Excellent. Thank you to David, what a lovely thing to do. Don't tell us too much about the future of the car though, spoilers sweetie! A series joy. Oh yeah, you are going to love it.
Wow, that takes me beck Ed! I served my time in a Joinery Workshop that had a Morris Ital, Maestro and Metro van. The Metro was brilliant fun to drive, especially if the boot was left open due to having a load too big for the boot to close. Made you think you were rallying. 🤣🤣. Circa 1991
Congratulations! A mk.2 Metro is the nicest you can have, imo. I'm going to get my first car later today, so your excitement is very, very relatable at the moment
@@TwinCam You're welcome! I got a Citroën Xantia from 1993. That's quite early in production and because of that it has some quirks later cars don't have.
I had a mk2 Metro from 1989 to 1991, it was completely reliable and withstood a sideswipe from a Volvo without damaging the occupants. It carried us and some important cargo, my 1978 Ducati engine back from West Yorkshire, and my newborn daughter home from hospital. Nice to see it getting some love.
Woohoo, Ed! You couldn’t completely wipe the smile off your dial! You reminded me so much of me with my first small, red car - a Mazda R100 - which I bought for my 21st birthday. (Just don’t do to Melody what I did to the R100: write it off at 96 mph. I was a typical case of a 21-year-old with his first fast, red car - which followed a Series V Morris Oxford estate.) Melody is appropriately Santa-season red. You said that you didn’t pay for the car, but your enthusiasm, your top-quality videos, and your geniality obviously met the criteria for ‘payment’. You *earned* Melody, Mate! Love and enjoy her, as I’m sure you’ll do.
What a treat. Lovely of the previous owner to donate it to you, shows that he has trust in your enthusiasm for the Metro. An excellent car and so good that you now have it and treasure it. I have to agree about the practical advantages of a 5 door after living with a 3 door hatch for a while and then moving to a 5 door (G100 to G102 Charade). All the very best with it and looking forward to even more videos. 😊
David, the hero all classic cars need, someone that knows when is the time to pass or sell a car to a new owner instead of leaving it in storage or outside until is unusable. So many cars are dead because of that attitude. So David you are a hero, I'm very sad that you can't drive it anymore, but your generosity is immense!
Wow 🤩 my nan had a 1984 1.3L in Primula Yellow with metric wheels!! The first gear noise is my favourite thing ever 😍😍 you need to do a full POV drive! Love it
I remember being so impressed with the interior size in such a small car when they came out. Metros and Rover 100s are great! I moved on to the Merc A-class that effectively copies that Issigonnis trick! Happy motoring to you!
Fantastic video. The way you discuss, research and present this information is so engaging. Well done to you. Good luck with the new car, I look forward to the updates.
Haha, as soon as you pulled off I remembered the engine noise my 1.3L Metro used to make. Mine was a 1983 and I did over 100,000 miles (mostly flat out) in 3 years in it with no problems at all and I thought it handled brilliantly. It was faster than my mate's 1.6 Capri (very important) and left it for dead in the corners. I can't tell you how much fun I had in it. I loved that car! Congratulations and you are going to have so much fun!
Loved this video. How heartwarming the owner gave it to you knowing it would be looked after. I had a Metro years ago (L292 ONO) and can relate to a lot of the quirks. However, it was brilliant and I’d have another. Keep up the good work.
Love your passion for them. I also have a fondness because my first car was a red 1995 111i which I had for 3 years & did 40000miles in. It was a great wee car, it never missed a beat, I put on GTA wheel trims with black inserts (couldn’t afford alloys), a GTA rubber rear window surround spoiler & 2 extra speakers in the rear. Great memories.
Love the new addition to your Metro family , hope Melvin wont get jealous , :-) , brings back good memories my mum gave my aunty her MK1 Metro 1.0 when i was a young lad , It was a base model but my dad put a mountney steering wheel on it , MG metro exhaust and a MG metro dash clocks . My aunty went all over in that car i can still remember its reg TKU532Y sadly long gone , best part back in the day my aunty could fill him for £4.00 also long gone sadly , but that noise in first was always in my mind good times
I'm old enough to remember the 80's and even though Metro's were often made fun of and mocked they were absolutely everywhere, no kidding on a typical day you would see hundreds of them, Myself and 7 of my friends once crammed into two of them for a weeks holiday in the lake district and neither of them missed a beat. It's really good to see how enthusiastic and grateful you are and i'm looking forward to following your journey with this little beauty.
Fantastic, Ed. What a great back story for the preamble. Melody is a real head turner. As for the stereo, that will be a major improvement. I can't wait to see more of the old girl
During my time on a yts, at a local AR dealer. I did loads of warranty panels. Wings, front panel, front crossmembers, rear panel. The odd door, I bought a 1.3s B reg russet brown…. The anti roll bar at the front used to squeak like mad!. Looking forward to the content!
Having owned two minis and two metros I know why you like your current car with the A+ engine we bought a 4 door Vandan plas Metro in 1985 shortly after returning from a holiday in jersey where we hired a 1.1 L Metro and loved driving it around the island. Our VP was very plush inside with fawn Velour upholstery and comfortable seats decent radio and all the VP extras but it was that gutsy 1275 engine i loved it pulled like a train and was so sweet with it much better than my rover 100 metro with the K series engine. I would have liked to have kept it but it rusted very badly (I think because of the metalic paint finish)All in all it was a great small hatchback fun to drive and own i hope you restore your new car to its former glory it deserves it.
