The CHINESE AUSTIN MAESTRO! How The Rover Maestro Became A FAKE AUDI COPY?!

In this video we explore one of the most incredible success stories in British Automotive and Chinese Automotive history how the Austin Maestro became the Etsong Labou, Yemi F16 and more! a car considered unremarkable in the UK went on to live another life in China being used to produce cars that got the people moving, from knock off Audis and Kia's to humble Maestros and even the worst car ever, the Monstro, in this video we cover the story of the most remarkable car turned chamelion.
My Maestro: • Austin Maestro 1.3L Pr...
More Car Documentaries and Stories; • British Car Stories
I have credited where possible these works are transformative.
Follow me on Instagram for more cool stuff: / tomisdrivingcars

[@Riothamus]

Had an MG Maestro 2.0Efi for years, loved it so much it ended up with an M series 16v engine from a Rover 800 in it, re-cammed by Moto-build to 155bhp. Covered miles with it and it was much underated - but overlooked by the police! Only reason I don't still have it is because the insurance company wrote it off due to damage from a failed theft attempt. Back then it wasn't that widely known about buying the car back from the insurance or I'd have done that and fixed it myself.

[@jeremywentworth1833]

Having worked for Rover as a quality Foundry engineer i often use to the factory pool cars for getting between parts of the Foundries & tool rooms etc, We had 3 montego estates and several maestro's & maestro vans, they were totally abused with all sorts of machine parts Foundry tooling rubbish etc in the mid 90s i had to go on a 2 week training course over 200 mules away i was told rather than hire me a car or use my own i was to take 1 of the said vehicles give it a clean etc . As the cars were only really usec round the foundry i checked the oil on an M reg maestro diesel it was so low on oil it didn't even register in the dip stick i put something like 4 litres of oil in it and it was faultless in the next 500 miles or so, to my knowledge as it was only about 2 years old it had never been serviced. It drove like a tank but i always enjoyed using the maestro's & montegos but not that much that id ever have used my staff discount to buy 1.

[@tomdrives]

These are the stories this channel is about, thanks for sharing this.

[@stulincoln4874]

I also worked for Rover, Longbridge, (77-91) and used a pool car within the factory perimeter. Working as calibration engineers we often used a mini pick up to transport heavy equipment to/from the assembly line to repair/re-set/calibrate such tooling as Tracking & suspension rigs. Could only do this when the assembly line was at a stand still, weekends, annual leave shift downs etc. Despite being every newspaper & comedians source of fun, we worked hard and I’m very proud of our efforts.❤

[@felix_five]

To be fair it was a “Monstro” right from the beginning.

[@TerrencePilgrim-du5fs]

BL cars were OK. Not good. But OK. The problems were with inconsistent assembly. Methodology had to change. Technology had to improve. The first talking car. Now makes sense. Flat screens were the future. Sandwich breaks in a clean paint room?

[@IN_THIS_DAY_AND_AGE]

I had a diesel. Great car with the fantastic Perkins Prima. The only thing that I didn't like were the plastic bumpers. You only had to look at them wrong, and they broke. Expensive too.

[@tomdrives]

The dream Maestro is a clubman with a diesel engine, steel bumpers back to basics.

[@thomas05ish]

I had 1987 Maestro 1.6 L . Great car , economical , roomy , reliable. Quality of the bodywork let it down, rust a big problem . Enjoyed your video.

[@tomdrives]

My 1.3 L was great as well. Same issue with mine re bodywork.

[@mxfiver]

I had a new 1.6 Maestro in 1983. It did over 100 000 miles in 12 years, and I sold it to get an MG 2.0EFI. Both were good, useful family cars. Rust let them down.

[@skanti-sp2qz]

Another thing the Diesels started almost before you turned the key, never ever a cold start problem even at minus 8.

[@KarlHamilton]

It could be argued that the Maestro was one of the most successful cars of all time. It's not true of course - but it could be argued nevertheless.

[@krr9510]

Had a 1.3 base model in Russet brown and black metal bumpers which replaced my MG Metro. I bought it when it was a year old, it having been the personal car of one of the directors of the local Austin Rover dealers. It was fitted witha pop up sunroof. Great car - never gave me any trouble.

