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Panama Independence Day
Today we celebrate Independence Day for the Republic of Panama but unless anyone can tell us otherwise we don’t think the ADO16 was ever sold there, however it was the destination for one of the bravest journeys ever undertaken in an ADO16...
...in 1963, Jeff Koch drove 7,000 miles from Spokane, Washington, USA to the Panama Canal in an MG 1100 on the then emerging Pan American Highway – a section of which incidentally still has not been built, across 66 miles of marshland known as the Darién Gap between Panama and Colombia.
Jeff’s journey mainly took in the Inter-American Highway (IAH); the Central American section of the Pan-American Highway that now spans 3,400 miles between Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, and Panama City, Panama but at the time it was incomplete – indeed it would be 1967 before the road was finally finished and even then it existed only as a continuous strip of gravel, dirt, or asphalt between Mexico and Panama.
Jeff had no support vehicles and there was certainly no BMC dealer network along his route! 30-days of driving took in areas such as the El Tapon (The stopper) in Guatemala whilst climbing included the 11,500 feet of Cerro de la Muerte (Mountain of Death) south of San José, Costa Rica.
Once in Panama Jeff entered his MG 1100 into the Isthmian Auto Sport Association events which included slaloms, gymkanas, rallys and hillclimbs!
With thanks to My Hemmings.
We’re the global umbrella for the ADO16, the BMC/British Leyland 1100/1300 – in well over 60 countries and with a Facebook Group of over 2,800 members! You can join us too; the only ADO16 club with a FREE membership level: www.ado16.info/membership-join
2021 NEC Show – 1968, Austin 1300
We realise most of you were unable to travel to the recent Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show, with Discovery at the UK’s National Exhibition Centre (NEC) – over 3-days a little more than 63,000 visitors attended the show and one of the cars on the ado16.info stand was this 1968, Austin 1300...
The Earls Court Motor Show of October, 1967 saw the British Motor Corporation (BMC) launch 1300 versions of the ADO16 with Austin and Morris badges – 1275cc was already an optional extra for the MG, Riley, Vanden Plas and Wolseley models and now there was also a revised Mark II bodyshell for all the ADO16 models.
Our show car was highly representative of the ADO16 variants which dominated UK sales during the sixties – it’s a 1968, Austin 1300, first registered by the dealer Vincents of Reading on the 4th of July, 1968 to Mr Herbert Childs for a total on the road cost of £857.00; the colour is original, Aquamarine with a Satin Beige interior, although even in its day it was one of the rarer chosen colours, Snowberry White being the most popular.
The Austin remained with the Childs family until 1999, thereafter seeing a couple of new owners before Adam purchased it in 2013 – it came with an amazing history file detailing the owners and all work ever carried out to the car, every MOT ever issued was also included which showed the Austin to have always been a useable car although its only covered 53,000 miles. Much of the car and paintwork remains original although there have been minor bits of paint rectification over the years and two new front wings were fitted nearly 20-years ago.
In many respects Adam’s car is a time warp example – a few weeks before the show Adam took a number of pictures for us, the Austin looks even more amazing in natural light so we’re sharing those images with you.
We’re the global umbrella for the ADO16, the BMC/British Leyland 1100/1300 – in well over 60 countries and with a Facebook Group of over 2,800 members! You can join us too; the only ADO16 club with a FREE membership level: www.ado16.info/membership-join
She really is a great car to own; and I’ve always felt lucky to have her in my fleet
In 1968 this was a quick advanced, reliable, affordable car. Its no wonder they sold so many.
Such a nice colour, car looks stunning.
Great colour ….!
Gee a real nice looking vehicle
ADO16 Components – Jackson's Millboard and Fibre Company Ltd
Not only was Jackson's Millboard and Fibre Company Ltd a rather obscure supplier for the Morris 1100 but they also had a truly uninspiring advert...
...The Jackson’s company started in 1870 when John H Jackson acquired the mill from the Pegg family through marriage. Prior to that the mill was used to manufacture gunpowder and paper and from the mid 19th century, solely paper. It was over a number of years that Jackson’s developed their millboard and fibreboard products that were used in the manufacture of cars (initially for gaskets) and footwear as well as radios and televisions.
Jackson’s mill was located in Furlong Road, Bourne End, Buckinghamshire. Originally, there were many other mills there along the river that were built during the 18th century. Jackson’s mill was the last to survive before it was demolished in the late 1980’s to make way for a mixed development of houses, offices and the Jackson Industrial Park.
The only Jackson’s advert we’ve been able to find does relate to the Morris 1100 but it’s very dull so we’ve spiced up this post with some pre-launch images of the Morris 1100 – most of you will have never seen them before!
We’re the global umbrella for the ADO16, the BMC/British Leyland 1100/1300 – in well over 60 countries and with a Facebook Group of over 2,800 members! You can join us too; the only ADO16 club with a FREE membership level: www.ado16.info/membership-join
There used to be loads of those component adverts in the magazines at a launch, many using the same photo as each other
Prototypes!
Malta – 1968, Austin 1100 Mark II Countryman
Our mini-series brings us to 2020 for the long-term restoration of Alexander’s 1968, Austin 1100 Mark II Countryman in Malta...
...the Austin had been painted in 2019 so 2020 saw Alexander begin to fit the car back together – clearly Alexander is looking for a very authentic finish but he’s done remarkably well sourcing some parts which are nigh impossible to find.
We’re the global umbrella for the ADO16, the BMC/British Leyland 1100/1300 – in well over 60 countries and with a Facebook Group of over 2,800 members! You can join us too; the only ADO16 club with a FREE membership level: www.ado16.info/membership-join
Nice work
Brilliant my friend !!
News from Peru
It’s always exciting news when we hear about a surviving Mark I Estate and this one is in Peru...
...Daniel is our contact there and he’s recently shared images with us of an Austin 1100 Countryman – it’s an Automatic and is finished in Maroon B with a Satin Beige interior. Although the car is rather dusty it does actually appear to be in really great condition.
We’re the global umbrella for the ADO16, the BMC/British Leyland 1100/1300 – in well over 60 countries and with a Facebook Group of over 2,800 members! You can join us too; the only ADO16 club with a FREE membership level: www.ado16.info/membership-join
A rare car indeed and very nice to see.
