Austin Allegro ready for CARBON body panels

[@18robsmith]

A vote for an episode on leading please

[@dancarter482]

And the toxic effects of handling it without _PPE_ !

[@marty3469]

I ain't a expert on lead but the fumes when it's molten is prolly not healthy. The swarf from filling isn't a problem

[@AdamJRichardson]

Am surprised that there isn't a modern replacement that's lighter and less toxic?

[@18robsmith]

@@AdamJRichardson Other alloys have been tried, but, as far as I can gather, none work as well as lead, they either don't flow as well, or wet the underlying steel in the same way, or cost way too much, or don't finish as well, or have different thermal properties to the steel. The weight is not an issue as such small amounts are used.

[@ShaunHensley]

@@marty3469I think it absorbs through the skin and mucus membranes.

[@hankscorpio2216]

Retropower... Filling the Sunday evening hole that Top Gear left behind.

[@johnsherborne3245]

That’s not too difficult!

[@ianbates1312]

I haven’t watched Flop Gear in years,,,, I wouldn’t insult my intelligence. Retropower is so dynamic

[@johnsherborne3245]

@@ianbates1312 great name. Me neither!

[@jonathanfletcher9533]

Funny to think that what most considered a dog-ugly car, the Allegro is looking so damn cool. Really enjoying the process and seeing the progress you're making.

[@kevinharker1840]

it's still dog ugly... each to there own.

[@keithfarrell3370]

Poor Tom's arms must be knackered! E type transmission tunnel is fantastic work, nice one Sam. Those Allegros seem to have been thrown together at the factory. BL were a terrible shower. Spot welder chat is very much appreciated. Allegro render is stunning. Love it. No sure about it looking aggressive, looks more angry because its realised its an Allegro.

[@chrispy104k]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@MatthewPoxon]

Interesting to hear about the growth of lead and English wheel skills. Great to hear younger guys are being taken on and trained up.

[@christopherterry5831]

Spot welding without eye protection !

[@Stu_2112]

Glad someone else thinks this is dumb

[@dashdastardly]

I feel a lot better about the Allegro seeing those renderings. Before seeing those, I was really struggling with it, even my therapist said I was being 'a bit silly' about it 😆

[@jagvette1]

Glad to see you allow dogs at work in the office, I used to work for AND1 and we could bring our dogs to work as long as they didn't make too much noise, it made for a great working atmosphere.

[@richardirving4189]

He's quiet, but there is a reason George has a can of "Oust" on his desk

[@insanebilly]

Others I enjoy seeing what they are doing is Coventry Metalcraft Ltd, Mark Nugget and Trev Davis. Fantastic metal workers.

[@jabberwockytdi8901]

The trials and tribulations of commisioning one off builds like these give just a small glimpse of what's involved for a mass manufacturer in bringing a new model to market.....

[@daniel_charms]

Watched a video about the birth of the Volvo 850 recently and yeah, it was a *very* similar process. Lucky for us, I doubt even the most complicated Retropower projects will require 13 years of constant work.

[@Jonathan_Doe_]

The jump seat in the boot of the e type is genius

[@ben.prescott]

Laser cut “subscribe”: nice!

[@PedroPlckle]

The design of that Allegro really highlights how well the original could have been. The design you have created is uttterly beautiful - but in my opinion - apart from one, glaring detail. Dare I suggest, from the perspective of an OCD sufferer, that you make the side leading edges of the bonnet where it meets the front panel, FLAT with the panel, like the wings, and not pointed or detailed? To me, that would make it perfect in every way (and also give it even more quirky effect of an old Bristol).

[@jabberwockytdi8901]

Even well into the 70's e.g. MK4/5 Cortina leaded joints were stll used in mass production.