[@tomhart-shea8344]

Thank you for an enjoyable informative video. I never owned a Maestro but knew people who did and always found them safe, reliable, good handling and roomy cars. They were worthy Golf competitors. I owned a Montego 2 litre for two years. It was roomy with good ride and handling. Economical and reliable.

[@iana6713]

I can remember when my mother worked for our local council cleaning public loos. All the supplies - toilet rolls and the like were delivered from a central store in hideously rusty old Maestro vans painted in the local authority's awful yellow colour. You'd hear those Perkins-engined things clattering away from a great distance....

[@ady-uk7150]

You're right about those Perkins. Back in the 90's I worked for a courier firm. A guy there had a Maestro van, it sounded like a tractor.

[@iana6713]

@@ady-uk7150 I once got a lift from a guy in a red Maestro - as soon as he turned the key, I realised what was under the bonnet of that thing. Took me right back to those childhood memories.

[@robertmiddleton5663]

when you said yima it reminded me of the mini ima van built in portugal with a tail gate instead of double doors

[@FMFGUF]

It's Yema Auto: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yema_Auto

[@Challenger540i]

You are a font of knowledge Tom.. loved this vid... was at 'Rustival' and saw the saved Rover Prototype...........excellent work

[@dspencer8827]

They loved it soooo much that they kept it in production years and years later 😃👍

[@thatguyfromcetialphaV]

Parkway Services was one of Paul Stoddard's, yes he of Minardi F1 'It's a faarce' fame, businesses.

[@oldedinburgh6014]

Another great video, keep up the good work.

[@rjs1138]

Many years ago there was a British documentary about company cars. I always chuckle when i remember the one guy who was issued a Maestro diesel; he was asked of his opinion and cracked "i feel like I've been shit on", hilarious. I bet that car didn't let him down much though.

[@gordonharper2869]

Never had a maestro but had 4 montegos loved them wish I had one now , great video

[@chiefrocka8604]

1992 I got a job at Car Transplants in Nantwich cheshire , they dealt in salvage and at that time had a load of flood damaged cars from Rhyl coming in , one was a H Reg 1990 Montego Countryman Turbo D , back then anything turbo d was like gold and infact this was gold with a complementary brown interior and I got to drive it around all over the place ad it never missed a beat. I bet with regular oil changes it could of done a million miles driven gently. Time moved on so quick with cars back then , the only rovers I bought came in px on cars or vans I sold which were 95% Fords but the odd montego. gti I seem to recall came and went no problem along with metros which sold easily

[@Nick-Emery]

😂 ‘if you ordered it from wish’ made me LOL

[@7enmvu]

My auntie needed a cheap runaround in around 1995. Her bf got her a b-reg maestro city-x. It was reliable but an unfashionable beige with plenty of rust. Not long into her ownership, the cardboard rear footwell bodge failed. He cut the carpet out the back to weld in a patch, then decided it wasn't worth it. I remember 10 year old me being driven along seeing the road wizzing by beneath me. It was scrapped at the next mot and replaced with a much better f reg metro. The only maestro to be in our family. Although we've had 5 rover r3/25/zr and none have had rusty floors light that maestro had.

[@philhealey4443]

Holes in the floor were perfected long before Austin Rover in the BMC era. I recall our family Morris Oxford (bought rashly from Angela Rippon's car dealer husband) giving a good view of the road if you lifted the floor mats and a later Austin 1100 brewing this feature as tsunamis of water swilled around the footwells in wet weather.

[@matt44128]

Really like where u are going with your channel keep up the great work and thanks

[@simonuden8450]

I had a Maestro as a company car. It was a Maestro City, not even a City X, and the only model with steel rather than plastic bumpers, in a rather boring matt black. To be honest, it wasn't a bad car, but we hated them. If I parked mine in the garage overnight, I would have to reverse it out, turn the ignition off and remove the keys to go and lock the garage and then, on returning to the car it would not start. After a week of calling out the AA every morning, my office got the dealer to come and pick it up, and I got a decent car as a temporary stop-gap - a Sierra 2.0, if I recall. The dealer kept it for a few days, but couldn't find anything wrong. I, however, had learned from a resourceful AA mechanic how to fix it when it failed. It used to flood if turned off before warming up. It had a carburettor, but it was electronically controlled by and ECU, and that ECU took various inputs, including a temperature sensor for the coolant. The fix, if it flooded, was to open the bonnet, unplug the temp sensor and short out the cable going back to the ECU with a paper clip. That would put the ECU into limp mode, which was enough to get the engine started. A quick dash to pull out the clip and reconnect the plug and the car would settle down perfectly. If I wanted to take the family somewhere nice for the weekend, it was a good way of getting a decent car by making the Maestro fail on a Friday morning. The garage was always so busy it couldn't fix it in a day. Why did we hate them? Well, prior to the company (part of the ThornEMI conglomerate) signing up to a lease deal with Austin Rover, we had always had Ford Escorts, the last batch of which were the early Mk 3 with the 1300cc CVH engine, which was an absolute dream to drive compared with contemporary cars of the previous few years. They were quick too, and looked good with the notchback styling. When ThornEMI finally binned Austin Rover, they gave us Peugeot 309s, which were not as bad as the Maestros, but not really comparable to the Escort.

[@davidvestey6014]

Funny, my escort was a pig, but then I replaced it with a fabulous Rover 218tD

[@andyb3666]

Blimey

[@ottermg]

Thanks Tom, another cracking video, i must say i would quite like a monstro

[@hedydd2]

I had a MG Montego which replaced a Golf GTi 1.8 in 1984. It had a lovely 2.0 engine and a much better Honda gearbox compared to the Golf plus it had brakes, which were not a thing on the MkI Golf. It only had one fault. It broke down on almost a monthly basis. You could never rely on it to get you there or home. I’ve never ever had a more unreliable car. Nothing has come close and after the timing disc came loose from the flywheel and jammed, with the dealer failing to diagnose this even when they removed the engine to strip it down to its every component. They eventually found the issue when they were reinstalling it but failed to tighten the lower radiator hose which burst before I reached home. This was the final straw and it went down the road for the last time the next week and I’ve never regretted dumping the brand after that debacle.

[@68michthor]

Hey Tom, I have a really vague memory from around 1982/3 just before the Maestro was launched of an ITV drama about a struggling car company launching a make or break car. I think at the time it was PR in advance of the launch of the Maestro? Called ‘On the Line’ I think. Had a ‘Q’ reg rebuilt base Maestro 1.3 4 speed in red and it was way more fun than it had any right to be!

[@diydave3034]

I remember that too, vaguely, but weren’t they modified Mk2 Fiestas not Maestros? Or am I getting it confused with a separate show? That’s another one for you to research, Tom!

[@6643bear]

Hi Tom another great video I loved the mg maestro, and the turbo , and already mentioned vanden plas with turbo fitted . Regards mark

[@tomdrives]

Thanks Mark

[@paulie-Gualtieri.]

I would love an Austin Maestro Vanden Plas but with the 2.0 turbo engine, rear electric windows, and rear headrests from the Montego.

[@tomdrives]

I’d like to see a modernised version. That was what I hoped to do with Mimi before she blew up

[@paulie-Gualtieri.]

​@tomdrives Hopefully, you will one day

[@nickb5391]

I had a 1993 Rover Maestro van, they were a good sized van for what was around at the time but unfortunately the Maestro & Montego were already dated when they were launched, if they were launched in the mid 70's they would have fitted in well

[@petergrinnell2500]

You put alot of work In your videos I find it really interesting I only had minis and two metros both mgs one was a turbo and it was rotten but I put the turbo engine and brakes in a mini shell took some welding and fabrication to make it fit but it was fast and really fun to drive but that was when I was younger back in the 90s but everything you do on u tube is interesting keep up the good work 👍

[@William-a-smith345]

The monstreo 😂. Back in the 90s I owned a mg montego 2.0 turbo which was a rapid car and for a 4 door it would keep up or even outrun the xr3i and likes unfortunately the tin worm got her badly. My favorite thing with the mondeo was the very British ladies voice saying "all your manifold functions are working correctly" awsome at the time

[@SimonGreenway-ih8lh]

Excellent content and your research is top notch

[@tomdrives]

Thanks Simon :)

[@salvagedb2470]

I was given one which needed a lot done to it , I gave it the one good thing it needed ..I drove it into my local Breakers a week later..

[@andyarmstrong1493]

Really interesting, must have taken a lot of research, many thanks.

