Why the Austin Maxi was an instant headache file

What doors can’t do for a car

Austin Maxie

If you look back in automotive history for remarkable things, you often end up with Austin or one of the other former English brands. This time it is the Austin Maxi that Maurice Fransen has caught his eye on. For example, why did it have such a crazy long wheelbase that pulled it completely out of proportion?

To get straight to the point: the Maxi is by no means a celebrity. The story begins with the Austin 1800, also known as Landcrab. It is intended as a successor to the Austin Cambridge, but is ultimately a lot bigger than planned. The Cambridge remains available, but does not stand a chance against the successful Ford Cortina.

Austin 1500 had to get doors from the Landcrab

In 1965 Austin/Morris starts developing a new mid-sized car, the 1500. With new engines, front-wheel drive and a five-speed gearbox, it has to make mincemeat of the Cortina. Austin thinks it can sell no less than 6,000 per week and is planning substantial investments on that basis. The 1500 is so important to Austin/Morris that top boss George Harriman gets involved personally. He stipulates that the 1500 should use the Landcrab doors, just as the Austin 3000 and the Bentley Bengal and Rolls-Royce Rangoon (prototypes for entry-level models from the upscale brands) do.

Doors provided huge wheelbase

A disastrous decision, because the shape of the doors is very decisive. Even the designers hardly notice any difference between the first prototypes of the 1500 and the three-year-old Landcrab. The doors also provide an enormous wheelbase, making the 1500 a lot longer than the Cortina. Austin tries to solve the problem by minimizing the overhang of the nose and butt. This makes the luggage compartment difficult to access again, which eventually leads to the fifth door. That is little consolation, because it is not possible to turn the 1500 into an attractive car. Even before the introduction, the fumbling makes the press with the embarrassing headline ‘Styling troubles delay new BMC saloon’.

Austin Maxie

Austin Maxi, he had a fifth door but that was not the intention initially.

Austin in British Leyland

Meanwhile Austin/Morris has merged into British Leyland. The new course means that direct competition with Ford is avoided. But too many investments have been made to pull the plug on the project. British Leyland kills the four-door Morris version, gives the hatchback a last-minute facelift and sends it to the market as Austin Maxi. It’s an instant headache file. The engine is too light and the cable-operated five-speed gearbox is a complete disaster. The interior is bare as a chicken coop, to keep enough distance from the more expensive, but not more spacious Landcrab. And then that look…

Of the 6,000 planned Maxis per week, nothing comes to fruition. In his absolute top year, he barely reached 1,500. What a set of doors can’t cause…

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– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl

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