Allegro Club International

[Owen Morgan]

Hi- some of you may remember me, if you've been with the Club from the beginning. My name is Owen- I was one of the earliest members when it was formed by Lynn Marshall back in 1990, and used to write technical pieces and home maintenance articles for 'Quartic' from '90 to '94. I was very honoured to win the annual Chairman's Award for these in '93, which still sits proudly on top of our piano!
Educational commitments meant that I dropped out of circulation early in '95, and I've only just renewed my membership this year (it was given me as a 40th birthday present!) The Club has certainly changed and grown up a lot since the early days- it's incredibly professional, and puts many other car owner's clubs to shame!

My own Allegro is a '79 series 2 estate called Vixen, because of her number plate (FOX 194V). We've actually owned her TWICE- we first bought her in Spring '81, and had her for just over 2 years as our family car before trading her in in the June of '83 to buy a new Citroen Visa. I was really upset, and never expected to see her again, though at the age of 14 I was powerless to stop the sale. But then in January '89, after we had moved from Birmingham to Malvern in Worcestershire, up she popped again in Worcester one afternoon! I couldn't believe my eyes seeing her cruising down the road- belting after her as fast as I possibly could, I found her parked in a nearby car-park and left a note under the wiper asking the owner to ring me if ever he wanted to sell her. And indeed he did, a fortnight later! I paid £600 for her, though would've given £6 million I was so overjoyed to have her back again- and she's been back with us ever since.

She'd had a rough time of it in the intervening years, her interior suffering terribly (including all her rear vinyl torn out and the carpet chopped to bits, for some utterly weird reason). But I spent over £2K over the next few years restoring her, which I was more than glad to do. Since '95 she's been in retirement, stored in a barn that I rent just outside Worcester, and whilst still needing some cosmetic attention is bodily and mechanically as sound as a bell. She shares the barn with her old stable-mate, my grandfather's old Toyota Carina, which is the same age as her to the MONTH (August '79) and which has been in the family since '81- also with the Visa, which was bought as her replacement and which we've kept all this time (it's partially customised, though not mechanically modified- NEVER potch about with a Visa engine, it's one of the best 1100 units there is!) We'll never part with any of them, they are part of the family now, and with us for keeps.

My other cars include a '59 PA series Vauxhall Cresta (the American-style sort with tail-fins and wrap-around windscreen), my mother's old Mini Flame Red, and I also have a Vespa P200E scooter & sidecar. Also a '76 Honda 500 motorbike, which I bought 18 months ago to save from being broken up, but which I can't ride, to my great sorrow.
But none of these are on the road right now- daily transport is my dad's '89 Honda Prelude, quite a rare creature these days, and in immaculate condition. If and when he ever parts with it, I'd like him to get another Allegro, though goodness knows whether I can persuade him....

I'm delighted to be back with the Club again, and look forward to maintaining my membership for years to come.

[M. Irvine]

Its great to have you back Owen.
You must have left the Club just before I joined.
How did you know?
What an impressive range of transport you have!
All the best and thank you for your kind comments about ACI.
Merv.
_________________
ALLEGRO = Agile, Lively, Legendary, Economical, Genial, Reliable & Outstanding.

[Graham]

I knew I recognised the number. I had a vague recollection of this late registered "FOX". It's up for sale on eBay. A bit pricey mind, but if it had 2k spent on it, I wonder what was done?! Is Owen still around?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/252662670497?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&clk_rvr_id=1133660710924&rmvSB=true

[Paul-V]

It may be Owen or a member of his family offering it for sale, as there is a 1983 customised Citroen Visa in the background (as described by Owen in his original post)