[@Kiteboardshaper]

3d surfaces to mold machining, that's my work life right there. Great to see it in retro car building now too. #digitalmfg

[@7747bruno1]

Been watching you guys for ages(being in the trade ..a good few years ago) but just realised when i read adverts in magazines that the vehicle for sale has been restored...you are actually restoring/retro mod before my eyes..brill..👍

[@parrotraiser6541]

There are lead-freesolders. It would be nice if someonecould come up with a less toxic substitute for lead in body filling. Building up a database of processes for anything you're likely to repeat is a good business decision. The fundamental basis of a free economy is specialisation.

[@dancarter482]

_NO_ excuse these days for allowing that much skin contact. Nasty long term effects!

[@TheBlaert]

Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought an Allegro could be so damn good looking. This is unreal

[@amazinplays7813]

Your attention to detail is really impressive. Thanks for devoting the time to share everything in detail.

[@JonTheBrush]

Superb work on the allegro, would love to see some footage from KS re the panels

[@taylor3014]

The stunning Allegro shape is coming back ! Didn't think the original could be improved but they might just do it .

[@NikonChris]

Full video on Retropower Dogs please

[@teddyr7391]

I know it’s probably just me but the whole redux thing really grates on me , other than that I’m loving every other build at the moment

[@ChristopherHallett]

There's a lot of perverts out there who can't get enough E30s in their life, it makes good business sense to squeeze some cash out of them.

[@teddyr7391]

@@ChristopherHallett I have no problem with e30s I quite like them and it’s obviously good business so no argument there. It just seems a little at odds with the ethos of individuality put into the other builds. I guess I’d just like to see a retro power badge on them without the middle man

[@SteveCardiff]

You should watch this with subs turned on. Welcome to episode 154 of Russia power and cook :D

[@SteveCardiff]

And that Turtle Jaguar is coming along nicely :)

[@jabberwockytdi8901]

MKII Jags had huge amounts of leading, not least great fat fillets of lead between the front and rear wings and the scuttle/screen surrounds.

[@neilwharton720]

I can’t wait to see Pedro’s face when the owner pops into his local garage in Ibiza for its first service 🙉🙈🙈🙈

[@tonybilco1317]

Not overkill..your recreating something beautiful improving to perfection...love the amazing work you guys are doing attention to detail is flawless ❤

[@slymothertrucker3597]

Lol, my parents owned a brown allegro - my father was a test driver for Rover - he would be first in line to drive the arce off that!! - had the record for smashing the most cars up in one night!!

[@02Grover]

Great work as always, thanks for continuing to bring us these weekly updates, appreciate you taking the time to put them together. What has become of the Jensen?

[@SharpblueCreative]

Just discovered this channel. Right up my alley

[@jimmer1976]

Nice Integro 👍👌

[@AdamJRichardson]

"Wanted: Wiring loom technician. Must be no taller than 4 ft 6" @37:06

[@sjr999r]

Assembly run down from the ‘balcony’ I thourght was a great (random) idea,quieter and your not getting under the feet of the techs and a great view 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[@damiantaylor7993]

The Early Allegro without the extra stiffening will most definitely be an early car as they were notorious for popping windscreens and back windows when jacked up, that's why the later cars got the extra stiffening

[@mjrocketsurgeon]

Modern Japanese flares look the same but have a LED strobe light. You might want one of these in the engine bay rather than a firecracker!?!?

[@bongosock]

Also, lead can flex without cracking.

[@Chongo_657]

Wow, that Allegro sure looks like she's gonna damn pretty.

[@neilwootton2691]

so how much does one of these marvels start at? I get tingly feelings when I imagine you guys let loose on a Maestro Turbo!!!

[@simonbennett9687]

I hope the increase in skills and interest in classic and retromod survives the inevitable drop in classic car prices that is coming from rising interest rates.

[@delewan]

Top notch as always!

