1978 Austin Allegro Special, 1485cc. Registration number TKU...

1/16

Hammer

£5,500

Fees

1978 Austin Allegro Special, 1485cc. Registration number TKU 484S. Chassis number AF4SJN-3004121B. Engine number unknown.
The Austin Allegro is a small family car that was manufactured by the Austin-Morris division of British Leyland from 1973 until 1982. In total, 642,350 Austin Allegros were produced during its ten year production life, most of which were sold on the home market. The Allegro used front-wheel drive and the familiar A-Series engine with a sump-mounted transmission. The two-box saloon bodyshell was suspended using the new Hydragas system. Stylistically, it went against the sharp edged styling cues that were becoming fashionable (largely led by Italian designer Giorgetto Giugiaro), and featured rounded panel work. The original styling proposal, by Harris Mann, had the same sleek, wedge-like shape of the Princess, but because British Leyland management, keen to control costs, wanted to install the existing E-Series engine and bulky heating system from the Marina. It became impossible to incorporate the low bonnet line as envisaged and the bodyshell began to look more and more bloated and tubby. This was acceptable to British Leyland, according to Jeff Daniels' book British Leyland, The Truth About The Cars, published in 1980, they wanted to follow the Citroën approach of combining advanced technology with styling that eschewed mainstream trends thus creating long-lasting 'timeless' models. Its unfashionable shape was therefore not a problem to them. The final car bore little resemblance to Mann's original concept that had originally been conceived as an 1100/1300 re-skin. This, as well as British Leyland's faith in it as a model would help turn the company around.
TKU was last on the road in 1991 and only has 16,595 miles on the clock. It still wears its original tyres and has never been restored.
Sold with the V5C, it will require recommissioning before taking to the road.