Austin 1100 test drive/review

[@stever1053]

The instruments in the cluster of three are aftermarket additions.

[@howard51723]

Still a good looking car

[@danvitesse]

Seeing you wink and smile at old ladies walking down the street is probably the best part of this video! Its truly heart-warming to see something old and british such as this is still on the road today and appreciated.

[@ProjectNigel]

I don't remember winking at anyone. 😅

[@jonphelps3638]

Just seen this. I have fond memories of one. My Grandmother had one in the 70s. My mum would borrow it and take us to school. She eventually upgraded to a mini clubman estate and used to ride in the boot leaving the doors unlocked so i could jump out without her letting me out. 😂

[@gframe287]

My father, still alive and kicking at 90, drove two adults and three children and went from Glasgow to Brittany in 1973 for a nice camping holiday. I was 16 at the time. No need to take camping equipment as it was through a company called Canvas Holiday. The tent and all equipment was there when we got there. I think unlike Austin this company is still in business but now use caravans. No issues with the car all the way to France and back. Three years later I passed my test first time in a two door version of this car. After this my father had two more of these cars.

[@christopherfallguy592llang7]

The local N. Nurse had yellow 74 one😊 The local

[@EA-58]

I love the smile on his face while driving 😊

[@MsMsmak]

I owned a1969 Austin America. It was so much fun to drive. Very comfortable seats too!

[@andrewcumming6319]

Great memories. I had one of these in Western Australia in 1970. I lived in Perth, and at weekends, I'd take three friends to Kalgoorlie, all big men. Never let me down and drove beautifully.

[@ProjectNigel]

Lovely 😊

[@glennlingard7851]

Undoubtedly one of the best reviews you’ve done in my opinion especially owning a few of these cars, absolutely groundbreaking at the time and not really repeated since, they deserved so much better, thank you for taking the time to upload this video.

[@derektinkler4120]

Great video my granddad bought a brand new Austin 1100 back in 1972 the sound of that engine brings back a lot of memories I remember that the Speedo was in the middle and the ignition key was in the steering column the colour was well to me it looked like Mustard Green it was a great little car.

[@CynicalLemonade]

My mum had a grey one and it used to fill up with water on rainy days from the ground up because the floor pan was basically Swiss cheese. Reliable little car apart from the need to wear welllies. It eventually disintegrated.

[@stevengray5970]

love that, it reminded me of the time mum had to get us in her Avenger then tie the door shut with a shoe lace to stop it flying open on the way to school while the other one wouldn't open at all lolol

[@CynicalLemonade]

@@stevengray5970 Mum had one of those too. We called it The Criminal Avenger because it simply stole our money in garage bills every month! We get a bit misty eyed about these old cars now but, at the time, most of them were simply dreadful!

[@DavidUKesb]

Really enjoyed your video. I have a 1971 Vanden Plas 1300 Auto but all the variants are essentially the same car. Love these little cars in whatever form they are in. Every one is a true survivor.

[@ProjectNigel]

Thank you 😊

[@johnquilter7620]

Lucky you, The Vanden Plas version is the holy grail of the ADO16 range. An Austin America owner for 52 years in the USA.

[@peteraaron8626]

This is the car of my childhood. OMG - thanks so much for posting this. Soooo many good memories with my father (R.I.P.) and I. I don't recall those dials to the right, but everything else is the same, even the colour. Maybe that was the only colour they did. It had a very distinct sound. My father sold the car. A few years later we were walking around town (Salisbury) one evening and suddenly I heard this sound I recognised right away - yes, it was old GHY 465D, still chugging away faithfully. It drove past us and that was the last I ever saw of it. I hope you're still out there somewhere, old GHY 465D.

[@peteraaron8626]

@Exlord Lucan Thanks for taking the time to clear that up for me. Cheers!

[@mrc4912]

In the 1970s, I had a buddy who owned one of these 'British Wonders': I believe it was an 1100cc Austin, a small yellow sedan, as I recall. Anyhow, since he didn't have a garage to work on it, I granted him 'garage privileges' since I had a small garage in my house. Some of these visits were routine oil and filter changes, but there were plenty of 'oh shit!' visits to deal with problems with the SU carb and Lucas electricals.

