34 replies to this topic

[hurley-motor-services]

ugggh, maestro porn, im having a crisis.......

[Mini-Mad-Craig]

I walked away from my car earlier and felt a bit annoyed at how bad it was looking recently, and then come in to see pictures of Arthur and now I feel even worse!!!

 

Either way I did a few bits today, I did it after work and only had an hour and a half of daylight but I changed the throttle cable and lowered the idle a bit and fixed the choke (they originally came with electronic choke but this has been converted) so that it's more effective than it was.

 

Oh, did an oil change and fixed the non working hazards.

 

Edited by Mini-Mad-Craig, 19 January 2015 - 09:07 PM.

[Mini-Mad-Craig]

I love Maestros! But then, Ioved the Maxi!

 

Yours has really kept its lines well - all the trim still sits nicely together which makes a huge difference. As soon as the bits start to sag and get gappy, it adds about 20 years on. 

 

Does yours talk? I remember some were supposed to (really innovative at the time - even now!) but I've never heard one.

 

And, out of curiosity, does anyone know why Austin had a fascination with the letter 'M'? - Mini, Maxi, Maestro, Montego, Metro etc

 

Mine does have a Digidash fitted now she does talk to me but gets a bit bored on long journeys and starts randomly telling me that my handbrake is up, which at 70 on the M25 it definitely isn't!

 

'low oil pressure, battery low'

 

[Tanya]

I love my talking dash  Although I was very disappointed to find out that Arthur doesn't tell you to fasten your seat belt.  He was built on 8th August 1984, towards the end of the talking dashes and by that point customer feedback was they the customer was fed up of being told to fasten their seat belt 15 seconds after the engine has been started, whether or not they had already fastened it.  Shame that no one spared a thought for me 30 years down the line and deprived me of it - oh well.   Does yours tell you to fasten your seat belt?  

 

I love being told that I've left my lights on and now do it purposely.  Nicolette McKenzie gave her voice to the talking dash (see her below sat in Arthur) and so when she says 'ping, pong, lights on', I reply (and make all my passengers join in too), 'Thank you Nicolette'!  

 

What she wrote on the back of a photo of Arthur's dash

 

Arthur's talking dash is actually remarkably well behaved and just occasionally gets upset and shouts something at me randomly.  However, I do know that talking dash dementia is common, and it sounds like that's what yours has.  At the moment the digi dash bit to tell me average fuel consumption, trip, fuel used etc is just a bit of a random number generator.  I need to look into fixing it (a dry joint somewhere, I guess), but my fellow Maestros friends aren't very helpful, and just pull stupid faces at me when I ask for help fixing it, and reply with 'They all do that Sir'.  Not much help at all!  

 

Ok, and don't be mislead by Arthur's photo - he's not that grand in the metal (and rust).  I'll bring him to Austin and Morris Day, and maybe Milly (1983 1.3L) too, if I can persuade Jason to bring one.   

 

 

 

[Chance]

http://www.ebay.co.u...=item19fa4c6721

Seen the talking dash tester on ebay? 

[Tanya]

http://www.ebay.co.u...=item19fa4c6721

Seen the talking dash tester on ebay? 

 

I do have a Fast Check that came with Arthur when I bought him, although the previous owner had never tried it (so didn't know if it worked) and only used it for display.  So far, I've only used it (well, the box) as a tray to carry six cups of coffee on when Arthur had a photo shoot!  Maybe I need to give it a try  

[Chance]

I know NOTHING about them or even about maestros to be honest. 

This thread made me ebay Mg Maestros and it appeared. 

Keep the pics coming i say
 

[Ben_O]

 

Does yours talk? I remember some were supposed to (really innovative at the time - even now!) but I've never heard one.

 

 

There is a video on youtube

 

 

[Tanya]

I think that's Arthur, when he was at the NEC.  We had two other cars there that year and as Arthur was so well cared for on the FBHVC's stand, I gave them his keys and left them to it.  They were a bit concerned that his battery might have enough juice after three days of talking dash demos that he might not start when I came to take him away, but he was okay

[Tanya]

Keep the pics coming i say
 

 

There are some more pics of Arthur here - http://www.theminifo...can-talk-to-me/

[mininuts]

Loving this Craig! Maestros are cool cars to those in the know

You seem to be increasing the size of your cars as you buy them, what's next, Montego?

Will watch this with the same interest as Rita's threads.

[Mini-Mad-Craig]

Thanks for all of the replies guys!

 

Just been driving her and that's all really. The inside has come up really nice with a tidy up which I'm pleased with!

 

I'm curently in the process of fixing a new rear bumper. It's got a slot cut into it for a tow bar so I've fiberglassed that and will fill and sand the entire bumper soon and then get it painted and on the car.

 

In other news - Tanya has sorted out our stand at the NEC and I will be bringing the Maestro along with the Maestro van of Josh's, It's a restoration show and they encourage you to create displays and work on cars to demonstrate what these cars are all about. We'll be loading the van up with an engine hoist and lots of tools (plus tea making facilities!) and then removing it at the show and refurbishing it, putting it back in and driving it home on the Sunday night! It will make a nice change from the normal shows. I'm looking forward to it and hopefully we can pluck up some interest in these plucky little British cars amongst some much loved and very popular classics.

 

Finally, we got all of the Maestros together today minus Josh's track car. It was good fun, but what a pathetic sight!

 

Edited by Mini-Mad-Craig, 09 February 2015 - 10:08 PM.

[Tanya]

Thanks for all of the replies guys!

 

Just been driving her and that's all really. The inside has come up really nice with a tidy up which I'm pleased with!

 

I'm curently in the process of fixing a new rear bumper. It's got a slot cut into it for a tow bar so I've fiberglassed that and will fill and sand the entire bumper soon and then get it painted and on the car.

 

In other news - Tanya has sorted out our stand at the NEC and I will be bringing the Maestro along with the Maestro van of Josh's, It's a restoration show and they encourage you to create displays and work on cars to demonstrate what these cars are all about. We'll be loading the van up with an engine hoist and lots of tools (plus tea making facilities!) and then removing it at the show and refurbishing it, putting it back in and driving it home on the Sunday night! It will make a nice change from the normal shows. I'm looking forward to it and hopefully we can pluck up some interest in these plucky little British cars amongst some much loved and very popular classics.

 

Finally, we got all of the Maestros together today minus Josh's track car. It was good fun, but what a pathetic sight!

 

 

I'm only one Maestro behind this little collection!  I guess if I tried to equal this, I might end up single (in fact I know I would!)

 

The Restoration Show at the NEC is going to be FAB!  It's lovely to have an indoor show where you don't need a pile of polishing clothes - just some cars that need work.  

 

For those who want to visit us at the Restoration Show on 28th/29th March and feel the Maestro lurve, more details can be found here - http://www.necrestorationshow.com/

[Mini-Mad-Craig]

I definitely just crashed into a wall!

Edited by Mini-Mad-Craig, 10 February 2015 - 08:24 PM.

[Ben_O]

what!

 

Damage?