Nice video. Maxi is not 1800 though but used the E1500 and E1750 enines. The 1800 Landcrab is a different car with the1800B engine. It's easy to confuse them because the Maxi used the same doors, but that's all. Landcrabs made strong rallycars and were thrown sideways a lot. Hence the nickname.
John, My very first car was a light blue 1967 4 door MG 1100. I drove it everywhere. I remember the universal joints were very close to the transmission case and could put a hole in it if they were loose. Found that out the hard way. It has a very cool looking speedometer. I drove it 80 MPH on the expressway for hours on end, driving from Atlanta, GA to Miami, FL. Lots of fun and great memories with that car. Tom
My first car was a red 1963 1100 with gray leather that cost me about $350. Had to tow it home as the transmission case on the bottom of the engine was cracked. Drove great after our DIY repairs but eventually I lost reverse, and then 1st gears, which explained what the few extra washers and springs we had left over were for! Luckily it was light enough to start like a scooter, with one leg out the door, and then compression start downhill. I then let the oil get too low and scored the engine, reducing top speed to about 35 or 40 mph. Nevertheless, I was able to sell it with an ad in the L.A. Times for a hundred or two. A couple weeks later the FBI knocked on our door. When I showed them my improvised bill of sale they left, but I asked why they were looking for the car. As God is my witness they said, “because it was used in a bank robbery”!!!
Very cool video, John, I'm a saloon car guy with a YB so all the better! I must especially compliment you the quality of your new videos. Full screen and sharp as a razor make them really a treat... Safety at ANY Speed to you and yours! Adam
Nice video. :) I had an automatic Austin 1300, but I converted it to manual by swapping the engine/box out with another one. I know they were called the "Austin America" over there, but I did not think they sent any of the manual ones to America - I thought they were all autos. Perhaps someone who knows the Austin America side of things could set me right there. The auto was an interesting idea, and no, it did not work! :p They are to be avoided. Even over here where it is not that hard to find these cars, the auto model is still one to be avoided! The manuals are fine. The Auto's are OK while they are working, but once they develop problems(and they WILL with the shared engine-oil idea), they are expensive and difficult to fix. At least you can still get parts for the manual boxes easy enough, and despite the manuals also sharing the engine-oil, the later model boxes were very good indeed, as hinted at in this video. Early model three-speed boxes should not be touched - they were horrible. Four-speed three-syncro boxes are OK, but the four-speed four syncro box is the one to go for IMHO.
My dad bought a red one (4-sp) in '62 or '63, and I got to drive it a lot. I loved it, but had to replace the axles at depressingly short intervals. They didn't have proper U-joints, just rubber flexures.
Hey John - believe it or not, the Wolseley Car Club of Victoria has several "Landcrabs" stored in their chookshed here in Australia. The Wolseley version even had a transverse IN-LINE OHC six cylinder!? I'll have to get some photos and email them to you. There was also a 1300cc version of the "1100" here also with an OHC engine - probably would have been an improvement in the US Market - but of course, BMC in their infinite wisdom never chose to do so. Cheers again, Tom Webb
Hi John, My dad had an MG 1100 plus two Austin Americas... we got rid of them some 14 yrs ago.. We had extra engines and transmissions.. We contacted an MG club, someone from PA came down in a Suburban and picked them up.. He was surprised we just wanted to give them away and not sell them... We wanted someone that could use them to have rather then junk them.... When you mentioned you're from PA... I was wondering... did you ever make a pick up in Brooklyn NY?. Oh I think I still have bumpers? maybe a grill from the 1100 buried somewhere.. The 1100 was special with the wood dash.. The America was plain with a parcel shelf if I remember correctly.. The last time we drove in them was 36 yrs ago.. Where does the time go?... After all these yrs plenty of different cars.. I ended up with a 2011 MINI JCW... It reminds me a little of the 1100...
That is an MG 1100, early US spec not available in the UK till the MG 1300 in 2 door. Non vented wheels. The auto box was fine as long as you changed the oil and filter at the recommended intervals. Just harder to fix when they were run long over the intervals.
John, Enjoyed you video on the 1100. Bought my first one-4 dr Sport Sedan- around 1976. Later purchased the Vanden Plas version--sold when I moved. Later, around 1984, purchased another from a Prof at Cal-Berkely that I had transported to Ohio. Drove it and enjoyed it until 2002 when it made no sense--without AC-- moving it to Florida. Never had a mechanical problem. While in London I stripped many key parts from one in a scrap-yard and had those items shipped to USA. They thought I was nuts! Still have boxes of 1100 parts even today. Such great memories. Cheers! Pete
Nice video. Maxi is not 1800 though but used the E1500 and E1750 enines. The 1800 Landcrab is a different car with the1800B engine. It's easy to confuse them because the Maxi used the same doors, but that's all. Landcrabs made strong rallycars and were thrown sideways a lot. Hence the nickname.
You got there before me!
I had an MG 1100 for a hot minute back in 1971. It was a great car and lots of fun to drive.
