BMC 1100
The Mini may have become a motoring legend, but it was its bigger brother that brought in the loot. During its 12-year production run, the 1100/1300 range (ADO 16) was Britain’s best-selling car for seven years (1963-66; 1968-71). Lucky seven? Its Allegro replacement didn’t come remotely close. And nor did the Mini…
Launched around the same time as Ford’s Cortina yet their designs couldn’t have been more contrasting. Costing a little over £60 dearer than the orthodox old-fashioned Minor, (introduced just after WW2), the similar-engined £674 1100 wasn’t much quicker but its Mini-like handling and roadholding was from another era.
ADO 16 badgeengineered its ass off across the entire BMC portfolio, with the choice of added performance or luxury.
The MG derivative spelt twin carbs for 55bhp (that’s 997cc Mini Cooper power) and this unit was also fitted to the Riley (Kestrel), Wolseley 1100 and the super luxury Vanden Plas.
The MG1300 packed practically Cooper S power by the time the boy racer Austin/Morris 1300GT upended it.
By the time the 1100/1300 bowed out, well over two million had been made and continued into production a year after the dumpy-styled square steering-wheeled Allegro took over as opposed to replace. Fun to drive but blighted by poor build
