Oxford
76MET002
Austin Mini Metro
Denim Blue Metallic

1/76 Scale

The Austin Mini Metro was a supermini produced by British Leyland (BL) and, later, the Rover Group from 1980 to 1998. It was launched in 1980 as the Austin Mini Metro, and was intended to complement and eventually replace the Mini. The Metro was developed under the codename LC8.

The roots of the Metro lay in an earlier project denoted as ADO88 (Amalgamated Drawing Office, 88-inch wheelbase), which was intended to be a direct replacement for the Mini. However, poor reception to the ADO88 design at customer clinics and the increasing dominance of superminis in the ADO88's intended market segment, forced a major change.

It was designed to be a more modern and efficient car than the Mini, with a hatchback design and a more spacious interior. It was also more fuel-efficient than the Mini, thanks to its lightweight construction and modern engines.

Initially it was a commercial success, selling over 200,000 units in its first year of production. It was praised for its spacious interior, fuel economy and handling. However critics complained about its build quality and reliability.