19th January 2009

This email comes from member Pam Ayres, who writes:
Just thought I'd let people know to be on the look-out for my Maxi - Bracken, HTF 916N - which should make a brief appearance in a new Channel 4 gritty drama called "Red Riding" starring Sean Bean, Warren Clarke and David Morrissey. I've had a Maxi in Emmerdale in the past and The Booze Cruise 3 but this drama looks really good, although a bit grisly.

18th January 2009

This email comes all the way from Oz:

Hi my name is Davo. In 1970, after helping to drive an Australian registered Albion double deck bus to the UK, I walked into a BMC dealership and said "I want to buy a car, that one please!". The car was a green Maxi, Reg No. VOJ 731J. It was my drive car for 18 months around the Manchester area, at that time I was working for Stretford Borough Council. I used the car for 6 weeks in Europe, camping in it. It was my intention to ship it to Perth, Australia and to drive it from there to Sydney, where I live. Unfortunately the Aussie reg authorities changed the importation rules during the ownership of the car, so I was obliged to sell it in the UK.

In Australia, I bought a Morris Nomad which had a 1500cc E class OHC engine. Like the Maxi it had a 5-speed box, but was based on the 1100 body with a Maxi-like rear hatch. The car was a a good camper like the Maxi, which I used to tour Tasmania in 1973. It may be fun to look up "Morris Nomad" on the web and post some pictures on the club site.

These days, I own a 1988 3-litre Nissan Skyline, a 1999 Toyota Camry, and a 1979 Mercedes (W116 450SEL 6.9, with the 6.9 litre engine and Citroen-type hydraulic suspension. Doesn't use as much fuel as you might think).

webmaster: Just for Davo, here's a half decent website for the Morris Nomad, there are probably lots more:.
http://www.elevenhundred.com/morris1500/index.php

18th January 2009

Suzanne Guy asks the question: Do you need to be a member of the Club, to advertise on the site?

webmaster: No, you don't have to be a member. If you have an advert for the club website, send it to me and I'll do the biz!. The service is free.

13th January 2009

This guy wants to know what his Maxi is worth :
Hello, I've a mustard coloured 1750 Maxi in the garage and it has got to go! Its condition is very good and has a dark brown interior. It's not been started for ten years, but has been kept in a garage. Too good to scrap, what's it worth ? Regards Mark. Exeter.

webmaster: Its difficult to know what the value of the car is, without seeing it. However here are a few rules of thumb :
Less than average condition (rust-buckets) : £50 to £100.
Average condition (runners showing their age but with MoT) : £200 - £300.
Above average condition : £500 to £1200.

Occasionally you see exceptional examples going for a lot more (£3500).

Remember, you don't have to give a price when advertising the car, you can always begin your advert ... offers invited. Let me know if you want to advertise it on the clubs website.

9th January 2009

Geordie Ian Pennick provides supporting evidence that a Maxi is alive and well and living in Hong Kong. Ian writes :

Hi Charles: Ian up in the North East again.

Maxi’s around the world - in Hong Kong - well here's proof!

Sadly though its about the only time you see a Maxi before its demise! You-Tube has come up trumps with this little clip I found of Jackie Chan in a 1983 film called "Winners and Sinners" (look from 3.14 minutes onwards into the film).

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=gbnt2j6ia1q&feature=related

AX4 896 which appears to be a 1971 Flame Red 1750, properly prepared with a roll cage too. But just look at all those other Euro cars amongst all the Japanese run of the mill. A beetle (though there, quite common) 2 MK 3 Cortinas, a pretty nice MK 2 Escort, a Vauxhall Victor FE and a couple of Fiat 131's, What a waste!!

28th November 2008

Pete, Editor of The Hydragas Register, writes: Hello, I'm writing to tell you about my website, which now assists owners of Hydrolastic/Hydragas cars to find a garage to pump up their suspensions. The website's address is www.hydragas.co.uk and you can select garages by county. I would be grateful if you could include a link from your suspension page.

25th November 2008

This email comes from Blair Hobson of Kidderminster, who writes: Hello! Just to let you know that I am the new owner of JLW 862V, having purchased it from Brian (Lock) earlier in the month! I attach a new photo of it outside my house in Kidderminster so you that can update your Gallery.

Just a couple of extra things you may be able to help me with. Firstly I sent off an application form and cheque to join the club a couple of weeks ago and haven't heard anything yet. Can you check with the Membership Secretary to see if they've got it? Secondly one of the few faults with JLW is a fuel gauge which only goes up to 1/4 full with the ignition on (despite a full tank when I drove it home from Harrow). I've taken the wire off the sender unit on top of the tank and earthed it which sends the fuel gauge up to full, so I reckon the problem is with the sender unit in the tank, either the resistor or a leaking float. Looking on ebay at the moment there are a couple of "new" ones but they have different part numbers. The Haynes Manual does not give part numbers, but I wonder if you might have one of those BL Workshop Manuals with a part number for it - the car was registered in 1979. I hope you can help and apologise for the length of the email.

webmaster: Welcome to the club. Sorry to hear that you've had no reply from the Club Secretary yet. I understand that it can take up to 4 weeks to process applications. I've attached the relevant page from my BL microfiche set, containing the part numbers of the various fuel tank sender units made at the time (see below). Use the Zoom control on your computer to make the picture larger.

Postscript: Blair tells me - sods law being what it is - that the unit is now working again - this after taking the sender unit out of the petrol tank and then replacing it to see if he could identify the part number.

24th November 2008

Tim O'Regan of Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire writes: Following my visit to the Classic Motorshow at the NEC I was interested to know whether you offer a magazine to members and how I would go about joining. Do you have an example you could post me?

webmaster: Thanks for the email. Here is the information you requested. The club produce a bi-monthly magazine called "Maximise", unfortunately I don't have any copies which I could send you. To join the club, go to our website at http://www.austinmaxiclub.org/howtojoin/howtojoin.htm and follow the on-screen instructions. Alternatively write to:

Christine Jackson
Membership Secretary
The Austin Maxi Club
27 Queen Street
Bardney Lincolnshire LN3 5XF

Please note that the subscription for the year 2009/10 is £22.00.

5th October 2008

Kevin Davis writes :

Hi All, Just a line to let you know that my green Maxi, NUY 209T advertised on your site can now be removed. It has been sold to an enthusiast in Southern Ireland. Many thanks for your support. Best Regards, Kevin Davis.