What a brilliant story ! So well deserved. And a big thanks to David for identifying a good home for Melody! Yes, that A-series with the gearbox/final drive whine is so memorable. The similar soundtrack from Morris Minors is embedded in my noggin. (The Austin A40s didn’t quite manage to match the Minor’s distinctiveness) Looking forward to seeing your plans materialise, Ed … I just know they’ll be tasteful ! Well may you wear, Ed and have lots of fun and .. em.. learning experiences with Melody ! Thanks for introducing us!
Lovely car. reminds me of the Mk1 (1983) MG Metro I learnt to drive in and the Mk2 (1987) MG Metro we replaced it with. I'm sure you will look after Melody brilliantly and have many happy years with her :)
My first car was a C plate navy blue 1.0 Metro City. The ultimate bog standard Metro. Seats, doors & an engine but it got me where I needed to go, which was what mattered. That was a long time ago & I’ve had many cars since. I’m now driving something very modern (characterless?) so Melody takes me back to my early driving days. Looking forward to seeing the Melody ‘journey’!
Melody is looking good. Definitely has a bright future ahead now with you and Melvin. A good buy and I look forward to seeing how you improve her and get jobs done.
There is one very very happy Ed. What a lovely little car. The smile that came onto your face as you were going through gears was a joy. Keep the back flash Ed. Looking forward to seeing your journey together. What a lovely gesture from David gifting you Melody. Us Davids are the best 😂 Take care Ed 🤗
You look just like me, if only I had back my old '92 Fiat Uno Fire mk2, with its tiny 1.0l, 45bhp and red interior... So you might be a little strange, as you said, but so do I. Great stuff!
My wife's first car was a navy blue metrocity - spacing deliberate! Bought it herself and had to decide on either a heated rear window or a wiper - she chose the HRW and on long journeys had to keep stopping to clean the window. I shall forgo the usual joke about keeping hands warm though! I learned on a bronze BSM Metro - I liked it - and drove a few Minis in my time - the best being a Mini Racing Green which always felt better than the Mini Cooper that replaced it. It would do 'p' on the speedometer!
This takes me back Ed. I had one of these back in the early 90's in the same colour. Mine was an 'F' plate that I think was an '89' model. I had it for ~7 years and only really sold it when I relocated to a different part of the country for work. It was around the same time that leaded petrol was being phased out and due to my significantly increased mileage the car was sold. It's worth checking to see if the valve seats cater for unleaded fuel without additives. The car was a great deal of fun. The bit's that required doing to my car were rear wheel bearings, handbrake and the head skimming after the head gasket went. Oh and it may be an idea to carry a spare rotor arm and cap for the distributor as I had one commit suicide. I look forward to seeing the videos for the updates on this car.
Haha i carried a head gasket and tools needed to change it at the roadside. My 1275GT. It had a lot of compression and head gaskets were a service item for me.
I had a 1990 Mini Cooper John Cooper Special (H153 WMB) in red which was wonderful. Got it from James Edwards Chester for £2100 and paid my dad back after 6 months of feverish loan underwriting at the old Mbna bank in Chester! It was brill and although eventually I moved to sheffield abs in that city you really didn’t need a car so it got neglected and needed selling so I got £900 for it. Underpriced even in 2001 I feel. Now they seem to go for 10£k plus which is amazing. I would get another one again like a shot if I could store it properly. They do seem to thrive in very dry conditions esp if you can keep the floor pan clear dry and clear. I had a wharfdale £100 CD player in mine but it wasn’t one with a centre consolealas. A close friend of mine was obsessed with his metros and had two of them. Love the vids. Keep them up. I’m also in the lookout for a Mini Cooper and I’m wishing for the day when someone does a limited reissue if these cars obvs type approval would prob be a problem I guess but perhaps it’s one of the few advantages or future advantage of brexit non euroregs???
I can assure you that the UK is not about to seriously weaken type approval laws - no matter what kind of Brexit people believe in, and that was something the UK devolved over to the EU to ensure lower costs!
Just showed this video to a friend who knows absolutely nothing about cars (he doesn't even drive) but is pretty hot on Dr. Who - the quote brought a smile to his face as he immediately recognised it. He says you remind him in equal measures of Messrs Smith, Tennant and Capaldi - though when he started explaining why he lost me a bit. (I've not watched Dr. Who since the Tom Baker days!)
Finally! I've been looking forward to this video ever since you showed me Melody for the first time. I'm so happy for you Ed! It's videos like this that make me look forward to dailying my classic.
May I Wish you and belated Merry Christmas and a stunning successful 2022! Your enthusiasm for your Metro is infectious and It shows that as you have been 'given' it you will take good care of Melanie. I look forward to all the coming episodes as I was getting a bit stir crazy at not having any over the break! Please do not fire of a Boo but as a lover of Classics (my first car was a Wolesely 680 in which won my first rally )a small one!) followed by a succession of cars like a Beetle, Daf, XK140 and Renault 8... (apart from my various rally cars including a Wankel MX3!) but I ended up with a delicious tuned Jag MkII, but I fear I have not really like Metros apart from the the highly exciting Group B Metros. But hey! It is your obvious sense of adventure and fun that has made me a firm follower. Thank you! Robert
I am to Gauges, and gauge lighting, as Hubnut is to wipers. And those gauges and the lighting are great. I've always thought of the gauges as the jewelry...
Congratulations on your new family member, Ed! I love the whole back story and the sense of community that channels like yours engender - only a true enthusiast would understand how somebody would forsake a large financial reward on a lump of metal and plastic just to see it go to a good home where somebody would look after it. Thanks David - you're the hero of the moment. I can't wait to watch Melody bloom under Ed's love and care.