[@peterbrownless]

My old man had a Maestro back in the day. The wonderful Rattan Beige, lovely 😂 Only one humorous Maestro story I can recall, and it didn't involve my dads... So early 90's in a rented and literally brand new Astra I had the mother of all brake failures on the M42 when trying to anchor on sharpish due to a massive shunt ahead. Upshot is I after having taken out best part of 200 yards of central reservation and a lamp post with drivers side of Astra I came to a halt up against the back bumper of a (you guessed it) Rattan Beige Maestro. The nudge into the Maestro did for the Astras lights, grille, bonnet and radiator (the bumper being destroyed riding the armco). The Maestro survived with nothing more than scratches on the big old black metal bumper. Properly built they were!

[@Jonathan-dq8hb]

Excellent video , and well researched ! The Renault 25 also had a second life in North America. Perhaps you could do a video on it.

[@andyb3666]

Seemed to stop production as a Dodge or Eagle the same time as a Renault, in 1992.

[@6643bear]

Hi , Tom also meant to mention while I working for the Met police we had mg Maestro s as semi covert police cars. I remember had a very early reg car for evualation before the Met Police bought a fleet of them, even with 1.6 l s engine was very nippy car . Regards mark

[@matthewc.419]

@Tom Drives love ur research man

[@chasevans7171]

Monstro. It never occurred to me that the fronts were interchangable. I knew about the "avengebeam" avenger / sunbeam front panels being interchangable though. I always fancied an avenger estate with a sunbeam front as a good project but never got around to it.

[@chrishart8548]

I think a montego estate with the maestro front end would look good.

[@torsteinengevik3744]

This «avengebeam» thing. Was it ever done? Any photos around? -Used to own some Avengers back in the 80`s (badged Sunbeam in Norway). And knew about the Sunbeam / Sunbeam Lotus, even if it was never imported via the Chrysler/Talbot dealer network.

[@chasevans7171]

@@torsteinengevik3744 I have seen a sunbeam rally car with avenger front panels.

[@nealterry5]

@tomdrives could you maybe do a feature on the Torcars conversions of the Morris Marina and Austin Princess? Enjoying your videos, thanks for the work you put into them.

[@tomdrives]

There’s a real good story of how a magazine improved a marina I’m thinking of that soon.

[@jamesonslow]

The first car I owned (aged 19) was a £500 1991 H-reg Rover Maestro 1.3LX, and it was actually a great thing to own. Spacious, more refined and better equipped than most small £500 hatchbacks of the day, and never let me down. Traded in for £300 2 years and 35k miles later, when I could finally afford an MX-5. No regrets though.

[@paulberka5386]

Fascinating ❤

[@TrevorBuick]

Brilliant vid, love the Monstro Van, yes please,

[@tomdrives]

Thanks! The Monstro van doesn’t look too bad it’s just the hatch that’s awful

[@skanti-sp2qz]

Maestros 1.6 petrols had VW golf gearboxes. If only they had galv coated the Maestro.My Maestro non turbo D had a Honda 5 speed gear box which was a joy to drive, the car never did less the 50mpg often 60+ and quite nippy too. Wish I had it today! Motobuild Racing were the kings, I fitted uprated bushes to the suspension. The Maestro had a wide track and the handling was pretty good!!!

[@paulallen6915]

I had a phase 1 2.0 EFI, I loved it back then and with the challenge spec shock absorbers it handled well and surprised my friend in his Astra GTE.

[@alanm2809]

How about the weird Australian Products such as the Austin Kimberley/Tasman and the 6 cylinder Marina or the P76

[@Manu-Official]

As a long time Audi owner, I have to say those arch gaps are hilarious.

[@damian-795]

I liked the Montego. I also had a SD1 straight in 6. It was silver and a 1984. Beautiful looking beast of a car

[@bigbird2100]

Great video 👍 I read in Car magazine that the maestro had a very strong shell.

[@tomdrives]

Thanks Sean

[@simonuden8450]

I remember that. It was so they could stack them higher in the scrap yard and save space.

[@BerlietGBC]

I had a Maestro turbo diesel, it was a great car, never let me down did lots of miles

[@alantaylor353]

Our family had a G plate Montego 1.6 estate... As a 10 year old lad I loved it, I thought it was much nicer than the 85 Astra 1.3L estate we had previously.. My parents however felt differently, they weren't impressed by the free air conditioning provided by the unfixable door seals, the constant puddle of water on the drivers floor or the fact rust spots began to appear in numerous places after only 12 months.! They persevered with it for 3 years, after a lesson learned & they went back to Vauxhall 😉 😉 😂 😂 I still look back with fondness though.!! 👍

[@tony78uk48]

The maestro 2.0 diesel van was good. Reliable, good performance ,great mpg .

