I live in Brazil and I've never been to the UK, but I love this car. Back in 1987 I watched the movie "Deadly Strangers" late at night, which featured this car. I fell in love with it and the beautiful British countryside. If I lived in the UK, I think I'd like to own one as my 2nd car. I also own a Chevette Hatch, which is the closest I could get to the style of the amazing Austin Maxi. If someday God grants me the opportunity to visit the UK, I'd love to drive one.
My first car was a Maxi 1750HL, I loved it, huge space, could fit in all my diving gear and still camp in it with seats folding down to a double bed! Only problem was tin worm, front wings like swiss cheese.
My uncle had 2 of them. A 1750 L and a maxi 3 HLS. Lovely drive and soft suspension and the back seat was like sitting on your couch at home. Not bad on petrol either.
My parents bought a nine-month-old 1970 Maxi 1500 in late 70/early 71. It was a very pale green with, as I remember it, very pale green vinyl upholstery. It replaced a pale blue Mini Traveller/Countryman as our family car, which was the first of our family's cars that I actually remember, rather than from family lore. I remember the first time I sat in the Maxi. It seemed HUGE! We emigrated to New Zealand in 1974 and the car followed us. It went on to serve our family until late 1979/early 1980. In NZ, it served us well. It travelled all over the upper-half of the North Island, from Cape Reinga to Taupo. And it also hauled pretty much anything and everything during those years, as my parents were remodelling a house and completely re-landscaping its grounds. It hauled such things as bags of cement, and huge rocks. I don't know how it did it. For sure, its suspension was stock. It drove me to and from school for its last three years with us, and I remember it fondly, almost as a member of our family. It was very reliable. I think the only significant repair was a new clutch at some stage. It was sold with about 74k miles on the clock. My Dad was the type to have the oil changed every 3k miles, as he had also done with the Mini, which was sold with over 80k miles and was still running great . However, the Maxi's new owner, someone whom my elder brother knew, was not so lucky, as shortly after he bought it, the engine needed to be rebuilt or undergo a major overhaul. Oh yeah, I remember that the gear change was not that great. It sometimes seemed to stick between gears. But it wasn't a biggie. Sometimes my Dad let me change gear.
My dad owned one, blue- purple colour. When I got my driving license in ‘78 it was the first car to drive in. Loved the car. A couple of years later I bought one myself. Sandstone yellow or something. Withe the seats down yoy could turn it in to a double bed. We slept in it during our trips to France and Spain. The fifth gears was a bit hard to find. My wife always struggled with it. Even in later cars, she never used the 5th, always afraid it would be third gear. Great cars! Never should have sold it.
My dad had one IDENTICAL to this one - Brooklands Green. Same age too! Such fond memories as a child going to Taunton down the M5 in our Maxis. His other one was a sky blue HLS.
Ah Taunton. We used to pile in the Maxi to go from Kent to Somerset every summer. The trip took 5 hours back then. 4 kids on the back seat (I was one of), boot piled high, roof rack loaded, and the poor maxi even pulling a trailer loaded with holiday "stuff". Good times.
Many happy memories from my childhood in a Maxi. Blue HLS on a W plate. My Dad clung onto it until about 1992. I think it had metallic paint, but I remember the acres of room in the back, the walnut dash and the velour seats and distinct lack of rear seat belts. Lovely. I'd love to have a drive in one.
Dad had one, and I had one, absolutely brilliant, versatile, fun to drive car.easy to maintain, well worthy of classic status. I know all the weaknesses, tempted to get another, especially in green...have too many classics already.
One of the best cars BL ever built. I loved my Maxi. Spacious, surprisingly reliable, comfortable when driving long distances. I’d have another in a heartbeat.
My Dad owned two, back to back. I have many childhood memories of burning the backs of my legs on the black vinyl seats, whilst wearing shorts on a hot summer's day. 🌞
'England always was a land of Horror Creatures: The Loch Ness Monster, Jack the Stripper, the Austin Maxi...' (l'AutoJournal, french automobile magazine) The one I like is the 'Princess'
My mum had one of these, the vanden plas one with wooden tables in the back of the seats. I used to lay on the rear parcel shelf and pick my nose on the way home from school.
The Maxi's biggest problem was its very poor 5 speed gear box which I can remember my dad cursing whenever he drove the car. Ours ending up rotting and we got rid of it in 1985. I remember the reg KPD418K in harvest gold - basically rust colour. The interior plastic was a nightmare in hot weather - it incinerated your legs. The ride was really smooth, it was spacious for what is today a very small car and had its virtues. Had Leyland been run properly these could have been half decent.
