Austin - Austin Maxi
The Austin Maxi was introduced in 1969 and was Britains first car with a hatchback design. The Maxi was also the last vehicle to be built by B.M.C. before it became part of British Leyland. The Austin Maxi was the work of the designer of the Mini, Alec Issigionis, and was fitted with a transverse engine coupled to a 5 speed gearbox - this was surely the earliest use of a 5 speed gearbox in a family saloon car. Originally of 1485cc capacity, the E series engine was used as standard and by 1971 both a 1750cc engine and twin carburettor Maxi 1750HL and 1750HLS versions allowed the Maxi to be capable of a top speed of almost 100 mph. For 1980 the 2 litre range was introduced. The Austin Maxi was produced until 1981. The Maxi name was in a way very appropriate for the transverse front wheel drive integral gearbox (sharing the engine oil) car, because this larger 5 door was the Maxi version of the original Mini. The Austin Maxi should have been far more successful in the marketplace than it turned out to be, being let down initially by its build quality with a number of faults that should have been picked up and ironed out before production had got underway.
Austin Maxi tyre size was 155R13 when the Maxi was first introduced in 1969, and the same 155R13 tyre size was specified in 1970 for the Series 2 Austin Maxi 1500 and Maxi 1750. For 1972 the Maxi HL was introduced which was fitted with a slightly larger 165R13 tyre. Blockley produce high quality 155HR13 and 165HR13 high quality tyres, and in addition if a customer required a same diameter but wider tyre we also produce the 175/70VR13 size which some customers have asked for. By the time the Austin Maxi was made the tyres fitted were tubeless type. See full details of all these Austin Maxi tyre sizes at the links below:
