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Much-loved cheeky 80s runabout the Austin Mini Metro turns 40 this year. Often the butt of jokes for being on the rusty, dowdy, unreliable side, the Austin Metro is now achieving a cult following from a new, younger crowd.

So what’s so special about the Metro? Do you need special Austin Metro insurance now the model has reached a ripe old age?

How it all began

The Metro had a long gestation period – in 1975, a report on British Leyland recommended a shake up of the company and its models. Work began on a new small car, but struggles over company ownership and difficult union relations made progress limited.

Eventually, the ADO88 project took shape, intended as a project to create a small car to replace the Mini. The ADO88 rumbled towards production, but focus groups said the prototype models were a bit ‘utilitarian’ and ‘van-like.’

The design was overhauled at the last minute, producing the Leyland Cars 8 (LC8), later re-christened the Austin Mini Metro. The ADO88’s clunky shape was completely redesigned to give the car a smoother, sleeker profile.

The Austin Metro goes into production

The Metro was built at British Leyland’s new West Works at its Longbridge plant in Birmingham, the site of industrial unrest in the 1970s. The £15.5 million extension to the main works brought in state-of-the-art automated production techniques, including the use of robots. For example, the factory used robotic arms to work on the vehicle shell, and computerised welding tools.

The first Metros were launched in October 1980 and they were groundbreaking for the time. The Metro had Hydragas suspension and was front-wheel drive, the boot offered impressive capacity and performance was comparatively good. You could opt for super models such as the MG Metro (introduced in 1983), with flashy red seat belts and sporty-looking side graphics. The cabin was spacious, although the controls were not particularly innovative.

The Metro was well received by the public, with many media outlets calling it Car of the Year and excellent initial sales figures.

Moving into the 1990s

Despite revisions in the 1980s to make improvements such as adding a five-door option, enhancing the cabin, adding optional plastic bumpers and introducing metric wheel sizes, the car slowly began to lose its market appeal.

By the late 1980s, other small models such as the Fiat Uno and Peugeot 205 were outcompeting the British vehicle. In response, the car was overhauled and the Rover Metro hit the streets in 1990. Many design elements were the same but the Hydragas units were revised to deliver better performance and handling, making the car more competitive.

The brand had success with a series of different models including the GTA and GTi, as well as exotic-sounding special editions such as the Rio, Tahiti, and Quest. Finally the car was rebranded the Rover 100, with premium models such as the Knightsbridge and the Kensington to give the vehicle a classy image.

In 1988, brand owners Rover Group decided to finally halt production of this iconic motor. The car was in production for 17 years, during which time 2,078,219 vehicles were made.

Did you know? The Metro’s finest moments

How much do you know about the Metro? Let’s step back in time to discover the vehicle’s surprising secrets.

1. The Metro Vanden Plas was a sexy Metro

Forget the dowdy image – a super version of the car, the Metro Vanden Plas, had serious sex appeal. Walnut door cappings, velour or leather trimmings – the works. The uber-car of them all was the Vanden Plas 500, which came complete with a bottle of champers and a press release to local media announcing your ownership!

2. For two years, the Metro was brandless

In 1988 British Leyland changed hands, but the new owner (British Aerospace) did not want the Austin brand, planning instead to re-launch Rover as a premium brand. The Metro was still made and sold, but with no supporting brand behind it.

3. The last ever Metro was signed by the factory team

The British Motor Museum is home to the last Metro to ever roll off the Longbridge factory line. With number plate R100 END, the car paintwork has over 1,000 signatures of the men and women who made these classic vehicles.

4. Margaret Thatcher was snapped in an early Metro

Britain’s first female Prime Minister slipped behind the wheel of a Metro at the NEC Motor Show in 1980, the year of its launch. Support from famous people helped to boost sales of the vehicle.

5. The name ‘Metro’ was chosen by staff

A longlist of thousands of names was whittled down to just three names, which were put to a workforce ballot to choose the vehicle name. Workers chose Mini Metro over the other options, Mini Maestro and Mini Match.

6. Princess Diana was gifted a Metro by Prince Charles

Before their marriage, the Prince of Wales gave Lady Diana Spencer a red Mk1 Austin Metro. While Prince Charles favoured classic cars such as the Aston Martin, the Metro was a good choice for the future Princess.

Owning a Metro as a classic car

Classic car enthusiasts are warming up to the diminutive Metro. Many collectors have happy memories of the car’s heyday, whether they were drivers in the front or kids riding in the back.

The everyday nature of the vehicle brings back sweet family memories for many people – of trips to the seaside with loved ones, or pootling down the motorway on a rainy Sunday.

Now it’s reached 40, the earliest Austin Metros are entering the legal definition of classic car. This means the vehicle is exempt from road tax, but it also means you may need classic car insurance.

This form of insurance is important for vehicles which have value as collectors items, as well as potentially costing more to maintain and repair.

As a classic car owner, it’s important to consider whether you want to insure your vehicle for its value as a classic. Many insurance policies for classic cars will only insure for current market value, without taking a car’s classic nature into account.

Do you need a quote for classic car insurance? Contact Lancaster Insurance today.

Policy benefits, features and discounts offered may very between insurance schemes or cover selected and are subject to underwriting criteria. Information contained within this article is accurate at the time of publishing but may be subject to change.