Austin Allegro named as ‘Britain’s Worst Car’

Its name may have been a moniker for ‘fast, cheerful and lively’, but the Austin Allegro has been declared ‘Britain’s Worst Car’ in a poll by iMotormag.co.uk.

The online poll, participated by over 4000 people, sought to find the worst ever product of Britain’s once powerful car manufacturing industry. Later this month, London’s Docklands plays host to the latest automobile offerings for the 2008 British International Motor Show.

The Allegro received 24% of the votes on iMotormag.co.uk against nine other widely disliked UK manufactured models, including the Morris Ital, Hillman Imp and the Rover 200.

Despite being labelled the ‘All-aggro’ due to its poor build quality and the ability for its rear window to ‘pop out’, the 1970s British Leyland model played starring roles in TV classics like The Professionals, Doctor Who, The New Avengers, The Sweeney and more recently, Little Britain.

Fierce rivalry for this prestigious accolade came from the Morris Ital; a gormless car that unbelievably boasts style roots to the original VW Golf and De Lorean DMC-12, the Rover 200; famed as the car used by Hyacinth Bucket’s long-suffering husband in Keeping Up Appearances, and the pug-faced Hillman Imp; built as a rival to the Austin Mini but price, build quality and reliability let this over-engineered car down.

Even with all the negative publicity, the rust-prone Allegro still became an icon of 70s motoring. During its 10 years of production it sold 642,350 units, of which 657 were used by the Police as ‘Panda’ cars, and at its peak was the fifth best selling car in Britain.

Mat Watson, editor of iMotormag.co.uk, said: “In the face of superior alternatives from Europe and the Far East, cars like the Austin Allegro were the final nail in the four-wheel coffin for the once dominant British motor industry - the game had moved on. The Allegro was full of promise and expectations, but ultimately failed to deliver.”

Despite being 25 years since the last Allegro rolled off the now defunct British Leyland production line, the latest DVLA figures report there are still more than 1000 Allegros registered in the UK.