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Wednesday 8^th October 1980 saw the debut of the Austin Metro. Here are 40 gripping facts about one of British Leyland’s most important cars.

1. Its name was chosen from a ballot of factory workers.
2. The other two options were “Match” or, ironically, “Maestro”.
3. Development work on Project ADO88 began in November 1974.
4. The prototypes were extensively revised as the LC8 less than three years before launch.
5. Dealers were treated to a shipboard preview on MS Vistafjord.
6. Margaret Thatcher arrived by Metro to the NEC International Motor Show.
7. The development costs of the “British Car To Beat The World” were £275m.
8. The television adverting campaign is best described as ‘hilarious’ - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4-8LgXjQbc
9. Power was from the modified “A-Plus” engines, and the trim levels ranged from the Standard and the L to the HLE, the S, and the HLS.
10. The launch prices were; 0 Standard - £3,095, 1.0L  - £3,495, 1.0HLE £3,695, 1.3S £3,995 and 1.3HLS  - £4,296
11. Leyland did initially consider building a two-door saloon version.
12. A further Metro that never entered production was the “Ranger” – a be-striped soft-roader for the holiday market.
13. The HLE famously achieved an 83mpg fuel consumption figure in AA tests – albeit at a constant 30 mph.
14. The asymmetrical split rear seat of the more expensive versions was a significant sales feature in 1980.
15. By 1981 keen motorists could order the short-lived “Metro Cooper”, with a top speed of 103 and 0-60 in 11.6 seconds.
16. Alternatively, and if you had the then vast amount of £11,608 you might have indulged in the “Frazer Tickford” – aka a Metro 1.3S extensively revised by Aston Marin Lagonda. Unfortunately, it cost more than a Porsche 924.
17. For those motorists with even more disposable income, the Wood & Pickett “Laser Metro” featured coachwork by Ogle Design – and a price tag that varied from £11,000 to £17,000.
18. In 1982 BL developed the one-off lightweight ALCAN/Austin Rover “Aluminium Metro”.
19. Crayford and Rapport Ltd both developed Metro Convertibles, but neither project succeeded.
20. May 1982 saw the launch of the MG Metro, reviving the Octagon badge some 20 months after the closure of Abingdon.
21. Alternatively, the more sedate motorists could opt for the new Metro Vanden Plas – the car very much in the tradition of the Riley Elf and Wolseley Hornet.
22. By the end of that year, BL introduced their first car with a “Turbo” logo. Lotus Engineering assisted with the development of the ultimate MG Metro, which featured a Garrett AiResearch T3 turbocharger under the bonnet.
23. Lady Diana Spencer drove a red Metro, registration MPB 909 W.
24. A Metro Panda Car featured in the appalling Cannon and Ball film The Boys in Blue.
25. One of the rarest of all Metros is the Morris-badged van, sold between 1982 and 1985.
26. By 1984 the Metro was the best-selling car in the UK.
27. The MG Metro 6R4 was revealed to the press at London’s Excelsior Hotel in February of that year. The original asking price was a modest £45,000...
28. Eight months later, BL extensively revised the line-up, and there was now a five-door option.
29. BL celebrated the 500,000 production mark with the limited edition “Metro Vanden Plas 500”. Each came with a black paint finish with a gold coachline, leather upholstery, alloy wheels, a radio-cassette player, a numbered plaque and - best of all - a bottle of Moet & Chandon champagne.
30. A further thrilling special edition Metro was the 1983 “Gala”, with velour trim and a glass sunroof.
31. In 1982 work was underway on the AR6, the Metro’s intended replacement, but the project was axed by 1987.
32. The millionth example left the factory in 1986.
33. In 1988 the Metro Jet Black” was ‘part of your style.  As natural as clothes you wear.  So you want to drive a car as black as the ace of spades. With a red insignia like fire in the night’.
34. Alternatively, you could opt for the “Red Hot” - ‘as bold as they come’.
35. The K-Series powered “Rover Metro” debuted in May 1990. A certain Norwich DJ was highly unimpressed, despite its five-speed transmission.   
36. Automotive Development Consultants developed the rather attractive “Metro Scout” project – a car very much in the style of the Matra Rancho.
37. The very appealing Rover Metro Cabriolet made its bow in 1992.
38. The Rover 100 replaced the Metro in 1994.
39. 100 production finally ended in 1998.
40. In 1986 Motor described the 1.3 Mayfair as ‘a thoroughly effective small car with abilities to match its charm’ – and no doubt all Metro enthusiasts would heartily agree.

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We have links with some of the top classic car clubs around the country and some of our policies even offer discounts of up to 25% for club members.

Other benefits of classic car insurance through Lancaster can include:

• Historic rally cover
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Give your classic the protection it deserves and get a quote for your Austin Metro today.