Skip to content

THE AUSTIN METRO AT 40: CELEBRATED IN A NEW BOOK

It was the ‘British Car to Beat the World’. Launched in October 1980, the Austin MiniMetro was the UK’s first proper supermini, and a car that would finally bring British Leyland bang up to date.

Now, almost four decades to the day since it first appeared, the humble Metro is being celebrated in an all-new book by noted motoring historian and author, Craig Cheetham.

Austin and Rover Metro: The Full Story tells the tale of what was arguably one of the UK’s most important cars ever, from its gestation in the mid-1970s to its ultimate demise after an 18 year production run, by which time the Metro had morphed into the Rover 100.

The book touches on the Metro throughout its multiple generations, including the mid-Eightis facelift, the launch of the Rover Metro and its final guise as the 100. It also tells the tale of Metro in motorsport and the launch of the 6R4 rally car, as well as the lesser-known story of how Corgi Toys developed its own Metro in tandem with British Leyland.

“The Metro is a car that touched millions of lives,” said author Craig Cheetham. “Whether you bought one new, your mum had one or you learned to drive in one, it was part of the fabric of British society and remained on sale for almost two decades.

“Today, it’s a rapidly appreciating classic that’s especially popular with younger enthusiasts. And as it turns 40, it’s definitely time to celebrate the achievements of the British Car to Beat the World.”

Austin and Rover Metro: The Full Story is available now from Amberley Publishing, priced at £14.99. You can order a copy at www.amberley-books.com, via all good bookshops or through Amazon.

 

Christopher Guest - British school watercolour - “ The London Underground ”
eBay
£169.00
Christopher Guest - British school watercolour - “ The London Underground ”
EFE Rail E99942 London Underground 1962 Tube Stock Central Line 4 Car Set
eBay
£349.00
EFE Rail E99942 London Underground 1962 Tube Stock Central Line 4 Car Set
British Leyland Mini Metro Austin 1300 Hydrolastic Hydragas Pump
eBay
£82.08
British Leyland Mini Metro Austin 1300 Hydrolastic Hydragas Pump
London Underground Moquette Travel Bag – District Line Misha Black British Rail
eBay
£89.95
London Underground Moquette Travel Bag – District Line Misha Black British Rail
GARNIER British Rail Totem Style GENTLEMAN Porcelain Sign. Very Rare these days
eBay
£99.52
GARNIER British Rail Totem Style GENTLEMAN Porcelain Sign. Very Rare these days
British Empire Exhibition 1924 Wembley London Underground Fold Out Colour Map
eBay
£52.71
British Empire Exhibition 1924 Wembley London Underground Fold Out Colour Map
2013 150th Anniversary Of The London Underground 2x Two Pound Coin Bunc Pack
eBay
£55.00
2013 150th Anniversary Of The London Underground 2x Two Pound Coin Bunc Pack
Original 1924 British Empire Exhibition Map (Kennedy North) with Underground Map
eBay
£182.72
Original 1924 British Empire Exhibition Map (Kennedy North) with Underground Map
Classic Paint For Mg Metro British Racing Green Amulet Hna Car Spray Touch Up
eBay
£56.54
Classic Paint For Mg Metro British Racing Green Amulet Hna Car Spray Touch Up
LONDON UNDERGROUND FLY THE TUBE BRITISH AIRWAYS BOEING 747-136 G-AWNE POSTER
eBay
£234.72
LONDON UNDERGROUND FLY THE TUBE BRITISH AIRWAYS BOEING 747-136 G-AWNE POSTER
1000ml Tin Neat Paint Base Colour British Leyland Rover Various Code (list2of 8)
eBay
£67.99
1000ml Tin Neat Paint Base Colour British Leyland Rover Various Code (list2of 8)
Indoor Car Cover Soft Stretch Tailored Look available for all MG Models
eBay
£129.00
Indoor Car Cover Soft Stretch Tailored Look available for all MG Models
-22%
Rover Cars 1945 to 2005: A Pictorial History
Amazon.co.uk
£13.19 £16.99
PRIMEPRIME
Rover Cars 1945 to 2005: A Pictorial History
-20%
British Leyland: The Cars, 1968-1986
Amazon.co.uk
£27.95 £35.00
PRIMEPRIME
British Leyland: The Cars, 1968-1986
-22%
Making Cars at Longbridge: 1905 to the Present Day
Amazon.co.uk
£17.50 £22.50
PRIMEPRIME
Making Cars at Longbridge: 1905 to the Present Day
Amazon price updated: June 14, 2025 10:19 pm