Great video and good to hear the touching story of how you got the Metro and someone’s desire to have it live on in its original condition, trusting you to do so. We had 3 Metros used in our driving school and many many pupils who passed their test in our Metro’s went on to buy one through the experience they had through learning in a Metro. Great for all round vision which helped during driving test manoeuvres and simple controls when compared to Japanese competitors. Never a truer word in that you thought you were travelling faster than you were. We experienced good reliability, some issues around quality of upholstery when subjected to 8 or so different drivers per day. Look forward to your future videos.
Thanks Iain :) I recently drove a Rover 75, and felt genuinely unsafe in it due to the poor visibility. I've been blessed by Metro-style ease of use for far too long!
So nice to see your custodian of such a nice Metro as it really couldn’t go to a better home and that gearbox whine brings back lovely memories of the 80s for me.. My uncle would get base model Metros and MK2 Fiestas as fleet company cars back in the day and he would drive them like he stole them flat out everywhere and did serious mileage in them. He always preferred the metro because he reckoned the handling and brakes were far superior and it was just a better drive although the Fiestas were a couple of MPH better flat out top end. These were everywhere back in the day but alas I never managed to own one back in its 80s heyday as they were too expensive for me so I had to make do with the humble £50 Minis and Mk1 Escorts lol
I remember the Metro when they were new and used to get a lift to work from a guy with one. At the time I never lusted after one but they have grown on me over time and it's great to see how much you have taken them to heart and I'm looking forward to seeing your progress as you correct the issues with Mellody (My favourite Angel in Captain Scarlet by the way). My OCD would not have allowed me to drive anywhere near 600 miles without a functioning speedometer so get that sorted before you wind up with a ticket ;)
Fantastic Edd , the 1.3s were really quite nippy. It's an early 'Quiet' Metro launched in May87 ( the same time they removed the Austin badges). The car had more soundproofing and other mechanical refinements, I had an August 87 1.3 CityX and its was a huge improvement over my previous 83 Metro.
I always thought the Metro was a nice looking car, I owned an MG Metro myself in the 90s but I also drove a couple of other more mundane Metros from time to time and when compared to other cars of its era, of its class and of its price bracket it compared well. I’m sure you will have a lot of fun with this car. By the way, the low mileage is a massive bonus.
It's great that there are young people like yourself that are interested in these ordinary classic cars which are unremarkable but nevertheless an important part of our motoring heritage, my mother had four Metros (mainly because a worked in BL dealers for the seventies, eighties and most of the nineties). A couple of observations, those MG style side graphics were a popular accessory when these cars were new, we used to fit them on PDI but I don't think they were issued by Austin Rover. Unfortunately you will never cure those trim rattles they did it from new and were almost impossible to fix especially from the rear shelf and those soppy side trims. Relating to the gearbox/change from memory they have a rod change arrangement similar to Mini and we often used to swap out all the rubber components out for the harder nylon ones, Minispares used to do a complete kit, sadly the crunch when changing up is almost certainly a synchro hub, you probably already know that Mini and Metro with the gearbox in the sump arrangement suffer from this the good news is that it's a fairly straight forward job even if it does require an engine removal. Lastly on the exterior I love those pepper pot alloys from the series 1 MG and if it was mine I would refurb them if possible and I would also keep the rubbing strips they are so eighties but that may be an age thing. I believe that there is a company in the midlands that refurbishes the hydragas units, if memory serves they do them on an exchange basis so long as yours are serviceable so you don't have the car in bits for weeks waiting for them to come back. Relating to the speedo again from memory I'm sure it was Metro that had a square nylon drive that went into a metal receiver in the back of the speedo and it used to round off alternatively the drivegear coming out of the gearbox used to wear and lose mesh with the worm drive in the gearbox both are very easy fixes for anyone with any sort of mechanical aptitude. Good luck with it and it's in a good colour too not the inevitable moonraker blue that was so popular at the time.
I want one ! Sadly, Australia was not a market for the Metro, although Minis used to be everywhere here. My firstt car, in '75, was a '67 850. Loved her ! BTW, Great channel, getting better all the time.
Congratulations on your new car! What a lovely story, too. Like you, I prefer the look of the MkII models, and the overall tidiness of the 5-door body shell and its small C/D pillar windows. It’s quite interesting to learn of all the little detail and changes between the MkII and MkIII that most wouldn’t notice without being motivated by the love you have for Metros. The way you describe your appreciation for these cars and the joy that experiencing them brings you, may not make sense to most people or even most enthusiasts. But I get it. A lot of us do. And I’m glad you represent those particular values in the hobby. I will eagerly await your future videos on Melody’s progress. Happy Christmas and New Year, and happy motoring as well.
Looking forwards to lots of videos in the future. I have a classic car that will be 50 years old next May. These days my classic dosen't come out in bad weather.
I wouldn't have expected anything less than another Metro. The sound of an A series is like a VW air cooled so easily recognisable.. Hope you had a good Christmas, looking forward to new content soon. Happy New Year Ed. Bob. x
Completely agree I had a brand new F reg 1.0 city in flame red aged 17 , and then a H reg in 1990 I think it was a 1.1C in flame red , they where very different to drive the H reg was a massive step forward , what I do remember is I had to pay around £500 to get the car with 5 gears and also to get a passenger side mirror believe it or not, the 1.1C did not come with a parcel shelf or stereo, my H reg ended up with burnt out valves due to unleaded fuel I believe, luckily it was still under its one year warranty, they gave me a old Allegro whilst it was back at rover , what a horrible car that was !! The spedo cable check where it screws into the top of the gearbox , very easily accessible , open bonnet and it's on the right hand side , access from above not underneath 👍
Delighted to see a mk2 like mine coming into the picture on your fantastic channel! Really excited to see what you do with her I'm sure i'll learn to enjoy mine all the better for it!
