The Diecast Zone · Model Car Club Since 1994
Diecast Collector Forums
Eight forums, every scale, and thirty years of shop talk — new arrivals, restorations, reviews, and the finds you won’t see posted anywhere else, with the full archive back to 2002 restored and searchable. Free to Register.
8Forums
195,000+Topics
1,276,000+Posts
10,000+Members
Notifications
Clear all
Forum 43
9
Posts
4
Users
0
Reactions
22
Views
Topic starter
30/03/2019 10:45 am
(PICs) It's Allegro time!
Often titled as one of the worst cars ever made, the Austin Allegro was one of those British Leyland products that came best to exemplify the company's internal problems, crippled with corporate meddling, weird design ideas, and poor build quality. Never saw too many of these here in Finland - and none at all anymore - but I've always been drawn to oddball cars and I just had to have this Corgi Vanguards release for the decent price I got it for.
On the whole, a very nice model that is quite well replicated in this scale. I like the Tundra green colour, which is quite well applied, and it's generally pretty sturdy. And that stripe sure adds body definition and sharpness. The interior's a little plasticky, though, with no colour contrast on the dash and no gauches either.
And I don't know if that quartic steering wheel is exactly how it's supposed to be attached here, seeing how it sits on the driver's seat (there's no screws on the bottom or open windows, so can't look at it closer than this). And there's quite a bit of looseness to the rear axle to other Vanguards releases I have, though the wheels do roll effortlessly. But maybe these are just accurate reproductions of BL construction quality, so top marks for that. :p
This is number 1610 of 2710, meaning there's probably more of these models around than actual 1:1 cars today! By my research, this would be a '73 1300 Super Deluxe model, though it doesn't specify so on the box.
photo no longer available
photo no longer available
photo no longer available
photo no longer available
photo no longer available
30/03/2019 11:15 am
Thanks, Jani. This is one I am totally unfamiliar with. Interesting!
30/03/2019 12:28 pm
Nice model Jani and accurate. It's an 1100 de luxe I think...
judging by the grille, and the steering wheel is correct although, as you say, a bit low. These cars drove better than they looked. I bought a low mileage example for my son to go to university. It was well-built and very comfortable but unfortunately it suffered from the shock of a student thrashing it round Coventry and Warwick University and started to give problems.
Topic starter
30/03/2019 12:56 pm
Yeah, I encountered some contradicting info on those...
Somebody else said the base 1100/1300 Deluxe had the horizontal bars in the grille, while the mid-tier Super Deluxe had the vertical ones like this. And the "high" end one had the black hexagonal grille that became standard from 1975 onward.
Surprisingly hard to find specific information on those details, so I don't know.
30/03/2019 2:11 pm
Hiden screws.
Try check whether the chassis has the oil pan under the engine as well as a cover for the rear shaft or a tire under the rear hood. I found them on my Vanguards models and its possible the Corgi does the same. Those parts are hold in place using some tabs and can be removed with care.
Topic starter
30/03/2019 2:32 pm
Right you are! But seems there's just solid tabs under, no screws.
30/03/2019 3:18 pm
And how about an estate version
This was one of Rod Wards transkits for the Vanguard Allegro in his Bijou range. I was the pattern maker for these kits which had to end when British Motor Heritage caught up with us. I suspect Rod only had less than 50 cast. photo no longer available
Thanks for posting the Allegro pictures.
John F. Quilter
Eugene, Oregon USA
Topic starter
30/03/2019 9:00 pm
Muy cool!
31/03/2019 12:03 am
You did a brilliant job on this one John.