[@David-uj4bi]

Folks a bit left field but has there been a final reveal of project Utah - I thought there was one planned but never caught it if it was done - Love the content, the workmanship design is fantastic to see

[@rorylong314]

Who’s dog was in the CAD room? Must be nice to be able to bring your dog to work 😊

[@gregfoord5784]

Dog intro required

[@TheLRider]

Absolutely love your direction of travel on the CAD/CAE/CAM front. So difficult to justify when so much of your work is one offs. Two offs like with the Escorts and Allegros makes it easier I guess. Your chances of getting it right first time are hugely improved ofcourse and much quicker /cheeper to modify the CAD data than the physical parts. Really still enjoying the series including the annoying little snags. Shame the building industry doesn't apply such care to it's products before handing them over to its customers. 😩😊😮

[@ChatMotorsport]

I wonder if Jonny Car pervert has seen this? My mum had an Allegro, my grandad also had a 3 door estate one too, I imagine this will get some serious attention when it's finished..

[@nicholasjackson2833]

Hey guys, you’ve got tape plastered all over the front of the rear arches of the morris again. What happens when it leaves you! The arches get splattered by stone chips? Love the integro and escort projects (had two mk1 escorts in my youth). Look forward to Sunday evenings every week!

[@chrispy104k]

Another brilliant episode lads. All the best from Perth, Western Australia.

[@mrdainase]

When Harris Mann came up with the Allegro the design was a very pretty and sharp little thing. Sadly, the body people turned it into a dumpy horror, so it's no surprise you found they also managed to make rear light aperture such a poor fit for the lens housing. Still don't like those wheelarches though!

[@Koulis_]

Great to see a resurgence in these specialist skills in fabrication and automotive art. So many times I've heard that it is a dying skill.

[@pashakdescilly7517]

I suggest giving the Integra-Allegro red running lamps in the headlights and call it the angry chipmunk

[@bigpete4227]

I’m reasonably sure that everyone has daydreamed about commissioning a build like the leyland type R over the past 40 odd years. I know I have, alongside a Marina coupe with a turbo japasonic 4 cylinder of some description. Keep up the good work lads.

[@mrdainase]

If I had a Marina Coupe I'd make the doors about 4" longer and stick MacPherson struts on the front, in other words rebuild it as the engineers originally intended it to be made.

[@bigpete4227]

@@mrdainase and bonnet scoops, what about bonnet scoops? Why not I say.

[@mrdainase]

@@bigpete4227 Subtle humps and vents are one thing but scoops are a bit too attention-seeking for me. I can't see the need for one when it would be powered by a VVC. All the air it could ever need would be hitting that bluff front!

[@Stu_2112]

now that would need some reinforcing!

[@bigpete4227]

@@Stu_2112 I’m sure the chaps at retropower could sort it.

[@micheltebraake7915]

How everyday cars will look great after a RetroPower treatment!

[@brettharman1443]

I have an English wheel and use it all the time

[@stewartabbot3096]

THE Allegro carbon bodywork looks great but the front bumper seemed a little thin. Have you considered a Lotus Elan 26R style bumper that flares into the extended wing?

[@GuyChapman]

The die casting material is usually called Chinesium where I come from. Or cheese.

[@18robsmith]

The rubbish used by Ford (and most mass-market cars people) back then pre-date the influx of stuff from China. Cheese and toffee were among the more polite names for it - there were a lot of those door handles & window winders that came "pre-broken", just to save the owners the time required to break them.

[@MmeDesgranges]

And yet your buying habits drove China's dominance

[@GuyChapman]

@@MmeDesgranges mine? Well, in as much as they bought my favoured marque, I guess. I've been driving Volvo for 35 years.

[@grrfy]

Carbun Foibre, I dunno about that bab!

[@phil_p]

Leading certainly seems a contentious subject… aren’t there corrosion implications with different metals?

[@djrichylaurence8991]

Interesting idea. Customising one of the most diabolical Leyland cars. I still can't work out why though.

[@TERRYB0688]

These Austin-Honda projects are going to be very expensive automotive folly’s, they are extremely good to watch the expertise by retro power but sombody in years to come are going to say why, expect the answer will be “ because they could”. Nice work guys 👍

[@Andrew-vx2ls]

Good to catch up. @41:35 we see the treadplate / underside of the Land Cruiser. Are you going to protect the edges from road dirt / corrosion?

