76MST007 Oxford Diecast Austin Maestro London Fire Brigade

76MST007 Oxford Diecast Austin Maestro London Fire Brigade

Introduced in 1983, the Maestro was a 5-door family hatchback, produced by British Leyland at their Morris Cowley works. It had a 5-speed manual gearbox and a basic 1.3L engine rising to 1.6L on later models. It incorporated many innovative features for its time. It had a bonded laminated windscreen, homofocal headlights, body-coloured plastic bumpers, an electronic engine management system, adjustable front seat belt anchorage positions, an asymmetrically split rear seat and a 12.000 mile service interval.

Here we see it in a commercial role, as a support vehicle for the London Fire Brigade, registered B576 WYO from 1984. Looking at the signature badge on the back, the Brigade chose the top of the range 1.6L which was probably necessary given its purpose. The bright red body colour is in sharp contrast to the black trim, while the wheels are silver with black dots.  The interior seating is mid grey.  The Maestro has an alphanumeric ID -  C435 printed in front of the front wheel arch and London Fire Brigade along the edge of the bonnet and across the boot. The highly colourful London Fire Brigade crest with London Fire Brigade GLC lettering beneath is printed on both the front doors.