The Historical Bit...

1965:

or there abouts! The British Motor Corporation (BMC) realised that its existing large family cars (the Farinas) were rather unexciting, heavy and underpowered and were being outsold by Ford's more up to date offerings (the only time that Ford have been more up to date!).

1969:

The Austin Maxi was launched as a new family car by the recently formed British Leyland Motor Corporation (BLMC). BMC had spent millions of pounds developing a new 1485cc engine and five speed gearbox, and found itself bankrupted partly as a result. The new car was designed to use this power unit, many other components coming from the corporate parts bin, for instance the doors were from the Landcrab 1800. The power unit was fitted transversly, driving the front wheels, suspension was independant at all four corners by the hydro-pneumatic Hydrolastic system, and the car was a 5 door saloon (hatchback to thee and me, although my 1980 car is registered as a 5 door saloon). The new car was cooly received, partly because of its utilitarian appearance and partly because of its high noise levels and appalling gear change.

1970:

The car was relaunched with the use of rods instead of cables for the gear change, better sound deadening, a wooden dashboard, a smaller steering wheel and the option of a long stroke 1748cc engine. Cosmetic changes included a grille badge and side rubbing strips.

1972:

A higher performance twin carburettor version (designated the 1750HL) was launched, with 95bhp, compared with the single carb 1750's 84bhp (thank you Haynes). A four speed Automotive Products automatic gearbox was also introduced, but was not generally available until 1974.

1976:

Float-on-fluid became float-on-fluid-with-gas-springing, as Hydrolastic gave way to Hydragas.

1980:

And that was about it until 1980! Dual circuit brakes, heated rear windows and hazard warning lights had crept in sometime, but 1980 brought the Maxi 2, in L, HL and HLS trim levels. The L had intermittent wipers, carpets, knitted nylon trim, a radio, door bins and a laminated windscreen and, um, well, that's about it really. Not even rear wash/wipe or head restraints, let alone cruise control, central locking, air conditioning, surface to air missiles or an ejector seat. The HL added velour seat trim, tinted glass and extra sound deadening, while the HLS got the twin carb engine and a burr walnut veneer dashboard, as opposed to the walnut veneer used in the L and the HL.