[@puggzymalone5824]

Would you ever consider doing a small run of cars like the Escort mk1 and the Redux M3? As i'm sure you could easily sell say 10 mk 2 Jaguar coupes and the widened Morris Minor. Obviously you would have to get permission from the original customers but I thought it might make the projects a bit cheaper as would't it be cheaper to do 10 of something than 1 of something. Or is it a case of you've done it once thats a challenge but you have no interest in doing the same thing multiple times? Anyway just a thought!

[@tomtht3355]

Lads making hard work of the lead. Where’s his wood dresser to spread it ?

[@michaelcoe9824]

oil bat...

[@gazzafloss]

Well that emergency warning flare mounted under the bonnet will be most certainly never required... Toyotas never break down 😂. Signed- Scotty Kilmer.

[@LizardCustom]

Just a comment on Leading , I was taught in the 60s to use only a brass wire brush or wool for all lead work to stop contamination of any steel , always stuck with it and never had a problem ?

[@neilmchardy9061]

Tell Bobby to wear eye protection, when spot welding.

[@Stu_2112]

THIS! ^^^

[@neilperry2224]

Do you think that a class in senior/high schools to give a basis in car construction using leadwork, English wheel, painting, etc.

[@danstewart8218]

In a word no...They are having trouble teaching them CDT or science...Without paining tooo broadly most of the teens I know are shockingly bad with their hands. I do know they do/did a course at Colchester poly that was classic resto focused ie beating wheeling welding painting etc

[@nickp-m5293]

Back in the '70s, my brother in law used to refer to mazak as "shit-ite"!

[@jamesmccabe5188]

Are your inhouse wiring looms concentric twisted or do you find this unnecessary?

[@Stu_2112]

Love these updates but I still dont understand why people spot weld without safety glasses 🙄

[@kiddoduke2103]

Allegro render - whiff of mk1 golf gti front spoiler?

[@MadazzaMusik]

my first car

[@darrenwhyman4539]

Lots of cars coming to an end now, do you have much new in the pipeline to take their place ?

[@18robsmith]

They say they are working on a three to five year lead from order to starting a new build, so I guess they've got more than one or two up their sleeves.

[@The-Audi-driver]

The Audi s1 is how the Austin should of looked like

[@phillippowell3847]

Hi watching this recent video I would like to know what precautions you take using lead as it is probably the most toxic thing you use back in the 70's I worked with lead I had to have monthly medical checks and drink a pint of milk a day . Also lead oxidises instantly so how does paint stick to it as the oxide peels off easily.

[@colinhardie9194]

Gloves gloves gloves , lead! or it certainly will be a dying art

[@uncensored5104]

Is leading still valid on a modified car? I understand it on a concourse car, but the flux used with the leading promotes rust.

[@steenlassen5718]

In Denmark we ofte got both the British and German version of the Ford models. The general advice was: Buy the German, as the British had a horrible assembly quality, rusted quickly, and broke down mechanicaly.

[@odl21]

Is it actually lead that is used these days? Seems a bit dangerous if so.

[@albertperks3476]

I always think it's interesting when people cry foul on skills being lost. Historically people have to recognise that the reason for skills like panel beating, using as English wheel or using lead was due to manufacturing process not being as good as they are today with lots of remedial work required.. There's a second economic reason to pay your guys a wage that is reflective of there skills requires customers with deep pockets.

[@andrewmeadows2596]

On a build like the allegro is the car still registered as an austin when it's finished?

[@markhoggins8956]

No one is going to answer that question it has been asked many times already the car is a honda with an alegro cover

[@marcushull12]

Well a Rover 200 MK1 was basically all Honda but was still registered and badged as a Rover . And a lot of cars nowadays are just a few design tweaks and are the same car, Citroen C1 - Toyota Aygo - Peugeot 108 were all the same car too. So I guess if it looks like and Allegro and is badged as an Allegro, it`s an Allegro lol

[@andrewmeadows2596]

​​@@markhoggins8956 why are you being a prick it's just a question. Anyway you just answered it🤦‍♂️

[@markellis796]

Whats the betting the squeak is still there 10/1 ??

