The Austin Metro was launched in 1980 as “a British car to beat the world”. Compact, roomy and unmistakably home-grown, it became one of the defining cars of 1980s Britain and gave British Leyland the modern supermini it desperately needed.
At a glance
- UK sales as an Austin: 1980–1990
- Body: three-door hatchback; five-door from 1984; commercial van
- Engines: 998cc and 1275cc A-Series four-cylinder
- Gearboxes: four-speed manual or four-speed automatic
- Suspension: Hydragas
- Later development: Rover Metro/100 with K-Series power
A new small Austin
British Leyland began with the ADO88 Mini-replacement project, but customer clinics found its upright shape too utilitarian. David Bache’s design team reworked it into the wider, more confident LC8, using the proven A-Series engine and in-sump gearbox to contain costs. The production car was unveiled in October 1980, initially as the Austin Mini Metro.
It did not replace the Mini. Instead it sat above it, competing with the Ford Fiesta, Renault 5, Fiat 127 and Volkswagen Polo. A space-efficient cabin, a split folding rear seat and a useful hatchback gave it genuine everyday appeal. The launch was backed by an enormous patriotic advertising campaign, and for its first three years it was Britain’s best-selling supermini.
How the range developed
Early buyers chose 1.0- and 1.3-litre engines with trim levels ranging from austere base cars to the better-equipped HLE and HLS. The luxurious Vanden Plas and sporty MG Metro arrived as the range expanded. A five-door body joined in 1984, widening the Metro’s family appeal, while the 1984 facelift brought a cleaner nose, revised cabin details and the Austin name in place of the original Mini Metro badge.
The MG Metro and 93bhp MG Metro Turbo gave the range valuable showroom excitement, while the rear-engined four-wheel-drive 6R4 rally car used little more than the road car’s silhouette. In 1990 the extensively re-engineered K-Series model became the Rover Metro, ending the Austin-badged chapter.
UK specifications
| Version | Engine | Typical output | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metro 1.0 | 998cc A-Series | About 44bhp | Economical core model |
| Metro 1.3 | 1275cc A-Series | About 60–63bhp | More flexible everyday choice |
| MG Metro | 1275cc A-Series | About 72bhp | Sportier carburettor tune |
| MG Metro Turbo | 1275cc turbo A-Series | About 93bhp | Fast, rare and increasingly valuable |
What is it like to drive?
A sound Metro feels light, eager and unusually spacious for its length. The driving position is upright, visibility is excellent and unassisted steering becomes nimble once moving. Hydragas gives a composed ride when correctly pressurised, although short wheelbase pitching is still noticeable. A 1.3 has enough torque for modern traffic; the 1.0 is happiest in town. The four-speed gearbox and road noise make motorway work busy by current standards.
Buying guide
- Rust: examine the sills, floor edges, subframe mountings, front valance, rear arches, door bottoms, windscreen surround and suspension turrets. Lift carpets wherever possible.
- Hydragas: a Metro should sit level and ride with some compliance. A very low or bouncy car needs specialist attention, not simply more fluid.
- A-Series engine: listen for timing-chain rattle, tappet noise and rumbling main bearings. Look for oil leaks, overheating and blue exhaust smoke.
- Transmission: second-gear synchromesh wears, differentials can whine and automatic cars must engage promptly. Engine and gearbox share their oil, so service history matters.
- Trim: model-specific seats, wheel trims, decals and dashboards can be harder to find than mechanical parts. Originality is increasingly prized.
Why it matters
The Metro was not Britain’s most sophisticated supermini, but it was cleverly packaged, commercially vital and woven into everyday national life. Enormous sales were followed by catastrophic attrition, making an unmodified Austin Metro a much rarer sight than its familiarity suggests.
Sources and further reading
- British Motor Museum: Metro at Forty
- British Motor Museum: 1980 Mini Metro HLS
- MG Owners’ Club: Metro, Montego and Maestro buying guide
Image sources and licences
Images are from Wikimedia Commons: 1982 Mini Metro by Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0, five-door Metro by Martin Pettitt, CC BY 2.0 and Metro Vanden Plas by DeFacto, CC BY-SA 2.5.
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