Why "rare"? They were massively built in Spain until the arrival of the Austin Victoria in 1972
John,
My very first car was a light blue 1967 4 door MG 1100. I drove it everywhere. I remember the universal joints were very close to the transmission case and could put a hole in it if they were loose. Found that out the hard way. It has a very cool looking speedometer. I drove it 80 MPH on the expressway for hours on end, driving from Atlanta, GA to Miami, FL. Lots of fun and great memories with that car. Tom
My first car was a red 1963 1100 with gray leather that cost me about $350. Had to tow it home as the transmission case on the bottom of the engine was cracked. Drove great after our DIY repairs but eventually I lost reverse, and then 1st gears, which explained what the few extra washers and springs we had left over were for! Luckily it was light enough to start like a scooter, with one leg out the door, and then compression start downhill. I then let the oil get too low and scored the engine, reducing top speed to about 35 or 40 mph. Nevertheless, I was able to sell it with an ad in the L.A. Times for a hundred or two. A couple weeks later the FBI knocked on our door. When I showed them my improvised bill of sale they left, but I asked why they were looking for the car. As God is my witness they said, “because it was used in a bank robbery”!!!
Very cool video, John, I'm a saloon car guy with a YB so all the better! I must especially compliment you the quality of your new videos. Full screen and sharp as a razor make them really a treat... Safety at ANY Speed to you and yours! Adam
Mg 1300 and 1100 different capacity, hence 1300 and 1100 cc
Less of you. More of the car. Didn’t show its features properly.
Nice video. :) I had an automatic Austin 1300, but I converted it to manual by swapping the engine/box out with another one. I know they were called the "Austin America" over there, but I did not think they sent any of the manual ones to America - I thought they were all autos. Perhaps someone who knows the Austin America side of things could set me right there. The auto was an interesting idea, and no, it did not work! :p They are to be avoided. Even over here where it is not that hard to find these cars, the auto model is still one to be avoided! The manuals are fine. The Auto's are OK while they are working, but once they develop problems(and they WILL with the shared engine-oil idea), they are expensive and difficult to fix. At least you can still get parts for the manual boxes easy enough, and despite the manuals also sharing the engine-oil, the later model boxes were very good indeed, as hinted at in this video. Early model three-speed boxes should not be touched - they were horrible. Four-speed three-syncro boxes are OK, but the four-speed four syncro box is the one to go for IMHO.
My girlfriend at the time had a yellow Austin America. A really fun car to drive.
My first car was an Australian Morris 1100s. Which was basicly a Morris 1100 with a single carb 1275cc engine.
I just got my hands on one of these and the engine looks brandnew in it
My dad bought a red one (4-sp) in '62 or '63, and I got to drive it a lot. I loved it, but had to replace the axles at depressingly short intervals. They didn't have proper U-joints, just rubber flexures.
Just finished doing the rubber joints on mine now :) what a pain in the ass they are to do!
The 1100s were not exactly universally loved. :-)
Hey John - believe it or not, the Wolseley Car Club of Victoria has several "Landcrabs" stored in their chookshed here in Australia. The Wolseley version even had a transverse IN-LINE OHC six cylinder!? I'll have to get some photos and email them to you. There was also a 1300cc version of the "1100" here also with an OHC engine - probably would have been an improvement in the US Market - but of course, BMC in their infinite wisdom never chose to do so.
Cheers again, Tom Webb
Hi John, My dad had an MG 1100 plus two Austin Americas... we got rid of them some 14 yrs ago.. We had extra engines and transmissions.. We contacted an MG club, someone from PA came down in a Suburban and picked them up.. He was surprised we just wanted to give them away and not sell them... We wanted someone that could use them to have rather then junk them.... When you mentioned you're from PA... I was wondering... did you ever make a pick up in Brooklyn NY?.
Oh I think I still have bumpers? maybe a grill from the 1100 buried somewhere.. The 1100 was special with the wood dash.. The America was plain with a parcel shelf if I remember correctly.. The last time we drove in them was 36 yrs ago.. Where does the time go?... After all these yrs plenty of different cars.. I ended up with a 2011 MINI JCW... It reminds me a little of the 1100...
That is an MG 1100, early US spec not available in the UK till the MG 1300 in 2 door. Non vented wheels. The auto box was fine as long as you changed the oil and filter at the recommended intervals. Just harder to fix when they were run long over the intervals.
John,
Enjoyed you video on the 1100. Bought my first one-4 dr Sport Sedan- around 1976. Later purchased the Vanden Plas version--sold when I moved. Later, around 1984, purchased another from a Prof at Cal-Berkely that I had transported to Ohio.
Drove it and enjoyed it until 2002 when it made no sense--without AC-- moving it to Florida. Never had a mechanical problem. While in London I stripped many key parts from one in a scrap-yard and had those items shipped to USA. They thought I was nuts! Still have boxes of 1100 parts even today. Such great memories.
Cheers!
Pete
I recently got a 67 but have no clue what kidve oil or battery it runs can someone help me ?
Love the videos, love the cars.
Worst car I ever had. Even remember the starter part number. (50 years later) Lucas M35g. That has to tell you something.
The MGB B series engine predates the Maxi by a good few years.
They weren't all automatic
I had one as a kid. Rotted floors and all
My neighbor has 2 of them
"Stoock"?