[@engineer6250]

Any news on the Jensen?

[@johnsherborne3245]

A finishing company I once worked for used farm grease and brown paper as a booth coating. Any one comment on how good or not this was, they were real cheapskates so I’d be interested to hear if any one else has any experience?

[@shaunsheep8252]

Do you no longer have any outtakes?

[@18robsmith]

He was being polite......

[@robinhopper6995]

So the guy who owns the land cruiser is going to use it to drive down to the beach in Ibiza? And he will jump into it in his wet water panties. :)

[@mikesvwcorrado]

No experience painting... but why not put the pinstripe under the clear coat? I often see old cars with damaged pinstripes. Wouldn't puting them under the clear coat prevent this? Or does this create a binding issue?

[@christieelizabeth3752]

I’d imagine it would make final wet sanding difficult with the pinstripe creating a raised zone

[@Stu_2112]

Just can't get onboard with that Allegra/Integro front splitter design

[@cameron_stansfield]

Love the work you guys do! I don’t want to be a party pooper and teach you guys to suck eggs but, from watching the video the Lead work from a Health & Safety point of view should be strictly controlled, there were several lads handling lead with no gloves and also filing/melting lead without RPE/suitably placed LEV - it was clear the lads hands were very dirty and would suggest unless thorough hand washing they will be allowing Lead to be absorbed/ingested as a result and this is a neurotoxin and even lead poisoning. Also other points like using hand tools without safety glasses like sanders ejecting materials into eyes and not wearing RPE when welding Just want to keep you guys safe to make more vids

[@simonbland8891]

That e type seat mounting doesn't look quite right....

[@user-nq5ge2vs7q]

If a Lancia integrale Humped an allegro 😂😂😂

[@davidsolloway9349]

Like # 44 !

[@johnmorrow7080]

At my first job as a panel beater in a Vauxhall dealers (mid 70's) we did a lot of leading must admit I really enjoyed leading , I remember bollocking the new foreman he leaded something then got out the grinder , I said you can stop that right now we don't grind lead in here , my last leading job was a mk1 Jag had make all new door bottoms then seam weld then lead them in , the new wings Martin Ropey (sarcasm) were really poor fit each wing took approx a week to fit and finish as I to remove indicator hole and top marker light then lead it all the wings were like threepenny bits .

[@Braveheart7914-idfl]

1st yeh ☕️ready feet up Mercedes doing brill in F1 I’m buzzin 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿👍🏻

[@ZoltarSoulFunk]

Can you explain what Redux's input actually is on the M3? I can't understand why anyone would buy one from them, when it appears that Retropower are responsible for the entirety of the build. Seems like an unnecessary middle man, no doubt with the sizeable extra cost of their profit added.

[@F350VIN]

With all these import car restoration, custom, hotrod programmes that we get on TV, why hasn't this company being grabbed with both hands as their builds are truely amazing

[@18robsmith]

Because Retropower do the job properly, taking the time they take and not rushing to meet TV production schedules.

[@Wizards_Sleeve]

I now tend to fast forward through the first half of these posts as the over explanation of everything is too much to listen too... I realise Nat does this as a result of the online abuse of the 'know it all/ know fcuk alls' that constantly comment on the Retropower posts 😒 Loving the renderings of the Allegro 😎👍🏻

[@paulwhite7475]

That horrid sill extension on the alegro and the shape of the arches is spoiling what would otherwise be a very cool car.

[@michaelstark9485]

👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻😎😎😎

[@konekillerking]

Why?

[@nigelwest3430]

I think the recently departed Harris Mann would approve of your Allegro, he was disappointed with the production styling, his original concept was far sleeker.

[@odl21]

Lol… subtitles: welcome to another episode of Russia power and cook. 😂