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Austin Maestro

Austin Maestro

Take yourself back to February 1983, you are a leading journalist and sitting on your desk is a parcel, you open it up to find this ring binder inside......

Austin Rover Group Maestro Launch Catalogue

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not for Publication until 1st March 1983

THE NEW AUSTIN AND MG MAESTROS

Innovation, advanced technology, aerodynamic style, versatile packaging and exceptionally low running costs are the hall­marks of the Austin Rover Group's exciting new Maestro, a compact, five-door, front-wheel-drive hatchback which, by virtue of a specification which transcends the traditional sector split, will forge a broad arrow into the medium sector market.

Maestro's seven model range, from a 1.3 litre standard model to a sporting 110 mph plus MG 1600, is designed to capture sales from both the lower medium and upper medium sized cars in the middle ground of the new car market, a section which accounts for 60 per cent of all new car sales in the UK.

Maestro's advanced specification and wide appeal will push the Austin Rover Group firmly into contention in the medium sector and is essential to the company's forward profitability plan, promising a favourable increase in market share.

Outstanding technological features incorporated in Maestro include:

  • Microprocessor controlled Engine Management package incorporating electronic fuel control and breakerless ignition
  • Solid state electronic instrumentation
  • Voice synthesis
  • Body colour, integrated moulded bumpers

 Austin Maestro Press Information

  • Flush glazing
  • Homofocal headlamps
  • White light front indicator lamps
  • Low rolling resistance economy tyres
  • Aerodynamically efficient shape

This remarkable combination of advanced features helps to position the Austin Rover Group firmly amongst industry leaders in technology.

Maestro the Computerised Car

Electronic Engine Management on Maestro's carburetter engines gives the efficiency benefits of electronic fuel injection with­out the cost.

An on-board microprocessor avoids fuel wastage by controlling an automatic choke to meter the exact engine condition and control the mixture accordingly, by cutting off fuel on de­celeration and, by means of an electronic idle speed control, by reducing engine idle speed.

High energy breakerless ignition is included in the management package for improved efficiency and for consistency in service.

This unique Engine Management system is fitted to all Maestros except the high performance MG.

Austin Maestro Press Information

Maestro the Talking Car 

Maestro is the first European built volume production car to offer voice synthesis as standard equipment.

Maestro actually talks to the driver, asking him or her politely, in a calm, female voice, to "Please fasten your seatbelt", or to warn of abnormal running conditions like "Handbrake on".

The 32-word voice synthesis unit supplements the electronic instrument pack and trip computer of the Vanden Plas and MG Maestro by monitoring selected operating functions and providing audible warnings when necessary. It is available as an option on some other models.

The advanced, solid state electronic instrument system has no moving parts-other than for the mileage recorder and has a processing capacity about twice that of an advanced home computer system.

Vacuum fluorescent displays are used for speed, engine revs, temperature and fuel tank contents.

The display can be converted to and from mph to kph by the push of a button.

Then move forward to September 2021

Oxford Diecast announces that the new 1:76 scale Maestro will join the range.

  Oxford Diecast Austin Maestro 76MST001 Design Cell

 A car much requested with over 600,000 manufactured.

Oxford Diecast Austin Maestro CAD 1:76 Scale

 Oxford Diecast Austin Maestro CAD

Early CAD Data for the Austin Maestro

We estimate first shots will be around late 2021 - I will keep you updated as we progress, until then it's back to 1983!!!

 

Back to 1983 Launch Pictures

Austin Maestro Launch Picture 1983 - Oxford Diecast Blog from Taff

Austin Maestro Launch Picture 1983 - Oxford Diecast Blog from Taff

Austin Maestro Launch Picture 1983 - Oxford Diecast Blog from Taff

Austin Maestro Launch Picture 1983 - Oxford Diecast Blog from Taff

Austin Maestro Launch Picture 1983 - Oxford Diecast Blog from Taff

 

 

Previous article Land Rover Discovery 1 - Development Update
Next article Oxford Land Rovers and Range Rovers at 1:76 scale.

Comments

Anthony Wilkinson - October 9, 2021

I had a new MG Maestro 2.0i in 1987 (E reg) keep it 3.5 years, never missed a beat, only needed its annual service. Quicker and more reliable than a friends Golf GTi
MG 2.0i version in Diamond White please.

John Finney - October 9, 2021

Hi Taff
I had one of these brand new immediately after the lauch. It was a very spacious car and compared with what was generally available very wide. We went to Cornwall on holiday and visited Looe. Whilst we were there a fire broke out on the Main St., we were directed by the police down some side roads until we reached a very narrow bit. The Maestro would not go through, it’s wing mirrors although turned in were touching the walls on either side of the road!. They than had to redo very the traffic whilst we reversed out and found another route.

Richard - October 9, 2021

I bought a new Maestro 1.3L in 1984 B reg. Had seen one in the Design Centre in Haymarket, London.
I liked it. Driving visibility was excellent like being in a greenhouse. Seem to recall a recurrent water pump problem and of course it was AR/BL product if it’s time. But it was fine for what it was. Only changed when we bought a tiny caravan – a French 10ft 3 berth model called a Dragoner. Very light weight but still too much for the 1300 in a head wind across the fens! So we bought a 2 Litre Montego which was also a nice car.
(Bit of a BMC loyalist, me. Riley 1300 MKII, Morris Marina 1.3, Maestro, Montgeo, Rover 820, Rover 820 K series engine – lovely car. Wife had a ‘real’ Mini Countryman for a while.) Now Honda

Richard - October 9, 2021

I remember a girl at work having one if she went over a bump it used to say fuel was low.

Richard Pugsley - October 9, 2021

I bought a light metallic blue HLS (as pictured above) back in 1986 and I loved it! My wife & I had just bought a grocers shop in East Sussex and we used to go to Booker Cash & Carry in Eastbourne. You would be amazed how much stock could be put in the back of one of these with the seats folded down! It was a very reliable & willing workhorse and, not once, did the talking dashboard complain about the weight I was carrying!

Roy Gregory - October 9, 2021

Any likelihood of producing the Maestro in 1/43 scale? I had one of the first MG Maestro 1600s.

Fraser Martin - October 9, 2021

I remember most of that guff coming to the dealership I was working with at the time (another life!). Clearly, I should have harvested some of it!
More importantly, when are you going 1:43 with it?

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