[@johnandmarylouwilde7882]

I had one in Winnipeg. Took several trips to Ohio and New York in it. Nice little car, amazing interior space.

[@hughrobinson9978]

I love these ADO16s! Their proportions were very unusual when they were introduced, but set the mold for many cars that followed - like the Golf which came out a decade after. Very pretty, too. Pininfarina styled these - if you look at an Autobianchi Primula, you will see the similarities. The latter was significant in that it introduced the now ubiquitous end on gearbox for transverse motors and offered a hatchback. BTW, these were also badged as Innocenti in Italy. I love the color of the car you tested and remember my drive in a later 1300 GT as feeling like a bigger, smoother riding Mini, with lovely direct steering and roll free handling. I agree with your comment on driving something that makes you and others smile - my own daily driver is from 1971 and has the same effect. Thanks for a great review!

[@darrenclawson1984]

Nigel you’ve made me smile driving that little beauty .. when I’m driving the Morris i TOTALLY get what your saying seeing people smile and wave … better than any modern rubbish anyway !!!!

[@ProjectNigel]

Yes it genuinely makes people smile, and that's just lovely 😊

[@marknelson5929]

Hello from Oz. Great review, always loved these cars, they were also very popular sellers here alongside the 1800 Landcrab which was better suited to Oz roads if only for its size and 1.8 litre engine. A guy in recent times here in Australia flew from Perth to Sydney to pick up a rather nice Morris 1100S he'd bought. He then drove it back to Perth, just shows what these cars can do still. That is basically a 2,500 mile trip. He documented the whole journey and it can be seen on KZbin, I take my hat off to him. It must have been an odd sight, that diminutive little car on those long roads in the outback, the preserve of trucks and large 4x4 these days.

[@ProjectNigel]

What a great adventure 🙂

[@Rustin-wy6yf]

Great video! Just started mine after a rebuilding the engine. Can’t wait to get to get it back on the road!

[@ProjectNigel]

Thank you 🙂

[@richardbicknell2140]

My first car an Austin 1300, 1969 bought as a student. It did me very well. Blast from the past!

[@MisterMikeTexas]

When I was a kid in the 70s, our neighbors around the corner from us (I hung out with them and their daughter a lot) had a late 60s 2-door Austin America version. It was white with red interior, and had the automatic 4-speed. The lady of the house was from England, and her husband was a retired US Air Force Sergeant. I remember the sound of the engine and the whine of the automatic well.

[@mninigunnergamingtime5729]

Hello Mr Nigel as you might remember the house you got it from me and my dad still use that car today its a lovely car isnt it mate me snd dad love driving it and your welcome for letting you use it for a video

[@captainkydd4851]

I had one in the 60s and loved it. White with red seats and twin SU carbs. Bought it used, kept it for three years and only had to replace CV joints. I to was happy driving it.

[@Charlzey1998]

1100s got a great bit of history in my family. It was my Grandads last car before his death in 85 he got it second hand in 72 for £60 replacing his old Anglia and my dad absolutely loved it as a kid. It lay on the drive untouched until 1993 when my dad passed his test. Unfortunately my dad scrapped it due to costly repairs and in the end he bought a second hand Talbot Horizon as his first car and then exchanged it for a Maestro a few years later

[@ProjectNigel]

Lovely story 😊

[@ekysidhu5449]

My dad had one just like it back in the early 70s. As for the star of that fawlty towers episode, I'm sure that was a MK1 but in an estate version. It certainly had the MK1 grill.

