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Austin Maxi
Overview
Manufacturer	British Leyland
Production	1969-1981
Designer	Sir Alec Issigonis
Body and chassis
Body style	5-door Hatchback
Powertrain
Engine	E-Series 1.5 L and 1.75 L
Chronology
Predecessor	Austin 1800 Austin Cambridge
Successor	Austin Maestro

The Austin Maxi was a medium sized 5-door hatchback car from British Leyland for the 1970s.

The Maxi (code name ADO14) was the last car designed under the British Motor Corporation (BMC), and was the last production car designed by Alec Issigonis. It was launched in the summer of 1969 shortly after the creation of British Leyland. It followed the five-door hatchback pattern of the French-produced Renault 16, which was European Car of the Year in 1966 following its launch in 1965.

Underneath the Maxi's practical and spacious bodyshell lay an all-new front wheel drive chassis which was interlinked with an innovative five-speed manual transmission. The latter suffered from notorious problems with its control linkage, especially in early models. Power came from a 1485cc, later 1748cc (from 1971) E-Series petrol engines which would later find their way into other British Leyland products like the Austin Allegro.

Despite the new platform, the Maxi's styling suffered from the decision to save tooling costs by carrying over door panels from the BMC ADO17 "Landcrab", which compromised the design. Another styling ambition for the car was a 4-door saloon counterpart — a prototype was built, but it never made production.

The Maxi featured a spacious interior, comfortable passenger accommodation, competitive prices and reasonable running costs. But it was let down by a dull interior and poor build quality, although it was not quite as notorious as the Austin Allegro and Morris Marina.

One unusual feature of this car was that the rear seat back, as well as folding forward as in a conventional hatchback, also folded back. In combination with fully reclining front seats this gave satisfactory, if spartan, sleeping accommodation.

Towards the end of the Maxi's life, in 1980, a lightly revised model was marketed as the "Maxi 2".

At the end of 1981, the Austin Maxi's 12-year production life came to an end. Its replacement, the Austin Maestro, which also replaced the smaller Allegro, was introduced in the spring of 1983.

Timeline

• 1969: Introduction of the Maxi 1500 5-door hatchback with transversely-mounted 1485cc E Series engine and 5-speed manual gearbox driving the front wheels, independent suspension with hydrolastic shock absorbers.
• 1970: Revisions: badge on front grille, side stripes, gearchange rods (instead of previous gear cables), better sound insulation, wood effect dash and smaller steering wheel. Introduction of the Maxi 1750 with larger 1748cc engine and revisions as for Maxi 1500.
• 1972: Introduction of the Maxi 1750 HL, which had twin SU HS6 carburettor version of the 1748cc engine, which gave a higher output of 91bhp at 5250rpm. Other additional features for the HL were 165 x 13 radial ply tyres, front bumper over riders, black and chrome mouldings along the sides and rear, electric windscreen washers, alloy-spoked steering wheel with leather-bound trim, padded vinyl dashboard, vanity mirror on passenger sun visor, front door pockets, simulated wooden gear knob, and brushed nylon upholstery.
• 1974: Optional 4-speed automatic transmission available on 1750 and 1750 HL.
• 1976: All models now have hydragas suspension instead of previous hydrolastic system.
• 1979: Maxi 1500 discontinued.
• 1979: Introduction of the Maxi 1750 HLS with twin carburettor 91bhp engine previously restricted to the HL.
• 1980: Introduction of the Maxi 2 range in 1750 L, 1750 HL and 1750 HLS variations. The L replaced the previous Base model and added intermittent screen wipe, carpets, nylon trim, radio, door bins, laminated windscreen and walnut veneer dashboard. The HL gained velour seats, tinted glass and extra sound insulation. The HLS gained a burr walnut veneer dashboard.

External links

• The unofficial AustinRover Web Resource: Austin Maxi index

• Austin vehicles
• British Leyland vehicles
• Front wheel drive vehicles
• Issigonis vehicles
• Hatchbacks