1969 Austin Maxi

Austin Maxi (Hatchback), 1969-1981

The Austin Maxi was in production from 1969 until 1981. Styled in house, it is a front-engine, front wheel drive hatchback range seating five adults.

The Maxi was BMC's second attempt at replacing the BMC Farina family, having found that the 1800 had become too large and expensive to do so. It used the 1800 doors on a hatchback shell of smaller overall dimensions, leading to a wheel at each corner type stance and an artificially long wheelbase. Ultimately fans of the Farina shied away, and BMC would cancel plans for a Morris badged saloon in favour of the resolutely orthodox Marina of 1971. Maxi was the first recipient of BMC's new E-series OHC engine, initially in 1485cc form with a cable-change gearbox, later with a 1748cc engine and much improved rod change box that would filter down to other models in the range. Upmarket and sporting models such as the HL would also make an appearance. The Maxi also enjoys the accolade of being the only BMC/BL model to begin its life with Hydrolastic suspension and later to be revised in 1978 by the fitment of Hydragas.

The facelifted Maxi2 of 1980 brought big bumpers and a range of different trim levels in a similar manner to the Allegro 3 and Marina 3 facelifts, and served to keep the range reasonably up to date until BL axed the Maxi for 1981. The Maxi and Allegro ranges would be rationalised into one model for 1983, the prosaic Maestro, which eschewed Hydragas and a box in sump layout for underpinnings that were effectively cribbed from the class-leading VW Golf.

Competition came primarily in the form of the Renault 16 - which while larger was a hatchback model available with an engine of similar size. Maxi buyers may also have been tempted by estate models such as Ford's Cortina or possibly Vauxhall's Magnum, but these would have been longer and BL sold the Maxi as a saloon with added practicality. British Leyland was careful to distance Maxi from in house offerings like Princess and Allegro, refusing to offer either as a hatchback for fear of internal competition. The Hillman Avenger estate makes an interesting alternative, though, while the Morris Marina estate may also appeal to Leyland enthusiasts.