[@eathan323]

Wow that brings back some memories I had a couple of these cars first one was nearly same colour as your test one shame about the rust but I had it for a couple of years not much went wrong just a bit under powered as were most cars of the period I would have one today if I could glad you enjoyed the experience

[@AliMackMechanical]

I remember my uncle having one of these car's it slowly rotted away on the side of the road it was a good car in its day. He said I do like the look of it. A happy little car I do like the A series engine reliable engine. 👍

[@ProjectNigel]

Everything rotted badly from this era

[@TheFusedplug]

@@ProjectNigel Thank Gawd for restoration. One thing that I think unfortunately helped rust along was washing up liquid a lot of people used it instead of a quality wash n wax and of course washing up liquid has a high SALT content

[@loveisall5520]

In the mid 60s here in Texas I was a boy growing up and I wanted one of these. They were sold as in G 1100 sports and over here in two door only as I recall and of course left-hand drive. They were just so cool looking compared to all of the VW beetles we saw.

[@BlitzkriegBev]

Love the review. I have a 72 Morris 1100. You've nailed the driving experience with your commentry.

[@ProjectNigel]

Thank you 🙂

[@robleary3353]

My dear old Mum learnt to drive in one of these in the early seventies. She passed her test first time, mind you when Dad was teaching her and I was on the back seat as a young tacker (no child restraints in those days) I heard some very 'odd' words uttered by dad!.🤣 Will say you're absolutely right about old cars, they have a 'soul', a smell and character all their own!... Nuff said.

[@eddkennedy6458]

Great review, yes you get more waves from people driving a classic car thanks for uploading.

[@ProjectNigel]

Thank you 🙂

[@willswheels283]

What an entertaining review of a great entertaining car, love the sound of it too. Thanks Mr Nigel!

[@ProjectNigel]

Thank you 😊

[@woodrow_mayes]

I love how happy it seems to make you - it makes me happy too!

[@ProjectNigel]

😊😊

[@troygoodacre2718]

I have a 1963. Morris 1100. Still on its original sills wings and all other panels

[@timbutton4990]

So it had either been Ziebarted? or kept in a de-humidified cocoon?

[@troygoodacre2718]

It had been under sealed. From new. It’s not perfect. Paint wise but no rot. I have over the last two years done an engine bay and front end overhaul. Everything came off. Subframe was powder coated All the places like front subframe mountings on the floor were perfect and like new. The only bits of rust was a couple of small pin holes in the top of the wing near the headlight and a small bit cut out by the wing seam where it joins the front panel. All due to mud. When I scraped the under seal off most of it came back to primer. So now it’s been treated and repainted body colour underneath . I’m planning to do the same to the rest of the underneath.

[@troygoodacre2718]

@Exlord Lucan luckily for me. The underneath has never had any welding. I recently had a dent repaired on the front of my sill where someone had tried to jack it years ago. The body shop said they had a terrible job trying to pull the dent out because the metal was so thick. Strange how some survive well and others don’t. The whole car is going to have a respray eventually. But only because it has minor dents ,scrapes. Worn through paint, and because the paint I had mixed for the engine bay and the front end is slightly out. I can see it but most don’t notice

[@troygoodacre2718]

@Exlord Lucan I think what saved mine was the fact that the original owner had maybe given up driving and it had been locked away in a garage I suspect because it has a bright red interior with no fading no rips no real age related marks and the plastic seats are all still soft and not hard and crispy. I bought the car from Liverpool. And brought it back home to essex where it originally came from a dealer called Stewart and Arden. In ilford. Car still has its original registration. 922VWC.

[@ponyexpressrc]

Great review! My grandad had one, a beige colored mk1 i believe. Going to see a mk2 for myself tomorrow, looks decent in photos, really hoping its not a rusty one 😂 wish me luck!!

[@buckwheatINtheCity]

Alec Issigonis was renown for designing exciting little cars. 😁

[@richardmarkey1148]

I am from Australia, has this car done 49565 or 149565 miles? I was just curious to know how many times the odometer has gone round the clock. Cheers.

