1989 Austin Metro
Ikon House, Tudor Road, Runcorn, United Kingdom
Auction : £Auction
Sellers description
19th Jul, 2025 11:00
The July 2025 Car Auction
1989 Austin Metro Sport
No Reserve - Possibly the rarest Metro variant
Buyer's Premium: 12.50% of hammer with a minimum charge of £150.00 plus VAT
Registration: F980VHG
Chassis: SAXXFHNM1BD808419
Odometer: 35,000
Transmission: Manual
MOT: July 2026
- Possibly the only example on the road in 2024
- In standard specification
- Beautifully presented
- Cross-spoke alloys
- Dry-stored for 20 years
- Recommissioned in 2023
- Fresh MOT to July 2026
The Austin Metro Sport was a special edition of the popular British supermini, introduced toward the end of the Metro’s life under the Austin badge before the brand was phased out in favour of Rover. Based on the first-generation Metro that debuted in 1980, the Sport edition was designed to inject some youthful flair and sporty appeal into the aging model. It featured distinctive cosmetic upgrades such as bold graphics and a more dynamic interior trim, aimed at younger drivers. Fitted with the same 1.3-litre A-Series engine as the MG Metro, its visual enhancements gave it a spirited presence on the road. The Metro Sport reflected Austin Rover’s effort to keep the Metro relevant in a competitive market, just before the car underwent a significant redesign and rebranding under the Rover name in the early 1990s.
We are pleased to offer this 1989 Austin Metro Sport in Henley Blue with black cloth. First registered in January 1989, the V5C records only 4 former keepers. We understand the Metro was dry-stored for 20 years and, whilst we cannot warrant the low recorded mileage of 35,000, this and the lovely overall condition suggest that it could very well be correct. It is believed to have been recommissioned two years ago when it received a new clutch and brakes, including callipers. Sadly, we have no paperwork to back up the work but it did get a fresh MOT with no advisories in 2023 and again the following year. The Metro has a current MOT through to July 2026.
It's certainly a good looking little thing in its vivid Henley Blue with contrasting red Sport badging and a set of big, cross-spoke alloys. Those wheels look to have been recently refurbished and the matching Nankang tyres appear fresh. Inside, everything is as you would hope. The seats are in good condition, without any obvious rips or tears, and the matching door cards are nice. The roof lining is clean with no staining around the glass sunroof. The carpets are clean and free from wear. In the boot, the spare wheel is present and correct and the parcel shelf hasn’t been cut to accommodate the type of big speakers that were de rigeur in the 1980s. Indeed, it still retains its Phillips radio / cassette. Another nice touch is the Chilham Motors (Bolton) window sticker and registration plate, although we can’t confirm that was the supplying dealer.
It comes with V5C, the three recent MOT certificates and a Metro handbook.
Austin Rover’s marketing for the Metro seemed terribly confused in the late 80s - they had the MG Metros and the body-kitted GTa to appeal to a sportier crowd but also briefly produced the Sport, which seemed to be less in-your-face than those cars, especially when it came to the interior. Perhaps then it isn’t that surprising that sales were low and survival rates miniscule. Checking howmanyleft.co.uk, there appears to have been only one Sport on the road in 2024, presumably this one. Offered with no reserve, this represents a fabulous opportunity to purchase the very rarest of Metros.
Vechicle details
- Ad Ref : 4A250700014
- Auction Estimate : n/a
- Location : Ikon House, Tudor Road, Runcorn, United Kingdom
- Make : Austin
- Model : Metro
- Year : 1989
- Miles : n/a
- Kms : n/a
- Steer : n/a
- Gear Box : n/a
- Cylender : n/a
- cc : n/a
- Cu in : n/a
- Engine No : n/a
- Chassis No : n/a
- Exterior Color : n/a
- Interior : n/a
- Interior Colour : n/a
- Doors : n/a
- Condition : n/a
- MoT. : n/a
- Part exchange Considered : n/a
- Country of Manufacture : n/a
- Location : United Kingdom
- Seller : Manor Park Classics
- Phone : +44(0)1616975 XXX