[@space0208]

Hi had 2 mg maestro and the body was great on the first but poor bottom end on engine then on the second one great engine but poor body. The mark one dash was the best to have even had easy access to the fuse box in the car. Other half had a basic 1.6L in brown and drove it everywhere. Great on fuel and brilliant performance with lot room with a nice ride and great handling. Which car had the same flare today and not boring euro cars. Cheers Shane.

[@gc7820]

My guess with the monstro was they got the front end tooling mixed up between the 2 and it wasn’t intentional

[@tomdrives]

That would be a funny twist

[@islaws4589]

"...if you'd ordered it off Wish" 😹 P.S: I thought the Paykan with Peugeot was really something but the Chinese certainly outdid that with the rebodied Maestros!

[@martj1313]

My brother bought a Maestro in about 89 and his girlfriend left him.

[@hhuodod2209]

Its a crime that these cars are still allowed to exist.

[@ajwalou-nack2343]

I liked the Maestro . I bought a 1.3 in 1995 and it was brilliant. For work I bought an ex BT or AA van 1.3 petrol and that was brilliant. Then for my wife I bought her a second hand 1.6 MG and that was shit .

[@usernamesreprise4068]

As was usual practice for BL and its blinkered corporate mindset they missed what in my opinion could have been its saviour, if they had only had the guts to initially put the 2200 six in the Maestro, maybe even a lightly turbocharged version it would have sold like hot cakes as the top model car I reckon, or imagine if they had made a 2.5 six cylinder version of the M series twin cam. it would have sold way more than the MG Maestro turbo ever did. although with that said ultimately it was the trade unions bloody mindedness that was its downfall deliberately pressing the workforce to produce faulty second rate kit - no amount of management changes would have altered that..

[@simonroyle2806]

I persuaded my dad to buy an MG Maestro 1600 not long after they came out in black. It was a cool looking car at the time, girls loved the red seat belts. If I ragged it round corners the voice would announce "low oil pressure!". We had it 3 years I cant recall any reliability issues. As a model it aged very quickly.

[@garymcmillan4177]

I had an mg one when I was young lol always felt like it was a parts bin car.

[@carukchannel]

Had a few MG Maestro's loved them and would have another in a flash.

[@szilardtoth8814]

Maestro/Montego is always a kinda target kinda have to own car type of mine. These were and are so hardly available in my neighborhood.

[@TheTexturizer]

My folks had a Montego Vanden Plas 2.0L EFi which was a real tank.

[@Sorted7]

Them monstros were terribly styled but I’d be interested in what they updated that can be retrofitted to a maestro. I like them rear lights and I can see a bonded in windscreen. I wonder what else they did?

[@tomdrives]

Same here, I’d like to take a closer look at one

[@Mark1405Leeds]

The Maestro and Montego were nice cars. Comfortable, nice to drive and quite reliable! However apart from the later ones they were chronic rusters!

[@michaelcolllett9082]

Enjoy my maestro, as manual chock,my brother also improved the preformed, when I trade in for Rover 400,last rover,now driving peugeot 307😊😊😊😊😅😮

[@user-sc8dh4vn4v]

Had a montigio (icant spell) 2.0 Perkins diesel well rapid but rotted quicker than i could weld it up 😅🛠️⚓🤠 JB

[@tomdrives]

That’s the engine to have

[@jazzhands7771]

Have you tried looking up the spelling?

[@user-sc8dh4vn4v]

@@jazzhands7771 no can't believe aresd

[@marknorris5269]

So you want to know my story. Well go back to 1979. The launch of the Metro year. At the time I worked for a marquee hire company. We were contracted to erect a marquee for the launch of a new vehicle near Cowley. All fancy stuff put inside. Frilly walls dance floors plush seating and all the works. £ day job for us. After the second day the platform was ready to take the weight of a large car. ( we were not given any info of any specs including weight) so we did the job to fit for 2 tons. We all went home after the second day and returned the following day. To find under cover a car? This was the New Austin Metro. we had many a peek under that sheet. Well blow me down after less than 24 hours stood in that spot there was a pool of oil a foot wide. Well later in life i ended up owning two. My grandmother had a bad turn and gave up driving so she gave me her automatic Metro 1300. In 1999 i bought a Rover Metro 1300. Was a good car really. Now I own a proper car.