[@TheFusedplug]

Thank you for this video and ..I have to tell you My Mum drove one of these she and my Dad owned one from 1968/69 up until 1974 I was born in 1973 so was a mere baby in the baby seat their one was white we have old pics of it of course. My Dad has a lot of stories about all the rust he had to deal with etc but this was part and parcel of how things were I KNOW a lot of work has gone into getting this car as it is now I pray that more are looked after like this - I am a Capri man at heart but I love these Austins and VW Beetles (old style) + Mini's of old (The new one might be growing on me a bit) ..I'm sharing this to my Mums Whatsapp right NOW as she'll enjoy watching this vid it will certainly bring back fond memories for her :)

[@ProjectNigel]

Thank you very much 😊

[@brybish]

Had one in 79 it was a rot box bought for £250 it started every morning even in the awful winter it saved my bike cos I didn't have to ride in the snow turned out to have a dodgy mot but that was a thing back then.

[@crimsongunner2529]

My uncle had one of those in the mid 70s I was just a nipper at the time I remember the huge steering wheel and how the the seats got really hot in the summer time

[@laurataylor824]

Now that is a very lovely car , when motoring was enjoyable

[@ProjectNigel]

Thank you 🙂

[@stevengray5970]

lolol Your upbeat video and enthusiasm for this awesome little Austin whitch i still bear the scar for when i run into the open door lmao many moons ago made me have to Subscribe and to watch more of your videos.

[@ProjectNigel]

Thank. You may find my videos a bit inconsistent 😄

[@mikeymike3240]

Did you seriously not know how to open the bonnet, yah big dope, the catch is built into the front grill, lol 😝. Awesome video. My dad had one in 1964 , a gorgeous white one with red interior, he kept it until it was sooooo rusty you couldn’t fix it or drive it, the council came round and took it away. I’d love to have one today. 😊

[@jb3222]

Sorry to be an 1100 geek, but the car thrashed by Basil Fawlty wasn't a Mk3 but a Mk1 like this one, but the estate version. I really must get a life. Loved the film though

[@ProjectNigel]

I am always happycto be corrected 🙂

[@flumpaustin1994]

Austin 1100 Countryman

[@robertsauvage9745]

@@ProjectNigel Basil's Reg No. WLG142E

[@NapalmBond]

I learnt to drive on a MK3 1300. Mum before hand had a Mk2 1100. By the mk3 switches were a bit easier to reach with the seatbelt on!

[@alunhoskins4513]

I had my driving lessons in an 1100, Harvest Gold in colour (70's beige) - Thanet School of Motoring, Hastings - in 1974. (My instructor was a great guy, Mr. Sharp) It was such a good car to learn on. Very, easy and forgiving; comfy too. On the day of my test poor Mr Sharp turned up to collect me , to go to the testing centre, 2 hours early and a little 'distressed.' He was apologising profusely; "Alun, we have to go and do some practice before your test. I'm really sorry but the school have changed the car! They've just given me this monstrosity; something called an 'Austin Allegro' and it's truly awful to drive." He was right too. It was - and Mr Sharp predicted this, quite correctly as it turned out - a real step backwards in just about every respect, not to mention having a square steering wheel. :-) Noisy, uncomfortable, harsh ride compared to the 1100 and the drivers side window once wound down would not go back up again - well, it had left the factory 2 weeks ago so was probably at the end of its useful British Leyland life. In comparison with the excellent Austin 1100 - and pretty much everything else - it was indeed a dog. I passed my test though and will always have a soft spot for the 1100.

[@ProjectNigel]

I enjoyed this little car more than every other of my test drives so far. It is truly joyful. I like the Allegro though. 🙂

[@ABCDEF-yf4yu]

6 versions of the 1100/1300, the humble Austin and Morris, the more upmarket Wolseley and Riley Kestrel, the sporting MG and luxurious Vanden Plas Princess, and Countryman and Traveller estates. The early cars to 1967 have upright rear lights, later ones sloping. The majority rusted badly, my aunt had a 1965 Austin scrapped by 1974.

[@ProjectNigel]

9 years of use before rotting away... that's not great.

[@alankirkby465]

This model Austin 1100, was the only Car I ever bought new, in 1965, cost at that time £ 645, brand new, from Lookers, main Austin Dealers, Deansgate, Manchester. same colour on your video, colour: Alaska Blue. Sorry for being boringly nostalgic. Peace to all.