In the late 80's I had a Mk1 MG Metro. The ride was awful, the gearbox was naff and absolutely everything rattled inside it... However, I loved driving it. It felt quicker than it actually was, it sounded great and looked brilliant in black. 🙂 Great to see you've got a "Austin" Metro. I'm sure you'll love it as much as Melvin.
Thanks mate :) There are a few things I want to get sorted - that suspension being a big one, along with the gearbox. Both can be easily fixed, but I just need to find the funds! PS. Black was the best colour for the Mk1 MG ;)
Great vid Ed. Good to meet Melody. Yeah get that suspension sorted ASAP, better and afer ride will result. Great engine too. Look forward to he next few vids in the New Year. Seasons greetings by the way.
Looks a very nice example Ed, very clean under the bonnet too. Personally I never liked those backflash stickers but the choice is yours of course. I reckon give the wheels a second chance with a good refurb and fit some slightly lower profile tyres if they are available. Enjoy!
Thanks Richard :) I'm gradually heading down the path of keeping the backflash, but I'm still not completely sure. The natural path would be to recondition them, but I'm undecided!
Can’t wait for the surprise Ed. I wish you and your family a very happy Christmas Day, and a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year. Continued success in your career 🤗 David 👍
Congratulations on this new acquisition. Wishing you a happy New Year and many new adventures with the cars. One little advise: just stay yourself and don’t start to overact or to change your style. That is the key to success. All the best and cheers from Belgium!
Great choice, once you turned away from the Dolomite 1850HL with auto box ( a past car of mine). Day dreaming here on what I would choose if I hadn't gone all electric two cars ago! But on Sunday I saw a car club Triumph Acclaim ( Honda) and I also once had an Acclaim CD with semi auto .......
I thought it would be a Triumph Dolomite. I had a red Metro 1.3 L on a test drive for the weekend in (about) 1985. The next test drive car I got was an Alfa 33 which I thought was great but nobody bought them. Have fun, I'll be watching.
You remind me very much of my friend Ben ! He loves a maestro and is also too young to have experienced back in the day. For what it is it looks very tidy and I'm sure you'll treat her well
Always a good day when Harry’s Garage, Tyrrell’s Classic Workshop and Twin Cam release a video on the same day! Nice work, enjoy your new car Ed 👍🏻
with you there 👍
@@richardjohnson3463 Absolutely all great presenters with their own styles with interesting content.
Thanks James, it's incredibly kind of you to include me in such esteemed company.
Keep the back flash. It’s Definitely in good hands. Look forward to seeing how it progresses 😎
Thanks Barry :)
I'm still undecided, but if I am to keep it I may need to get another one as this one hasn't been fitted particularly well!
Excellent. Thank you to David, what a lovely thing to do. Don't tell us too much about the future of the car though, spoilers sweetie!
A series joy. Oh yeah, you are going to love it.
As the car is named after Melody Pond, I love that you are referencing River Song!
Spoilers!
Wow, that takes me beck Ed! I served my time in a Joinery Workshop that had a Morris Ital, Maestro and Metro van. The Metro was brilliant fun to drive, especially if the boot was left open due to having a load too big for the boot to close. Made you think you were rallying. 🤣🤣. Circa 1991
It was a 1.3 by the way. 😍
Great video, Great to see the Metro has gone to such a good home and Wonderful to see your enthusiasm for this little Austin 🙂👍.
Congratulations! A mk.2 Metro is the nicest you can have, imo. I'm going to get my first car later today, so your excitement is very, very relatable at the moment
Thanks mate :)
What did you get?
@@TwinCam You're welcome! I got a Citroën Xantia from 1993. That's quite early in production and because of that it has some quirks later cars don't have.
I had a mk2 Metro from 1989 to 1991, it was completely reliable and withstood a sideswipe from a Volvo without damaging the occupants. It carried us and some important cargo, my 1978 Ducati engine back from West Yorkshire, and my newborn daughter home from hospital. Nice to see it getting some love.
Woohoo, Ed! You couldn’t completely wipe the smile off your dial!
You reminded me so much of me with my first small, red car - a Mazda R100 - which I bought for my 21st birthday. (Just don’t do to Melody what I did to the R100: write it off at 96 mph. I was a typical case of a 21-year-old with his first fast, red car - which followed a Series V Morris Oxford estate.)
Melody is appropriately Santa-season red.
You said that you didn’t pay for the car, but your enthusiasm, your top-quality videos, and your geniality obviously met the criteria for ‘payment’. You *earned* Melody, Mate!
Love and enjoy her, as I’m sure you’ll do.
Thanks as always mate :)
Excellent story and I'm pleased that the Metro is going to a good house. Great that is will be loved.
Thanks Russell :)
What a treat. Lovely of the previous owner to donate it to you, shows that he has trust in your enthusiasm for the Metro. An excellent car and so good that you now have it and treasure it. I have to agree about the practical advantages of a 5 door after living with a 3 door hatch for a while and then moving to a 5 door (G100 to G102 Charade). All the very best with it and looking forward to even more videos. 😊
Thanks Pauline :)
I love how the one time that the Imperial System beat the Metric System was wheel sizes.
well done Dave , you chose a good person to look after your little Metro
Brilliant! Your enthusiasm for that little bit of 1980's motoring is a joy to watch. That car is in exactly the right hands for sure.
Thanks mate :)
David, the hero all classic cars need, someone that knows when is the time to pass or sell a car to a new owner instead of leaving it in storage or outside until is unusable. So many cars are dead because of that attitude. So David you are a hero, I'm very sad that you can't drive it anymore, but your generosity is immense!