I loved my maxi bought s/h in gleaming white,until it rotted away beyond repair in three years,and it wasn't as wide as this one!, 1750 ohc ? went well comfortable .
Shorter and lighter than a Focus. Wow. They seemed vast at the time. And now, a Focus seems quite small - and not heavy at all compared to a lot of other stuff.
My Dad got one of these quite late in the day and I can remember being really embarrassed when he came to collect me from school in it. Once my legs stuck to the pleather one summer. Nasty car.
It had almost exactly the same concept that the Golf had several years later and should have been a world beater. Unfortunately, it was built by Leyland and was therefore insufficiently developed at launch (how often do we hear that "the problems were ironed out over the next decade"?) and build quality and durability were appalling. It was soon after the Maxi's launch that the British started buying nasty (at the time) Japanese cars simply because they didn't go wrong. Maxi, Marina, Allegro, Princess, Maestro, Montego, etc - it was almost as if Leyland were writing a suicide note in installments.
This was the first car in a series of absolute honkers that started the British Leyland sales collapse resulting in their December 1974 bankruptcy. Shortly to be followed by the Marina, the Allegro and the Princess. With those four in the team poor old BL never stood a chance. Yes the Maxi had some redeeming clever features but reusing the doors from the Austin 1100/1300 and Landcrab, the horrid cable gear change and the very spartan minimalist interior meant it was doomed to be just another British motoring flop. It looked dated at its 1969 launch and had a reputation as a car for hat wearing old farts to potter about in. Its incredible that it lived on until 1981 but BL was completely skint and had no money to replace it. Like the Allegro it now has appeal as a 1970's motoring novelty and of course many people (including myself) have happy childhood memories of it.
The Austin Maxi should have received the Aquila body from the outset, with the existing Maxi's front-end largely being carried over to a mid-60s update of the Austin 1100/1300.
I love a Maxi. I've noticed that the car in this film still seems to exist. It's currently SORN, and the MOT certificate expired on 6th May 18. If the current owner sees this message, and wants to sell this car, give me a shout! 🙂👍
These cars were lighter than modern cars for good reasons. The had no safety kit, no hardened steel components to cope with crashes, no equipment and no catalytic converters/abs/emissions reduction kit/management system etc. Why were they as heavy as they were.
Great comment : "in 1969 it should have been the car that took over the world". Except there were other cars. Its amazing how ugly they were able to make it though.
Dont overthink it. Its no different to 2 mates in the pub one telling the other a joke and they both have a laugh at the punchline. Did you enjoy the Maxi thats the main point?
Sorry but did not get past the first 40 seconds. They are talking rubbish! The Maxi was not a new or revolutionary car for 1969 as stated it was a revamped version of the old 18/85 "landcrab" wolseley models that came out in 1964. All the Maxi did was to add a hatchback and lightly restyle the body.
+TuttyFruttynuts so true. I've recently purchased a 74 Super Beetle. Drums at the rear, disks at the front. Zero brake assist. It's a light car but compared to ANY modern car (even my huge Chrysler 300C I had) it feels like it has zero braking at all. It's fine once you get used to the fact that your leg muscle is the deciding factor lol.
I live in Brazil and I've never been to the UK, but I love this car. Back in 1987 I watched the movie "Deadly Strangers" late at night, which featured this car. I fell in love with it and the beautiful British countryside. If I lived in the UK, I think I'd like to own one as my 2nd car. I also own a Chevette Hatch, which is the closest I could get to the style of the amazing Austin Maxi. If someday God grants me the opportunity to visit the UK, I'd love to drive one.
I always LOVED the Maxi. It was a cut above and had huge prescence, tons of room and looked FANTASTIC!!
The maxi looks GREAT when filmed in 4:3 and stretched to 16:9 ;)
Love the subject, but dislike the aspect ratio.
If you tilt the screen and look at it from a side angle you can squeeze it back to 4:3. 😄
My dad had loads of stuff when we were kids - Granada, Maxi, Princess, Cortina, Sierra etc, and still reckons the Maxi was the best of the lot.
My first car was a Maxi 1750HL, I loved it, huge space, could fit in all my diving gear and still camp in it with seats folding down to a double bed! Only problem was tin worm, front wings like swiss cheese.
My uncle had 2 of them. A 1750 L and a maxi 3 HLS. Lovely drive and soft suspension and the back seat was like sitting on your couch at home. Not bad on petrol either.
