Austin Mini Metro Vanden Plas Review - How is the Budget Car as A Classic?

The fanciest arm of the simplest car segment at the time, the Austin Mini Metro Vanden Plas, but these were never meant to last a long time, so how do the few surviving examples stand the test of time?

[@FRFRANKIE]

Hi James. Hope your doing good.
That is one cool Austin Metro. It still looks new to me. I loved the video.
Stay safe and take care.

[@stevenottage1456]

Thanks Frankie, 'FRUty' is almost 41 years old and reached 100,000 miles on his 40th birthday in May 2023.

[@FRFRANKIE]

@@stevenottage1456 Your welcome.

[@chjholden]

really well done video

[@Road2Rust]

Thank you! Much appreciated

[@chrisblay]

That one is definitely a survivor.

[@FRFRANKIE]

Thanks!

[@Road2Rust]

Thank you very much for that! It is a beautiful example. I don’t know how it’s survived so well actually!

[@FRFRANKIE]

@@Road2Rust Your welcome James.

[@asa1973100]

I had the Austin Metro principles new , This was in the 1980s when the principal clothing range matched the car. Yes it’s cringeworthy but I’ll tell you something now I was the bell of the ball in the 1980s in that car head to toe in my principal clothing range.

[@petergrinnell2500]

The standard ones was terrible the 1L the 1.3 was better but the mg 1.3 and the turbo I paid for a mg turbo was modified engine 1360cc every thing was done to it I took it out as the body was rotten and put the engine in a mini and the front disk brake and it was fast and mean fast for a mini I sold it after a year to buy a fiesta super sport and thing from the 80s is stupid money now that was a clean rare metro 👍

[@stevenottage1456]

Peter, I'm pleased to say FRUty's engine is far from standard, running 1293cc, a Kent cam and an MG Metro head with larger, unleaded-friendly ports, and a full Maniflow exhaust system. He's 'FRUty' by name, 'fruity' by nature!😂

[@petergrinnell2500]

I'm glad to hear that you have done some work on the engine to give it a bit more power and it's a nice car my mini was worth building but alot of welding and fabrication I had to do to get the turbo to fit but I'm experienced welder of 25 years now I hope you have many more years of enjoyment of that rare metro 👍

[@stevenottage1456]

@petergrinnell2500 thanks Peter, yes, looking forward to 2.5 weeks this summer touring Spain, France and Monte Carlo just as we did 2 years ago driving to Italy and back. The car's too good not to drive!😄

[@machidaman]

Hate these cars, always did. But it is nice to think they are atill pottering around and cherished.