He's a hero!
Wow 🤩 my nan had a 1984 1.3L in Primula Yellow with metric wheels!! The first gear noise is my favourite thing ever 😍😍 you need to do a full POV drive! Love it
I remember being so impressed with the interior size in such a small car when they came out. Metros and Rover 100s are great! I moved on to the Merc A-class that effectively copies that Issigonnis trick!
Happy motoring to you!
Thanks Jeremy :)
Melody is a beautiful wee thing Ed and David will be so pleased to know that she's in such good hands 😊
Fantastic video. The way you discuss, research and present this information is so engaging. Well done to you. Good luck with the new car, I look forward to the updates.
Thanks Sam, that's very kind of you to say :)
Haha, as soon as you pulled off I remembered the engine noise my 1.3L Metro used to make. Mine was a 1983 and I did over 100,000 miles (mostly flat out) in 3 years in it with no problems at all and I thought it handled brilliantly. It was faster than my mate's 1.6 Capri (very important) and left it for dead in the corners. I can't tell you how much fun I had in it. I loved that car!
Congratulations and you are going to have so much fun!
Thanks Mark :)
I have a lot of love for the Metro, I learned to drive and passed my test in a red one in 1983 😍😍
Thanks Ed, a great flashback to 1988 and my driving instructor having a beige 1.3L Metro.
Loved this video. How heartwarming the owner gave it to you knowing it would be looked after. I had a Metro years ago (L292 ONO) and can relate to a lot of the quirks. However, it was brilliant and I’d have another. Keep up the good work.
Thanks Danny :)
Love your passion for them. I also have a fondness because my first car was a red 1995 111i which I had for 3 years & did 40000miles in. It was a great wee car, it never missed a beat, I put on GTA wheel trims with black inserts (couldn’t afford alloys), a GTA rubber rear window surround spoiler & 2 extra speakers in the rear. Great memories.
Love the new addition to your Metro family , hope Melvin wont get jealous , :-) , brings back good memories my mum gave my aunty her MK1 Metro 1.0 when i was a young lad , It was a base model but my dad put a mountney steering wheel on it , MG metro exhaust and a MG metro dash clocks . My aunty went all over in that car i can still remember its reg TKU532Y sadly long gone , best part back in the day my aunty could fill him for £4.00 also long gone sadly , but that noise in first was always in my mind good times
I think you're going places Twin Cam, Happy New Year
Thanks mate, happy new year :)
I'm old enough to remember the 80's and even though Metro's were often made fun of and mocked they were absolutely everywhere, no kidding on a typical day you would see hundreds of them, Myself and 7 of my friends once crammed into two of them for a weeks holiday in the lake district and neither of them missed a beat. It's really good to see how enthusiastic and grateful you are and i'm looking forward to following your journey with this little beauty.
Fantastic, Ed. What a great back story for the preamble. Melody is a real head turner. As for the stereo, that will be a major improvement. I can't wait to see more of the old girl
Thanks Michael :)
During my time on a yts, at a local AR dealer. I did loads of warranty panels. Wings, front panel, front crossmembers, rear panel. The odd door, I bought a 1.3s B reg russet brown…. The anti roll bar at the front used to squeak like mad!. Looking forward to the content!
Having owned two minis and two metros I know why you like your current car with the A+ engine we bought a 4 door Vandan plas Metro in 1985 shortly after returning from a holiday in jersey where we hired a 1.1 L Metro and loved driving it around the island. Our VP was very plush inside with fawn Velour upholstery and comfortable seats decent radio and all the VP extras but it was that gutsy 1275 engine i loved it pulled like a train and was so sweet with it much better than my rover 100 metro with the K series engine. I would have liked to have kept it but it rusted very badly (I think because of the metalic paint finish)All in all it was a great small hatchback fun to drive and own i hope you restore your new car to its former glory it deserves it.
Thanks Mike :)
What a brilliant story ! So well deserved. And a big thanks to David for identifying a good home for Melody! Yes, that A-series with the gearbox/final drive whine is so memorable. The similar soundtrack from Morris Minors is embedded in my noggin. (The Austin A40s didn’t quite manage to match the Minor’s distinctiveness) Looking forward to seeing your plans materialise, Ed … I just know they’ll be tasteful ! Well may you wear, Ed and have lots of fun and .. em.. learning experiences with Melody ! Thanks for introducing us!
Thanks mate :)
Good for you! If you like a car, buy another one!! Your enthusiasm is infectious :-)
Thanks mate :)
Lovely car. reminds me of the Mk1 (1983) MG Metro I learnt to drive in and the Mk2 (1987) MG Metro we replaced it with. I'm sure you will look after Melody brilliantly and have many happy years with her :)
Sadly I was at the Metro’s launch in 1981. I can hear the gearbox whine from here. Melody is stunning take care of her and all the best for 2022
I have been informed it wasn’t a very nice event 😬
I first learned to drive in a Metro so I have good memories of driving one. Lovely car. Enjoy.
Thanks Mark :)
Great car- and video- thanks. I cannot believe the 5 door Metro is 34 years old.. time flies..
Thanks Martin :)
36!
My first car was a C plate navy blue 1.0 Metro City. The ultimate bog standard Metro. Seats, doors & an engine but it got me where I needed to go, which was what mattered. That was a long time ago & I’ve had many cars since. I’m now driving something very modern (characterless?) so Melody takes me back to my early driving days.
Looking forward to seeing the Melody ‘journey’!
There will be lots of videos coming!
Melody is looking good. Definitely has a bright future ahead now with you and Melvin. A good buy and I look forward to seeing how you improve her and get jobs done.