My uncle had two. I loved driving them they were very versatile. Went on to buy Austin 1800 my first car.
The interior space of these things is fantastic, putting most modern cars to shame.
Fond memories of 1984/5.
Michael Phallus They were indeed, very, very good, spacious cars and tha fact it was designed by the bloke who did the Mini speaks volumes.
My parents bought a nine-month-old 1970 Maxi 1500 in late 70/early 71. It was a very pale green with, as I remember it, very pale green vinyl upholstery. It replaced a pale blue Mini Traveller/Countryman as our family car, which was the first of our family's cars that I actually remember, rather than from family lore. I remember the first time I sat in the Maxi. It seemed HUGE! We emigrated to New Zealand in 1974 and the car followed us. It went on to serve our family until late 1979/early 1980. In NZ, it served us well. It travelled all over the upper-half of the North Island, from Cape Reinga to Taupo. And it also hauled pretty much anything and everything during those years, as my parents were remodelling a house and completely re-landscaping its grounds. It hauled such things as bags of cement, and huge rocks. I don't know how it did it. For sure, its suspension was stock. It drove me to and from school for its last three years with us, and I remember it fondly, almost as a member of our family. It was very reliable. I think the only significant repair was a new clutch at some stage. It was sold with about 74k miles on the clock. My Dad was the type to have the oil changed every 3k miles, as he had also done with the Mini, which was sold with over 80k miles and was still running great . However, the Maxi's new owner, someone whom my elder brother knew, was not so lucky, as shortly after he bought it, the engine needed to be rebuilt or undergo a major overhaul. Oh yeah, I remember that the gear change was not that great. It sometimes seemed to stick between gears. But it wasn't a biggie. Sometimes my Dad let me change gear.
My friend owned one of these, such a great little car. A car that sums up the end of the 1960's and the beginning of the 1970's.
My dad owned one, blue- purple colour. When I got my driving license in ‘78 it was the first car to drive in. Loved the car. A couple of years later I bought one myself. Sandstone yellow or something. Withe the seats down yoy could turn it in to a double bed. We slept in it during our trips to France and Spain. The fifth gears was a bit hard to find. My wife always struggled with it. Even in later cars, she never used the 5th, always afraid it would be third gear. Great cars! Never should have sold it.
My dad had one IDENTICAL to this one - Brooklands Green. Same age too! Such fond memories as a child going to Taunton down the M5 in our Maxis. His other one was a sky blue HLS.
Ah Taunton. We used to pile in the Maxi to go from Kent to Somerset every summer. The trip took 5 hours back then. 4 kids on the back seat (I was one of), boot piled high, roof rack loaded, and the poor maxi even pulling a trailer loaded with holiday "stuff". Good times.
Many happy memories from my childhood in a Maxi. Blue HLS on a W plate. My Dad clung onto it until about 1992. I think it had metallic paint, but I remember the acres of room in the back, the walnut dash and the velour seats and distinct lack of rear seat belts. Lovely. I'd love to have a drive in one.
Dad had one, and I had one, absolutely brilliant, versatile, fun to drive car.easy to maintain, well worthy of classic status. I know all the weaknesses, tempted to get another, especially in green...have too many classics already.
One of the best cars BL ever built. I loved my Maxi. Spacious, surprisingly reliable, comfortable when driving long distances. I’d have another in a heartbeat.
There's plenty for sale, but admit it, you wouldn't be seen dead in one
I was very impressed with this car in 1978 my uncle drove it fast too its very quiet inside ...
My Dad owned two, back to back. I have many childhood memories of burning the backs of my legs on the black vinyl seats, whilst wearing shorts on a hot summer's day. 🌞
my uncle had one and it was lovely. he was a shopkeeper ( yes I know stereotype) and could fit a few days' stock in one as well as a whole sheep!
This one looks fantastic in BRG as well!
'England always was a land of Horror Creatures: The Loch Ness Monster, Jack the Stripper, the Austin Maxi...'
(l'AutoJournal, french automobile magazine)
The one I like is the 'Princess'
my grandfather had a bright orange Maxi he would take us out for the day in it happy memories
Oddly enough the thumbnail picture right next to your comment on my computer features a bright orange Maxi!
The reg on this particular orange Maxi is WOV146T.
George Jacob Is this car for sale? I've noticed that the MOT certificate expired on 13th October 17, and the Tax has expired just 5 days ago...😉
My mum had one of these, the vanden plas one with wooden tables in the back of the seats. I used to lay on the rear parcel shelf and pick my nose on the way home from school.
