Allegro Club International

[Andrew Mallett]

As there's an HL and an HLS for sale at the moment I'm curious to know what people prefer out of the two basing it on the A Series versions as they were different, E Series were unchanged I believe.

I've listed some differences. I believe Metro rustproofing techniques were used on facelift models, not 100% sure though.

HL
Series 2 HL interior + new style dashboard and centre console.
Vinyl roof.
A series engines.

HLS
Upgraded interior. (Metro style seat fames, 100% velour seat covers, nylon door cards and fabric parcel shelf etc)
No vinyl roof
A+ engines
Better sound insulation. (Fibre boards on floorpan etc)

Bloke from Norfolk.

[Richard Howe]

Well the last time I looked at a twin headlight it was an A+ HLS, and while it ran well enough (aside from the buggered coil) the shell was nasty... If that was "improved" rustproofing, then I'll stick with the older stuff thanks!
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...that's why Allegro will look as good 5 years from now as it does today.

[Andrew Mallett]

I think you'll find Gonzo has the "improved" rustproofing as all facelift shells were done that way I believe. I must say i've seen quite a few rotten HLS's though for some reason and I've owned a couple in the past at that!

Bloke from Norfolk.

[Paul-V]

There seems to be a problem with 'facelift' cars being less durable than pre-facelift, unless said cars have led a pampered life.

I have owned some 1979-build series 2 and series 3 cars that have not led particularly sheltered lives prior to my ownership and the condition of the bodyshells has been amazing. (Three of them are still alive and well: my Sandglow series 2, my father-in-law's Pageant Blue series 3 and Craig Cheetham's Applejack series 3)

Re expressing a preference between HL and HLS, it is nearly impossible for me to decide. The A+ engine, higher levels of trim, better soundproofing and the availability of Turquoise Metallic eventually sway me to the HLS, although put a Vermilion or Snapdragon HL in front of me, I could almost be swayed!

[Richard Howe]

Gonzo has been well looked after & only has 26k on the clock, but he's definitely got the most crinkly edges of all my roadworthy cars; Walter had had more welding in his lifetime but was 8 years older and had stood outside unused for years!

The only worse Allegro I own is my utterly unroadworthy one, and the majority of the rust is on panels that have suffered significant damage over the life of the car; the dent-free areas are also predominantly rust-free.
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...that's why Allegro will look as good 5 years from now as it does today.

[Colin T]

Hmm not sure - prefer the rear badges, door trims (standard vinyl) and seats of the early HL and the later front badge, steering wheel badge, yellow needles in the instruments, and floor soundproofing and furry parcel shelves on the HLS.

As for the rustproofing - nto heard of that before. Any more details?

And the soundproofing - I thought both early HL/HLS has the extra foam-backed stuff over the front tunnel and footwells, and that pre-facelift basic and L had the fibre boards?

As for the stuck-down 'bitumen' type soundproofing all over the floor on all facelift models - I think this is what causes the floor pan rot in these cars, as moisture gets trapped in voids between the soundproofing and floor and cannot dry out. This appears to have happened to the 2 facelifts that my family has owned.
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Hell has frozen over...... the car formally known as 'Heap' is back on the road!

[Andrew Mallett]

Hi Colin,

I've read back on what I wrote on my original post and I can see now I made two glaring mistakes.

Where I put "Metro rustproofing techniques" it should have said "Metro soundproofing techniques." as I believe Metro's had the bitumen stuck on the floorpan.

Where I put "Better sound insulation. (Fibre boards on floorpan etc)" it should have said "Bitumen boards stuck on floorpan."

Yes, pre-facelift HL's and facelift HLS's did have the extra foam backed insulation on the front footwells and over the tunnel and pre-facelift base and L models did have the fibre boards, possibly on the front and rear footwells and under the front seats. Pre-facelift HL's possibly had the fibre boards on the rear footwells and under the front seats as they didn't have the bitumen stuck on the floorpan.

Incidentally my Equipe had the extra foam backed insulation on the entire floorpan. Does this mean the Series 2 HL was the same, as the Equipe was based on it? If so, they obviously cut back on Series 3 HL/HLS foam backed insulation.

Sorry for the confusion.

Overall, it does seem now that facelift A+ Series 3's, while mechanically better did suffer rust wise for having the bitumen stuck to the floorpan. Long live the pampered surviving Series 3 facelifts.

Bloke from Norfolk.