Thanks Robert :)
There is one very very happy Ed. What a lovely little car. The smile that came onto your face as you were going through gears was a joy.
Keep the back flash Ed.
Looking forward to seeing your journey together.
What a lovely gesture from David gifting you Melody. Us Davids are the best 😂
Take care Ed 🤗
Thanks as always mate :)
David's a hero!
Oh that A series gearbox whine!! Pure class, love it. Remember it well with my 7 minis ive owned over the years and sadly don't own any more.
It's heavenly!
Wow so pleased to see it's a Metro. I love it - Happy New Year buddy 🤝
So I guess this answers my previous question from your current video out. That is awesome buddy! Congrats and enjoy!!!!!
Thanks mate 🙂
You look just like me, if only I had back my old '92 Fiat Uno Fire mk2, with its tiny 1.0l, 45bhp and red interior... So you might be a little strange, as you said, but so do I. Great stuff!
My wife's first car was a navy blue metrocity - spacing deliberate! Bought it herself and had to decide on either a heated rear window or a wiper - she chose the HRW and on long journeys had to keep stopping to clean the window. I shall forgo the usual joke about keeping hands warm though!
I learned on a bronze BSM Metro - I liked it - and drove a few Minis in my time - the best being a Mini Racing Green which always felt better than the Mini Cooper that replaced it. It would do 'p' on the speedometer!
Congrats. Ed. You will make it the best example of the model over time. 👍👏
Thanks Peter :)
She needs a lot of work, but it'll all slowly be ticked off.
This takes me back Ed. I had one of these back in the early 90's in the same colour. Mine was an 'F' plate that I think was an '89' model. I had it for ~7 years and only really sold it when I relocated to a different part of the country for work. It was around the same time that leaded petrol was being phased out and due to my significantly increased mileage the car was sold. It's worth checking to see if the valve seats cater for unleaded fuel without additives. The car was a great deal of fun. The bit's that required doing to my car were rear wheel bearings, handbrake and the head skimming after the head gasket went. Oh and it may be an idea to carry a spare rotor arm and cap for the distributor as I had one commit suicide. I look forward to seeing the videos for the updates on this car.
Haha i carried a head gasket and tools needed to change it at the roadside. My 1275GT. It had a lot of compression and head gaskets were a service item for me.
I have no idea whether the head has been converted, but originally it would have been leaded only.
As such, I'm using an additive.
I had a 1990 Mini Cooper John Cooper Special (H153 WMB) in red which was wonderful. Got it from James Edwards Chester for £2100 and paid my dad back after 6 months of feverish loan underwriting at the old Mbna bank in Chester!
It was brill and although eventually I moved to sheffield abs in that city you really didn’t need a car so it got neglected and needed selling so I got £900 for it. Underpriced even in 2001 I feel. Now they seem to go for 10£k plus which is amazing. I would get another one again like a shot if I could store it properly. They do seem to thrive in very dry conditions esp if you can keep the floor pan clear dry and clear. I had a wharfdale £100 CD player in mine but it wasn’t one with a centre consolealas.
A close friend of mine was obsessed with his metros and had two of them.
Love the vids. Keep them up.
I’m also in the lookout for a Mini Cooper and I’m wishing for the day when someone does a limited reissue if these cars obvs type approval would prob be a problem I guess but perhaps it’s one of the few advantages or future advantage of brexit non euroregs???
I can assure you that the UK is not about to seriously weaken type approval laws - no matter what kind of Brexit people believe in, and that was something the UK devolved over to the EU to ensure lower costs!
Just showed this video to a friend who knows absolutely nothing about cars (he doesn't even drive) but is pretty hot on Dr. Who - the quote brought a smile to his face as he immediately recognised it. He says you remind him in equal measures of Messrs Smith, Tennant and Capaldi - though when he started explaining why he lost me a bit. (I've not watched Dr. Who since the Tom Baker days!)
Finally! I've been looking forward to this video ever since you showed me Melody for the first time. I'm so happy for you Ed! It's videos like this that make me look forward to dailying my classic.
Thanks Josh :)
Fantastic Ed! Can’t wait to see more metro content! Another Gem!
Thanks Matthew :)
There will be plenty coming!
A much more positive and optimistic video than this time last year.
We’ve had loads of MiniMetros but in the 80s. Could to see you love it.
May I Wish you and belated Merry Christmas and a stunning successful 2022!
Your enthusiasm for your Metro is infectious and It shows that as you have been 'given' it you will take good care of Melanie. I look forward to all the coming episodes as I was getting a bit stir crazy at not having any over the break!
Please do not fire of a Boo but as a lover of Classics (my first car was a Wolesely 680 in which won my first rally )a small one!) followed by a succession of cars like a Beetle, Daf, XK140 and Renault 8... (apart from my various rally cars including a Wankel MX3!) but I ended up with a delicious tuned Jag MkII, but I fear I have not really like Metros apart from the the highly exciting Group B Metros.
But hey! It is your obvious sense of adventure and fun that has made me a firm follower. Thank you!
Robert
Thanks Robert :)
I am to Gauges, and gauge lighting, as Hubnut is to wipers. And those gauges and the lighting are great. I've always thought of the gauges as the jewelry...
Congratulations on your new family member, Ed! I love the whole back story and the sense of community that channels like yours engender - only a true enthusiast would understand how somebody would forsake a large financial reward on a lump of metal and plastic just to see it go to a good home where somebody would look after it. Thanks David - you're the hero of the moment. I can't wait to watch Melody bloom under Ed's love and care.
Thanks mate :)
It's amazing how kind you lovely lot are, and without you all it wouldn't be possible!