[@NickyB62]

I was always a fan of the Maestro's & Montego's. Hired a brand new Montego when they first came out. 1.6L from Kennings car hire in Chesterfield. Was well impressed, in my opinion it was far superior to the Mk2 Cavalier & the newly launched monstrosity called the Sierra. Almost considered part exchanging my Rover 3500. My last Maestro was 1.3 Clubman in white 1992 J reg company car. The usual problem with BMC, BL, Austin Rover, Rover & MGR. They always failed to invest in new models giving the competition the opportunity to make models look seriously out of date. Having said that i have a pal who recently bought a new Vauxhall Combo van. After a couple of months & several trips back to the dealer he said if they still made the Maestro van like he had back in the 80's & early 90's he'd buy one immediately

[@jasonessen-rees9753]

I had a maestro van in 1995 that i put the Monty front on , it had the mg grill and chin spoiler painted in citreen yellow rover 800 wheels 1.6 l engine , it was originally a 1.3 l an ansa back box from a porsche 924 , the van suits the Monty front but the car just looks wrong

[@tomdrives]

I agree, not much can go wrong with the van. I do prefer it original though with the inset headlights.

[@bentullett6068]

The K-series engine is a great topic to do next as that engine was used globally in various different vehicles built across the globe. Apparently the new MG's use a totally upgraded (they even fixed the head gasket problem) and more emissions friendly version of it.

[@williammackenzie6115]

I had a Rover 414 SLi and a Rover 45 1.4,great engines and i never had any problems with them very reliable cars.

[@bentullett6068]

@williammackenzie6115 being its a Honda designed engine they were a decent engine and looking at the lifespan of the design through other manufacturers it's definitely a good engine. Only issue that was common was the head gasket issue but it can be fixed easily and upgraded so it doesn't fail.

[@williammackenzie6115]

@@bentullett6068 My understanding and looking it up was that the K series engine was an all British design and an upgraded gasket solved that blown gasket problem otherwise a superb engine.

[@bentullett6068]

@williammackenzie6115 I always thought it had some input from when Rover and Honda were together. Overall it was designed in the UK and at the time Rover and Honda had their partnership. When BMW took over Rover, Honda made a big fuss about the use of their body shells and other technical items.

[@williammackenzie6115]

@@bentullett6068 The 1.6 in the Rover was a Honda engine and i think they supplied a 2 litre engine for the 600 series and it was a shame that Rover went to the wall my car wasn't a perfect car but it was better than the 2 Vauxhall Cavaliers i had prior to buying a Rover 414 SLi they were uncomplicated cars which got me from A to B without any fuss.

[@Hairysnid]

"This!" 🤣

[@tomdrives]

That’s the best way to describe it, a “This!” 😂

[@dylanjimenez1952]

talk about VINFAST and INEOS grenadier cars

[@pawesmola7635]

They made so much on selling old Rover that they bought whole Rover and MG...

[@rossandsuesavile3711]

We had a 1.3L. Went well, good, roomy, reliable car let down by the awful steering.

[@TheLeedsAppreciationSociety]

Same here. Steering on mine was heavier than a mk2 twin wheel Transit. I got muscles like Geoff Capes from driving that.

[@wahiba]

Did something similar happen with the Metro? I am sure there are some Suzuki branded cars that had a Metro body!?

[@tomdrives]

I’m not sure, I’ve had a look but can’t find anything

[@andyb3666]

GM sold Suzuki Swifts in North America as a GEO Metro but there’s nothing related apart from the name. Maybe this is what you are confused with.

[@robertmiddleton5663]

wow love it .i got one of those kit ones in portugal lhd its only done 40.000 kms from new i had to stop useing it when brexit kicked in i use it as a mobile tool shed around my land its very sun burnt dash has curled up and cracked on ly rust is a little bit on front door

[@FMFGUF]

What effect did Brexit have to stop you being able to use it?

