1983 Austin Maestro

Following hard on the heels of the Metro, the Maestro was supposed to return BL to profitability in the ‘80s. It reality, it hit the market five years too late, and lacked the showroom appeal of the sharp-suited Escort and Astra. It racked up even poorer sales figures than the Allegro despite being considerably more capable. Engines and (VW-sourced) gearboxes were a disappointment, and rust continues to be a real problem. Talking-dash Vanden Plas is interesting, as is the ultra-economical HLE version – and probably the ones to have in coming years.

info from Octane