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The Maestro van that isn't

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  • The Maestro van that isn't

    This is my maestro van thats trying to be another bl product(s)! its currently getting a new coat of paint (rustoleum red) but as you can see it is not quite right! lots and lots of filler and shanding and shaping still has not got rid of the scalloped sides that i'm eliminating. The wheels will be changed at one point to slot mag alloys for a more agressive look.
    some eagled eyed people may have guessed what parts they have come from to make this transformation from a generally unpopular car, some may hate it the look of it of course!
    Attached Files
    Last edited by SimonR; 1st June 2011, 09:24.

  • #2
    Ooooh, I like that! Have you any more pics - of the conversion in progress, other angles, etc etc? I notice the scallops have gone too.


    I note you say from a generally unpopular car - I'd argue it's gone fron one to a LESS popular model personally, but I like it.
    Last edited by Captain Slow; 30th May 2011, 15:13.
    Sam Skelton

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    • #3
      i have lots and lots of piccys of the conversion, generally quite simple to do with little amount of cutting with the grinder, i will post more piccys a little later of the main parts of this project.

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      • #4
        Blimey, that's an interesting concept!
        Steve Worsley

        R514 RVJ - 1998 Rover Maestro 1.3 - Restoration
        VX12 EBG - 2012 MG-6 GT 1.8T SE - Stored
        J209 PEL - 1991 Rover Maestro 1.3 Clubman - Running

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        • #5
          this is what it used to look like a month ago when i picked it up on ebay for £200 with tax and test, after i had washed the farmyard mud of it.
          I,ve had 4 morris itals in the past, 2 saloons, 1 estate and one van and always had a soft spot for them. But the prices of the marina/ital vans/pickups have lept in the last few years and are pretty much complete restoration jobs.
          I had a few ital parts laying around in my shed and set about looking for a basis for a more usable conversion that i could use in modern traffic and be economical but retro enough to carry out the project, (ive had mk3/mk4 ford escort vans in the past but these are getting hard to find and demand a higher price) so the maestro van was the obvious choice and is in keeping with the bl theme.
          Attached Files

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          • #6
            the front
            Attached Files

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            • #7
              and the cutting and pre-shaping of the front wing
              Attached Files

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              • #8
                the front lower valence remains unchanged as the ital bumper and spoiler covers the whole bottom end. the bumper fits perfectly over the original van metal bumper and the spoiler just has two of the centre mounts cut off to fit onto the original lower valance.
                however the original grill mount and slam panel lip have to be cut and the metal from the indicator to headlamp removed for the ital grill to mount.
                in fact to most cutting is to the bonnet lip.
                Attached Files

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                • #9
                  another view
                  Attached Files

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                  • #10
                    headlamp/grill from inside engine bay in mock-up form before permanant mounting position.
                    Attached Files

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                    • #11
                      first shaping of endless amount of fibreglass/ filling and sanding on the top and bottom of wings
                      Attached Files

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                      • #12
                        Originally posted by hazyshadeofwinter View Post
                        This is my maestro van thats trying to be another bl product(s)! its currently getting a new coat of paint (rustoleum red) but as you can see it is not quite right! lots and lots of filler and shanding and shaping still has not got rid of the scalloped sides that i'm eliminating. The wheels will be changed at one point to slot mag alloys for a more agressive look.
                        some eagled eyed people may have guessed what parts they have come from to make this transformation from a generally unpopular car, some may hate it the look of it of course!
                        Thats a smart idea and looks good

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                        • #13
                          That's an interesting conversion indeed, but I'm not sure it's been converted from a less popular car. The Maestro vans were well loved and popular with both national fleets (AA/BT) and small businesses, especially the diesels.

                          Looking forward to seeing the progress.
                          Regards
                          John Orrell

                          MG Maestro Turbos 396 and 502
                          MG ZT190+ (53 plate)

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                          • #14
                            Fair play for preferring the Ital front, but tbh the Maestro front looked pretty neat to me! Also I'd rather be hit by the previous Maestro front than the cut metal of the Ital!
                            sigpic
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                            • #15
                              When i was referring to less popular, i ment to say the ital was the less popular/liked car for many than the previous marina and of course the much later maestro vans which were much favoured by the fleets and tradesmen alike.
                              So i decided to improve the much unloved ital or deminish an early maestro van depending on how people view it

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