[@alextoft9199]

Great review! I agree with what you say about older stuff. I find modern cars too refined and insulated. You can't feel the movement and even when you're going fast, you don't feel it. This a boring era lol. Wish I was born a lot earlier! 🤣

[@ProjectNigel]

In the past driving was a privilege, these days it's just something people have to do, and the cars reflect this.

[@kevthedynamo]

You described it as a Grandad car, you are dead right, my Grandad had the same 1966 model D reg, only his was maroon coloured.

[@soriaguerrero5799]

Divinos adorables los Austin encantadores gracias por tan lindo video un paisaje bellisimo gracias Sonia G Nielsen Argentina

[@MisterMikeTexas]

I just noticed these cars had tailfins! Europe was watching us!

[@nietzchepreacher9477]

We have one just like that. Unfortunately my grandfather has had to go into a home and to pay for it we need to sell his 14 austins. Oldest of which being a 1912 austin 15 , the 1919 Austin 20 and then a load more.

[@cdansmith9753]

Great car - love your vlogs👍

[@paulodecarvalho5376]

A great video of a great car!

[@ProjectNigel]

Thank you 🙂

[@rovercoupe7104]

I like how you never use bad language. M.

[@ProjectNigel]

I do sometimes

[@adamwort7160]

Mum's first car dad fitted some windows in his mates house for the 1100 black with red interior dad turned up with a bow tied around the car, remember the summer of 76 day out at the beach got in the car with shorts on almost stuck to the seats so so hot, Lost first gear I think that was the end of that E reg

[@hardcoreado16gtrestoration78]

Nice review

[@johndrake2729]

An old family friend had one, either 1100 or 1300.

[@ProjectNigel]

🙂

[@stevengn7245]

Classic car design

[@iamthefatstig]

3 seconds in... he likes this! 30 seconds in.. He definitely likes this! Rest of the video...So when's the marriage proposal coming?

[@ProjectNigel]

I totally loved it. 😍😍

[@TheKenjoje]

almost every car is more reliable than a woman....

[@trevordehaan4069]

they all had LUCAS electrics made in Birmingham

[@jeffecko1]

Lovely car 😁

[@MisterMikeTexas]

The trunks of these cars are smaller than our Mustangs' and Camaros'.

[@jeffecko1]

Basil fawlty thrashed an Austin 1100 countryman I have one of the models here that were worded incorrectly and is worth a mint

[@jeffecko1]

And it was a mark 1 !!

[@colinmarcuspipe4251]

But it was a Mark 1, not Mark 3 as suggested

[@leeallen7491]

Lovely ...i like that

[@rovercoupe7104]

You thought that the rear lights were “churchy” because they look like a Norman arch or window. M.

[@ProjectNigel]

Yes that's it

[@gwandao]

My first car, rotted away

[@RogerWarren-ec2ql]

Great.car.australia.love.them.❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@hooser-u8k]

My dad bought one totally rusted. I sold it for £50...

[@TheKenjoje]

this thing was assembled in slovenia in former yugoslavia, therefore it was affordable because it was free from import tax and had a status of domestic vehicle....

[@jb3222]

Is Longbridge in Slovenia?

[@TheKenjoje]

@@jb3222 is longbidge the only place where these cars were built?

[@jb3222]

@@TheKenjoje Not at all - they were built in a number of places. If you meant it was affordable in Slovenia, then I misunderstood you. I assumed you were referring to sales in the UK

[@TheKenjoje]

@@jb3222 no, I was clearly reffering to ex-yugoslavia production....like some citroens and renaults were also built in that ex-yu country.

[@normls8615]

A bit rough on someone else's pride and joy.

[@ProjectNigel]

Where? 🤔

[@35dononeill]

Why do all cars look the same. Because physics dictates what aerodynamics affects cars. Isn't it great looking at a car through rose tinted glasses. Of course all these cars are reliable, just tell that to Basil Fawlty.😅

[@bobmitchell8012]

They were everywhere, obviously Hairdressers weren’t.

[@ProjectNigel]

Both true

[@RogerWarren-ec2ql]

Great.car.l.love.austins.australia.lown16. ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