MEET THE OWNER – SAM BURNS AND HIS AUSTIN METRO CITY

MEET THE OWNER – SAM BURNS AND HIS AUSTIN METRO CITY

Sam Burns is a man who shuns mere frivolities in his classic cars. Reversing lamps, a second sun visor, more than one rear fog lamp, a heated rear window, a rear wiper, a passenger door mirror, and front headrests are not for him. Nor does he need reclining front seats, a radio, halogen headlamps, or even mud flaps.

In Sam’s words, “British Leyland would have charged extra for the steering wheel, and seats on the Austin Metro City had they thought they could have got away with it”. Still, at least the 1983 model he acquired on the 17^th September has a brake pad wearing warning light. Thirty-eight years ago, such a feature would have impressed impress and sundry at the A303 Little Chef.

When BL launched the Metro in 1980, the ‘Standard’ was the original base version, but the success of Ford’s Fiesta Popular led them to introduce the strip specification City in 1982. The cabin lacked a glove box and a parcel shelf while the steering wheel was sourced from the Morris Marina Van. Nor was there a laminated windshield, although £3,259 at least gained you “electric windscreen washers, carpets and door-operated courtesy lights”.

The launch advertisement boasted of large and wide opening doors, and Sam agrees with this claim. “It really is easy to slide into the driver’s seat”. Other aspects of the sales copy appeared more desperate, including “a floor sill that interlocks with the doors for extra side impact protection”. Furthermore, the Longbridge official who decided on amber reflectors instead of indicator repeaters for the City merits the ‘Automotive Cheapskate of The Year’ award.

Today the Burns Metro is the only known surviving example of the City sans extras, yet of all the variants introduced in 1982, it was by far the most sighted on the road. While the MG 1300, MG Turbo and Vanden Plas were for elite motorists who also owned a Sanyo music centre, the City was a ubiquitous fleet model.

Sam remarks, “I’ve always admired the MK1 Metro from a young age. I would say some 30 years I’ve been a fan” A Mrs. R.E. Bennett ordered his City from D.E. Jones & Son Ltd. of Rhuddlan. She took delivery on the 25^th May 1983, and 24 years later, it was acquired by Jack Thornton, the Secretary of the Metro Owners’ Club. PCA 474 Y has covered under 51,000 miles throughout its life and as Mr. Burns puts it:

This is my first Metro, and it was for sale in Southam, Warwickshire, on FB Marketplace. My sister-in-law sent me the link as she knew I was keen to purchase one. The City copes really well with traffic. I drove her some 300 miles in one weekend, including tackling the M25 on a Sunday afternoon, and she was happy to sit at 60 mph. I don’t miss a five-speed transmission, as once you get into 4th gear, you know that’s it and no more changing gear. I also have a BMW M3 with DCT, and to be honest, getting back into a 4-speed is lovely as it’s so mechanical and adds to the driving experience.

Of course, one Metro ownership challenge facing Sam is the amount of public attention his City receives. As he recalls, “I was recently waiting at traffic lights and noticed a Volvo C70 driver frantically waving at me. I wound down the window, and he told me, ‘My aunt had one of those!’. I think I am going to have many similar experiences”.

But that is only to be expected with such a magnificent yellow Metro au naturelle. Besides, twin rear fog lamps is sheer extravagance.

With Thanks To: Sam Burns