This rather sorry-looking Opaline Green example was registered in January 1984, around 3 months after the launch of the first 1.6 Automatic. As a passenger, you might have appreciated the ride quality and airy cabin, while the driver might rave about the steering, road holding and mid-range power attributes.
Outwardly similar to the manual 1.6 HLS, this model utilised a 3-speed Automatic gearbox, like the manual, which was sourced from VW. However, both gearboxes were not considered a strong point in these early versions but that’s nothing compared to the issues of the stop-gap R-Series engine.
Derived from the E-Series, this engine was prematurely rushed into production with disastrous results. For a car that was last taxed 30 years ago, and given the Maestro’s poor rust record, this has survived comparatively well – in that it is still Maestro-shaped and not a pile of parts.