Id keep the Metro sign in the window , i love the 80's look its cool ! Its a 80's car after all so goes with the retro look
I'm gradually heading down that way of thinking!
Great video and good to hear the touching story of how you got the Metro and someone’s desire to have it live on in its original condition, trusting you to do so.
We had 3 Metros used in our driving school and many many pupils who passed their test in our Metro’s went on to buy one through the experience they had through learning in a Metro.
Great for all round vision which helped during driving test manoeuvres and simple controls when compared to Japanese competitors. Never a truer word in that you thought you were travelling faster than you were.
We experienced good reliability, some issues around quality of upholstery when subjected to 8 or so different drivers per day.
Look forward to your future videos.
Thanks Iain :)
I recently drove a Rover 75, and felt genuinely unsafe in it due to the poor visibility. I've been blessed by Metro-style ease of use for far too long!
So nice to see your custodian of such a nice Metro as it really couldn’t go to a better home and that gearbox whine brings back lovely memories of the 80s for me..
My uncle would get base model Metros and MK2 Fiestas as fleet company cars back in the day and he would drive them like he stole them flat out everywhere and did serious mileage in them.
He always preferred the metro because he reckoned the handling and brakes were far superior and it was just a better drive although the Fiestas were a couple of MPH better flat out top end.
These were everywhere back in the day but alas I never managed to own one back in its 80s heyday as they were too expensive for me so I had to make do with the humble £50 Minis and Mk1 Escorts lol
Thanks mate :)
I learned to drive in one of these in 1987! Great car. Looking forward to the adventure videos to come!
Thanks Robert :)
Wow what a kind gesture the metro looks fantastic Ed looking forward to seeing more content on melody all the best 👍👍
There's lots to come!
I remember the Metro when they were new and used to get a lift to work from a guy with one. At the time I never lusted after one but they have grown on me over time and it's great to see how much you have taken them to heart and I'm looking forward to seeing your progress as you correct the issues with Mellody (My favourite Angel in Captain Scarlet by the way). My OCD would not have allowed me to drive anywhere near 600 miles without a functioning speedometer so get that sorted before you wind up with a ticket ;)
Fortunately, my sat nav has a speedo, a necessity for all the average speed checks!
Cracking little car, its lucky to have you as its new custodian
Fantastic Edd , the 1.3s were really quite nippy. It's an early 'Quiet' Metro launched in May87 ( the same time they removed the Austin badges). The car had more soundproofing and other mechanical refinements, I had an August 87 1.3 CityX and its was a huge improvement over my previous 83 Metro.
The sound of the A+ takes me back to the 1980s; my father owned a 1981 miniMetro 1.0L from 1983 to 1990.
I always thought the Metro was a nice looking car, I owned an MG Metro myself in the 90s but I also drove a couple of other more mundane Metros from time to time and when compared to other cars of its era, of its class and of its price bracket it compared well. I’m sure you will have a lot of fun with this car. By the way, the low mileage is a massive bonus.
Thanks Andrew :)
How fun!! New toys are always a blast!
It's great that there are young people like yourself that are interested in these ordinary classic cars which are unremarkable but nevertheless an important part of our motoring heritage, my mother had four Metros (mainly because a worked in BL dealers for the seventies, eighties and most of the nineties).
A couple of observations, those MG style side graphics were a popular accessory when these cars were new, we used to fit them on PDI but I don't think they were issued by Austin Rover. Unfortunately you will never cure those trim rattles they did it from new and were almost impossible to fix especially from the rear shelf and those soppy side trims.
Relating to the gearbox/change from memory they have a rod change arrangement similar to Mini and we often used to swap out all the rubber components out for the harder nylon ones, Minispares used to do a complete kit, sadly the crunch when changing up is almost certainly a synchro hub, you probably already know that Mini and Metro with the gearbox in the sump arrangement suffer from this the good news is that it's a fairly straight forward job even if it does require an engine removal.
Lastly on the exterior I love those pepper pot alloys from the series 1 MG and if it was mine I would refurb them if possible and I would also keep the rubbing strips they are so eighties but that may be an age thing. I believe that there is a company in the midlands that refurbishes the hydragas units, if memory serves they do them on an exchange basis so long as yours are serviceable so you don't have the car in bits for weeks waiting for them to come back.
Relating to the speedo again from memory I'm sure it was Metro that had a square nylon drive that went into a metal receiver in the back of the speedo and it used to round off alternatively the drivegear coming out of the gearbox used to wear and lose mesh with the worm drive in the gearbox both are very easy fixes for anyone with any sort of mechanical aptitude.
Good luck with it and it's in a good colour too not the inevitable moonraker blue that was so popular at the time.
Absolute beauty.. love it ..the very best wishes for your new car ..long may you have it ..back window sticker has to stay so retro....great videos
Thanks Robert :)
Beaut Car! Wish we had them Down Under! Keep on Keeping on.
Hi Ed, I had the MG Metro in some way's I miss the hell out of it, it went like stink so much fun to drive.👍
This delightful little car has found the right steward. I wish I had access to pre-Honda BL/Austin Rover motors just to savour the experience.
Wonderful Ed……
A car that was beloved by many teachers at my school, for some reason! Ah, the 70s.
Mike
Thanks as always Mike :)
It's great, Ed. I feel this. I understand.
Passed my test in a white one like that. For sure keep the back flash sticker. Loving your work.
Thanks William :)
Exciting - looking forward to seeing what you’ve bought!
Very nice 1987 Metro 5 door Ed best of luck with Melody in the new year👍🏻
Thanks Neil :)
GET THIS GUY ON THE TV!!! Great video yet again 👏
Thanks Chris, that's very kind of you to say :)
Wow, this brings back memories, i passed my driving test waaaaay back in 1989, in a car very similar, forgotten how small they really were.