They never made a Vanden Plas version. You're thinking of an Allegro VP.
The Maxi's biggest problem was its very poor 5 speed gear box which I can remember my dad cursing whenever he drove the car. Ours ending up rotting and we got rid of it in 1985. I remember the reg KPD418K in harvest gold - basically rust colour. The interior plastic was a nightmare in hot weather - it incinerated your legs. The ride was really smooth, it was spacious for what is today a very small car and had its virtues. Had Leyland been run properly these could have been half decent.
My folks had a Maxi in the late 70s. It was purple with red vinyl seats. My sister and I used to sit in the boot and look out the back window
I have just seen this maxi it is imaculate still as factory paint
My first car back in 1980.....Loved it.....
I loved my maxi bought s/h in gleaming white,until it rotted away beyond repair in three years,and it wasn't as wide as this one!, 1750 ohc ? went well comfortable .
These were very good cars, reliable and comfortable!
We went to "The" Classic car show last year ??? There are more than one mate !!!
Id buy another one today if I could., I had a Mk 1 H reg . My Wife passed her test in it in 1976 . No broblem.
I'm still a Maxi fan to this day. What's not to love about a massively practical family car that also looked great?
@InfiniteMushroom Ok, so yes it was underpowered, I still love them regardless.
@InfiniteMushroom That would have made sense.
Shorter and lighter than a Focus. Wow. They seemed vast at the time. And now, a Focus seems quite small - and not heavy at all compared to a lot of other stuff.
My dad had two great memories!
I read your comment and without the full stop it reads as though that your dad had only ever had two great memories! Made me chuckle!
CLG 436S showing as taxed until April 2022, so it’s still on the road!
My Dad got one of these quite late in the day and I can remember being really embarrassed when he came to collect me from school in it. Once my legs stuck to the pleather one summer. Nasty car.
That’s gold!
Stuck legs was a regular problem for boys on 1970s car seats. I remember the agony of having to peel myself off after long journeys!
So basically a "nasty car" because you were insecure and embarrassed when you were young.. how sad
I love my 1970 Maxi 1750
It had almost exactly the same concept that the Golf had several years later and should have been a world beater. Unfortunately, it was built by Leyland and was therefore insufficiently developed at launch (how often do we hear that "the problems were ironed out over the next decade"?) and build quality and durability were appalling. It was soon after the Maxi's launch that the British started buying nasty (at the time) Japanese cars simply because they didn't go wrong. Maxi, Marina, Allegro, Princess, Maestro, Montego, etc - it was almost as if Leyland were writing a suicide note in installments.
I remember the oil filter poking out from under the front on these. Pull up too close to a curb and you lose all your oil!
Also vulnerable to stones.
They were quite spacious when you tilted the front seats right back. Ah yes, those were the days !!!
Possibly the best car ever made
CLG - was registered here in Chester! Great car
had one loved it
The first car I drove, a 1750 if I remember correctly.
Were these called Morris Nomad's in Oz?
Morris Nomads were similar, but had slightly different styling (and possibly different machanics, but I'm not too sure.)
Great looking car in a great colour !
This was the first car in a series of absolute honkers that started the British Leyland sales collapse resulting in their December 1974 bankruptcy. Shortly to be followed by the Marina, the Allegro and the Princess. With those four in the team poor old BL never stood a chance. Yes the Maxi had some redeeming clever features but reusing the doors from the Austin 1100/1300 and Landcrab, the horrid cable gear change and the very spartan minimalist interior meant it was doomed to be just another British motoring flop. It looked dated at its 1969 launch and had a reputation as a car for hat wearing old farts to potter about in. Its incredible that it lived on until 1981 but BL was completely skint and had no money to replace it. Like the Allegro it now has appeal as a 1970's motoring novelty and of course many people (including myself) have happy childhood memories of it.
£1300 brand new in 1973, good caravan tower, but that gearshift, a friend with a Maxi got so annoyed he pulled the stick right out of its housing.
My parents bought a Mark 1 in 1970. They sold it a couple of years later because they hated the gear change...
Proper cars for visiting the seaside,if it makes it that far.
The Austin Maxi should have received the Aquila body from the outset, with the existing Maxi's front-end largely being carried over to a mid-60s update of the Austin 1100/1300.
they were very similar to the 'land crab' Austin 1800 / 2200
wickiezulu was thinking the same thing.
wickiezulu 8
I love a Maxi. I've noticed that the car in this film still seems to exist. It's currently SORN, and the MOT certificate expired on 6th May 18. If the current owner sees this message, and wants to sell this car, give me a shout! 🙂👍
Great cars.