[@robertmiddleton5663]

hi sent you message back but may have mucked it up if you dont recieve it i will send again regards Bob

[@rabit818]

Well, the engineers better be proud of the Maestro, a Frankenstein of a car that wouldn’t die. BTW, there is a photo of a Chinese Maestro w Toyota badge, am I seeing things?

[@FMFGUF]

It's the Yema Auto version: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yema_Auto

[@nickb5391]

@4.34 & Perkins Prima diesel

[@horsenuts1831]

Oh God, I had a second-hand Maestro. I'm grateful that I was slim then, because I was constantly underneath it re-attaching the gear linkage. It had a brown steering wheel, brown dash, brown door cards, brown carpet, and brown upholstery. It was the brownest car I had ever owned, but it was cheap. My boss had a Montego Turbo which was stupid quick, even by today's standards.

[@andrewcooke9366]

The answer to the linkage problem. Was a strategically placed cable tie!

[@Bob-nu3xe]

I once drove a 1.3 Maestro it was gutless

[@tomdrives]

I liked mine but I had to push it a lot as you say, pretty sluggish.

[@Phuc_Yhou]

I've got a coke can made into a scooter, the Maestro into a Freelander is pretty good going 😎

[@eddiejones.redvees]

I have only driven the van vision in the 80s when I worked for BT it was only for a few miles when I was taking in back to the yard for some one I was quite suppressed by the power it had the last time I drove sum think with an A serious was the car I passed my driver test in my dads Austin 1300

[@tomdrives]

There’s a BT one in Sheffield still driving about owned by a guy who uses it as his work van

[@e28forever30]

Don’t let anyone suppress you!

[@eddiejones.redvees]

@@tomdrives you could buy the old vehicles years ago from BT fleet but my vans were bigger like sharpas and Ford transit one of my old 2013 twin wheel box van transit is now use by the people who come and clean are wheel bins when I comes to do are bin it brings back memories of having to get it towed out of muddy diches thay were not very good on muddy ground

[@islaws4589]

​​@@tomdrives I did my high school work experience in a body shop in '91, and they had just started a contract to respray BT Maestro Vans from yellow to the new grey livery with red/blue decals

[@thatcheapguy525]

good video. it highlights yet more complete lack of foresight by the British car industry management and how the Chinese will keep copying and adapting until they find a way that works; or not lol

[@knutarneaakra6013]

Great britania lost to the 3 world. Sad but true. The world is changing old values lost . The last queen has died. Just sad😢😢

[@majorbrowneye]

A fake copy? It appears to be a genuine copy. Or maybe it's a fake Audi. One thing is for certain, it can't be described as both a fake and a copy.

[@tomdrives]

I’m not sure you understand how KZbin works.

[@majorbrowneye]

@@tomdrives that could be said, but I definitely know how the English language works

[@a11csc]

good source of spares then Tom

[@tomdrives]

Sadly in China there is a law that means cars older than 10 years in most built up areas get scrapped. Some spares though may still be over there.

[@a11csc]

@@tomdrives typical

[@grahamsmith7112]

The T70 is a VW Touareg look-a-like.

[@TrevorBuick]

How much was a staff discount out of interest

[@arkleyproductions1518]

As i recall, it was around 25-30%

[@busterhymen6224]

I want the car you simply called this.

[@matthewc.419]

@Tom drives , I'd the maestro was so good why was the montego sooo bad ?????

[@johnathandaviddunster38]

😂 When China took over production quality went up a hundred fold !!!!😅

[@darrensmith6999]

Franken meastro!!

[@matthewc.419]

TOP GEAR did the show bout the car called, ROYRAY????? THE CHINESE version of the Austin, interestingly Clarkson " in 5 years time we'll all drive Chinese cars " he wasn't wrong !!!!!

[@BobAbc0815]

The undead Maestro

[@sim6699]

It's not a said end to the meastro. We should buy later Chinese cars based on the meastro to jump start are car industry. A basic car for little money.

[@tlongie6055]

Why do I want a Monstro?! 🤔😂

[@tomdrives]

Morbid curiosity maybe? 😂

[@wollaminfaetter]

If anybody has the tooling and rights for the Maestro I'm in the market!

[@dspencer8827]

The maestgo

[@markp6982]

I thought the MG Maestro looked great. BL cars were not bad despite the bad press to kill them off.

[@matthewc.419]

MONSTRO !!!😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