This 1950 Studebaker is testament to the passion of a bunch of enthusiasts who didn’t want to just screw some speakers into yet another minivan…

time-read
5 Minuten  |
March 2017
Ade's Volvo 850
Retro Cars

Ade's Volvo 850

This month sees Ade sorting out up his Volvo with an awesome Kenwood headunit.

time-read
3 Minuten  |
March 2017
Take Five
Retro Cars

Take Five

Carlo de Grundt’s fifth-generation Skyline might not have a GT-R badge, but that doesn’t stop it from looking every bit as awesome as its ‘Hakosuka’ forefather...

time-read
7 Minuten  |
May 2017
Coupé De Grâce
Retro Cars

Coupé De Grâce

Escobar’s '90s Civic coupé hides many surprises, each one developed to​ Edenilson deliver a killer blow…

time-read
7 Minuten  |
May 2017