I had quite a few dogs in the back of mine 😂
robotmad boom-boom 👍😎
I called mine the shaggin' wagon.
My very first car 🙂 it did it well, although i abused it quite a lot.
God I remember that plastic shield that covered the spark plugs
Used one of these on the farm to cart firewood .
Been in a Maxi once in 1991 and i still haven't managed to wash off the shame.
(Mr) Bean in a Maxi....
I love 70s cars.
Another fine quality engineered motor vehicle , Rolex on 4 wheels.
Damn - cable-operated gear change. Whose idea was that??
My Dad had a couple of these at 1750 models. Space was amazing. I'd be amused to drive one now. One thing I'd rather avoid is crashing in one.
Wonder how much that one would be worth today.
Whoever is uploading these, please sort the aspect ratio out.
wow I want one no two
If only you could get one for that cheap now.
Now looking at £4000-5000 for a good one
Car Dude and even more for a 2200, if you could even one.
@@Mk7adxm they didnt do a 2200 Maxi ???
Martin Parker i don’t mean maxi I mean just a Morris 2200
I click on this an immediately get confronted by a targeted Ad for the New Mini Countryman
They make great taxi's.
These cars were lighter than modern cars for good reasons. The had no safety kit, no hardened steel components to cope with crashes, no equipment and no catalytic converters/abs/emissions reduction kit/management system etc. Why were they as heavy as they were.
4:3 stretched to letterbox = unwatchable
Why cant you buy a modern car as well packaged decades later!
Great comment : "in 1969 it should have been the car that took over the world". Except there were other cars. Its amazing how ugly they were able to make it though.
Beauty...
I had a HighLine, 1973 I think, loved it except for wheel shudder at speed that they couldn't solve.
I had a series of Maxis they were great, if memory serves me well, the HL in 1973 was a twin-carb model with a bit more go.
Why do these guys end each statement with a question?
For example: It is. Isn’t it?
They appear to be very unsure of themselves.
Dont overthink it. Its no different to 2 mates in the pub one telling the other a joke and they both have a laugh at the punchline.
Did you enjoy the Maxi thats the main point?
Nice car.
I had one of these - great car but iffy gear change and terrible build quality.
Mark F where was the great bit then? Lol
Old mans car
Why do they say "isn't it" or "doesn't it" after every comment? Are they so insecure they need reassurance ?
Low seat backs, no head restraints at all. Not for me I'm afraid.
I know. I owned a Fiat 127 from the same era. Frighteningly fragile but we thought nothing of it in 1980.
its ok, no one is holding a gun to your head forcing you to buy one
Stepdad had one. Engine fell out!
My dad used to have one as a company car eeeek I hated it so much and he had the sl model with the sporty steering wheel lol what a heap of crap
my eyes...
Doesnt look too bad inside to be fair.....always thought it was a stupid bloody name though.....
J'adorerais en posséder une ♥
dashboard looks SO boring..no rev counter is a tell tale sign of a low end product.
Sorry but did not get past the first 40 seconds. They are talking rubbish! The Maxi was not a new or revolutionary car for 1969 as stated it was a revamped version of the old 18/85 "landcrab" wolseley models that came out in 1964. All the Maxi did was to add a hatchback and lightly restyle the body.
Buy a Maxi, not a Focus. LOL.
Bought one new in 1971. It was garbage. The worst car I have ever owned. I am afraid people are using rose tinted spectacles
These car is NO as fast as there ferari :-P
One of the worst cars ever made
Total garbage
Who designed these old Austins Mr McGoo? They looked terrible back in the 70's and still look dreadful today.
The biggest pile of crap I ever drove.
The Austin Maxi apparently has atrocious brakes.
+Aayush Ganesh Not any different to most cars from the 2000's, twin circuit with front discs.
+TuttyFruttynuts so true. I've recently purchased a 74 Super Beetle. Drums at the rear, disks at the front. Zero brake assist. It's a light car but compared to ANY modern car (even my huge Chrysler 300C I had) it feels like it has zero braking at all. It's fine once you get used to the fact that your leg muscle is the deciding factor lol.
Chris Winter This is true, the braking is as strong as your leg can push!
Not true
the Maxi had vacuum assist, disc front, drums rear, not a lot different todays cars (apart from ABS)
oh please, all BL cars were a pile of shite