They're properly tiny, though surprisingly spacious inside.
I do like that 1st gear whine. Nothing else sounds like that. Characterful.
Welcome to the channel Melody. I’m looking forward to her adventures!
I want one !
Sadly, Australia was not a market for the Metro, although Minis used to be everywhere here.
My firstt car, in '75, was a '67 850. Loved her !
BTW, Great channel, getting better all the time.
Thanks Graeme :)
I thought they did sell Metros in Australia for a little while, but I might be misremembering!
Congratulations on your new car! What a lovely story, too. Like you, I prefer the look of the MkII models, and the overall tidiness of the 5-door body shell and its small C/D pillar windows.
It’s quite interesting to learn of all the little detail and changes between the MkII and MkIII that most wouldn’t notice without being motivated by the love you have for Metros. The way you describe your appreciation for these cars and the joy that experiencing them brings you, may not make sense to most people or even most enthusiasts. But I get it. A lot of us do. And I’m glad you represent those particular values in the hobby.
I will eagerly await your future videos on Melody’s progress. Happy Christmas and New Year, and happy motoring as well.
Thanks as always mate :)
Another Metro!
Wow!
Great stuff!
Loving the backflash and the DIY decals... KEEP !
Express yourself with the wheels instead.
I'm gradually heading down that way of thinking!
@@TwinCam Those tacky mods are EXACTLY what someone your age would have done to sportify a hand-me-down 5 door Metro back in the day….
Keep the backflash! I remember seeing those on loads of cars back when I was a kid, and you just don't see them any more.
Looking forwards to lots of videos in the future. I have a classic car that will be 50 years old next May. These days my classic dosen't come out in bad weather.
There certainly will be plenty of content coming!
I wouldn't have expected anything less than another Metro. The sound of an A series is like a VW air cooled so easily recognisable.. Hope you had a good Christmas, looking forward to new content soon. Happy New Year Ed. Bob. x
Thanks mate! 🙂
Completely agree I had a brand new F reg 1.0 city in flame red aged 17 , and then a H reg in 1990 I think it was a 1.1C in flame red , they where very different to drive the H reg was a massive step forward , what I do remember is I had to pay around £500 to get the car with 5 gears and also to get a passenger side mirror believe it or not, the 1.1C did not come with a parcel shelf or stereo, my H reg ended up with burnt out valves due to unleaded fuel I believe, luckily it was still under its one year warranty, they gave me a old Allegro whilst it was back at rover , what a horrible car that was !!
The spedo cable check where it screws into the top of the gearbox , very easily accessible , open bonnet and it's on the right hand side , access from above not underneath 👍
Delighted to see a mk2 like mine coming into the picture on your fantastic channel! Really excited to see what you do with her I'm sure i'll learn to enjoy mine all the better for it!
Thanks mate :)
In the late 80's I had a Mk1 MG Metro. The ride was awful, the gearbox was naff and absolutely everything rattled inside it...
However, I loved driving it. It felt quicker than it actually was, it sounded great and looked brilliant in black. 🙂
Great to see you've got a "Austin" Metro. I'm sure you'll love it as much as Melvin.
Thanks mate :)
There are a few things I want to get sorted - that suspension being a big one, along with the gearbox. Both can be easily fixed, but I just need to find the funds!
PS. Black was the best colour for the Mk1 MG ;)
Great vid Ed. Good to meet Melody. Yeah get that suspension sorted ASAP, better and afer ride will result. Great engine too. Look forward to he next few vids in the New Year. Seasons greetings by the way.
Thanks Ian :)
All on the to-do list!
I also like the metro’s design. It still looks new to me 👍
Looks a very nice example Ed, very clean under the bonnet too. Personally I never liked those backflash stickers but the choice is yours of course. I reckon give the wheels a second chance with a good refurb and fit some slightly lower profile tyres if they are available. Enjoy!
Thanks Richard :)
I'm gradually heading down the path of keeping the backflash, but I'm still not completely sure.
The natural path would be to recondition them, but I'm undecided!
Can’t wait for the surprise Ed.
I wish you and your family a very happy Christmas Day, and a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year. Continued success in your career 🤗
David 👍
Merry Christmas David!
Congratulations on this new acquisition.
Wishing you a happy New Year and many new adventures with the cars.
One little advise: just stay yourself and don’t start to overact or to change your style. That is the key to success.
All the best and cheers from Belgium!
Thanks mate, and I have to say, I certainly don't!
Great choice, once you turned away from the Dolomite 1850HL with auto box ( a past car of mine). Day dreaming here on what I would choose if I hadn't gone all electric two cars ago!
But on Sunday I saw a car club Triumph Acclaim ( Honda) and I also once had an Acclaim CD with semi auto .......
I love your enthusiasm!
Wow, a really lovely car. You really need to keep the rear window flash. Looking forward to seeing you work on her.
Thanks Richard :)
I thought it would be a Triumph Dolomite. I had a red Metro 1.3 L on a test drive for the weekend in (about) 1985. The next test drive car I got was an Alfa 33 which I thought was great but nobody bought them. Have fun, I'll be watching.
Ooh! If only I had the money for a Dolomite!
...or a 33 for that matter.
Even better, a 'sud ;)
You remind me very much of my friend Ben ! He loves a maestro and is also too young to have experienced back in the day. For what it is it looks very tidy and I'm sure you'll treat her well
Thanks Stephen.
God that takes me back to when I was 19 in 1994 I had a green one a 1.0 litre A Reg I will tell you the reg A401ffu great Ed