AUSTIN MINI METRO SERIES

Sara W: Kayleigh was my first car, bought from my sister in law. Although marketed as ‘an Aristocratic Austin’ Austin Rover were keen to promote the Metro Mayfair as spacious and the ideal car for the city. The Metro Mayfair was launched as a special edition Mayfair range alongside the Mini, Maestro and Montego.

AUSTIN MINI METRO SERIES

The Joan Collins posters were created in 1993 coinciding with a series of sales brochures, press material and even a television advert with Joan driving a Metro 1.4 GTi. Released in 1993, the television advert for this depicted the Metro being paddled up river, arriving in the big city. This was another Metro special edition with pearlescent ‘Tahiti Blue’ paintwork and ‘Harlequin’ pattern seat covers. To promote the car the song ‘Rio’ by Duran Duran was heavily used and even given away on CDs at dealerships. This was released in 1994 along with the slightly voyeuristic television advert.

The tag line for the Metro Rio was ‘Above all its a Rover’. Despite the name change however the mechanics of the car were virtually the same, including the Hydragas suspension. In December 1994 the Metro name was finally replaced with the Rover 100, which had been the European name for the Metro from its launch. It was produced after Tony Pond’s 1985 season driving for Austin Rover where he finished third overall on the 6R4’s international debut at the Lombard RAC Rally. One of a series of posters promoting the adaptability of the MG Metro 6R4 as both a family vehicle and a rally car. In a time that saw active Union action and workforce walkouts, coupled with a fuel crisis that was demanding more cost efficient cars, the company was in need of a fresh approach but had limited finances for development. Despite this, by the 1980’s, the newly named British Leyland Motor Corporation was once again struggling.

Whilst the company remained public, this Government support provided much needed financial help and prevented the company going into bankruptcy. Organisational restructures as laid out by the report meant that the company almost came under national control by the end of the 70s – with the government owning the majority of the shares. It highlighted significant overlap in vehicles ranges and suggested limits to the number of vehicles produced as well as development for efficient future vehicles.

This list included merging all the manufacturers, including those of commercial vehicles as well as cars, to limit the number of competing vehicles and factory locations. “British Leyland: The Next Decade” listed his recommendations to secure the future of the company. In 1975 Sir Don Ryder complied a report as the head of the UK National Enterprise Board.

Austin mini metro