NEW PROJECT ARRIVAL! Can We Build The British Leyland Hot Hatch That Never Was?? 

Question: How many projects are waiting in the pipeline? ie. How long from when a project is okayed to when it actually starts?

Hang on, isn't the Late Brake Show building a hot Allegro? Theres only one way to sort this out.........FIIIIGHT!!!!

I’m struggling with the thought of cutting up an Integra Type R to build an Allegro, no matter how well it may turn out, but if anyone can make a good job of it, you guys are right up there. Some of the design sketches suggest that it could be quite muscular - that’s probably the best way to excuse it…

Question… have you ever had a really expensive design fail? One of those where you’ve gone so far in time and materials but just run into the wall of nope, just can’t make that work? I work in a completely different industry but have had that happen before 😱

What is the average cost in pounds of a Retro Power vehicle to a customer?

Question (for the new format where they’re answered at the end). Cal/Nat, the quality of your work is truly spectacular and I’ve loved all 129 episodes, but wondered whether you typically put your vehicles through a BIVA (SVA) test given that most of them have some quite extensive modification to their shells. Obviously the testing of Gordon’s car and the Stratos kit were covered, but it’s rarely mentioned otherwise.

Finally, a RP project I can get excited about 🤩😝

Question: How do you avoid the Intelgro ending up in a Q plate? I've never managed to get my head round these rules/laws. At what point do you replace so much of the BL structure with Honda that it's no longer registerable(?) as an Allegro? Will it stay on the Allegro V5 so it comes back as the correct appearance if the rozzers look it up? Does an IVA solve the problem by getting a new V5? (Sorry, that's four questions!)

Question: Has anyone wanted you to build a Retro Ford Transit Mk1 LWB Van ? (There are some good ex Fire brigade ones around in Germany.)

Much prefer the format this week, having all the fabrication first and the building afterwards makes much better sense to me. You’re compelled to watch right to end to get the final goods . Can’t wait to see your interpretation of the Allegro and how it will Compton Fab Cos . Great episode chaps 🙌🏻

My question... What is the plan for wheels on the Jensen? I find that the most intriguing build that you've ever done, and can't quite imagine the end result, but in particular I think the wheels will be a vital part! Thanks, J

Please push the Allegro in the sea and restore the Integra 😅

A dolomite sprint is begging to be given the retro power treatment, but I suppose if it’s not on the list it’s not being built

Its a no from me. Its like taking a bespoke Tom Ford suit and putting a Victoria Beckham badge on it.. from class to crass.. The Allegro was always a POS.. but I will watch the series..

that Landcruiser inlet manifold !

Question: Are Stu and Tom aware just how admired they are for their skill? (not taking away from anyone else of course)

The thought of this is sacrilege of course, but the R5 GT Turbo-esque rendering with Integra underpinnings had this 80s hot hatch fan right on board. Times that by a spot of Retropower over-engineering, and this is set to be a great project!

The question isnt can you do it its should you do it.

I get it...Great Idea...Just don't cut up That nice RARE TYPE R ....cut up any old Integra,.........you'll probably end up changing half of the metal work and seam brazing it anyway ...?????

That Allegro is already my fav project by far, you lads have been involved in .... many a good watch incoming !

So, a Retropower version of Bad Obsession Motorsport’s Binky. Or is that Urchfab’s MX5 Prefect? Excellent! “ Make the noise”. Please don’t take 7 years.

More than a little Project Binky about that Allegro project! And I agree with Cal that the Allegro is a good looking car!

I've got to admit every molecule in my body is screaming "Fix the Integra, let the Austin join it's brethren in the junkyard." I sincerely hope this turns out better than what I'm thinking.

The “INTEGRO” or more fondly known as the “AGRO”. What an amazing project choice and you’ve certainly set the bar high. I tip my hat to you fellas and can’t wait to see how the project develops.

As an integra owner id say this is pretty contentious!! The drivetrain is superb, but the chassis is better. The double wishbone set up in EG civics and DC2/4 integras is beyond comprehension considering these cars were sold as a housewives runabout.

When do we get to see details of the John Deere 3050 build?

Ah someone needs to run a sweepstake on who's Allegro's gonna be finished first, this one, or Jonny's? Jonny's got fewer people to work on his, but he has a head start! :edits: I commented as soon as I saw the credits- I should have waited for your opening remarks!

Austin Alegro! Can't you just drop a piano on it like Top Gear would?😂

You know - a lot of people will say that the Allegro was a terrible car, with panel-gaps you could drive a bus through, awful handling, a rubbish suspension system and looks only a mother could love. And they'd ALL be right...

Now this will be good!! I always wondered what a ‘proper’ hot Allegro would be like - the Equipe and early SuperSports were mildly warm, to say the least!

Was very excited to see an Integra DC2.. but an Allegro..!? It's like hearing Nickelback cover Enter Sandman 🤢

Bedtime stories with retropower. Are te best bedtime stories. 😉

Then put the a series into the Integra and make a cold hatch

I'm not a Honda person at all but scrapping that Type R is appalling. It'll prob be one of those cars worth a lot in 20 years.

Taking two cars I have little interest in and combining them into something cool? I'm in. 🙂

Whilst I agree that a hot hatch Allegro is a fantastic idea I'm afraid that I can't agree that sacrificing a fixable DC02 is the way to go. If the DC02 was a complete write-off that would be different but a bit of rust isn't a problem and these cars are appreciating modern classics and should be saved not destroyed, even if it is to create a kick ass Allegro.

Have a deep, probably quite dark, soft spot for Allegro's, my dad had a 1.5 as a company car in 1977-80 and the fact that it had a 5 speed gearbox was a revelation. Ride and handling was good in the context of the mostly leaf sprung competition. Had a few issues with it such as wheel bearings etc which were solved by us at home rather than the dealer. Gear linkage was a bit ponderous but was nice if changes were not rushed. One of my cousins had a Mk3 1.5 that had twin carbs and was actually a really good update, handling had been drastically improved, a bit more performance and a good gearchange that didn't have to be used with as much care. Years later in the 90's, I had a Maestro that I built with a 1600 R Series (developed from the E-Series in the allegro/maxi but with a vw golf gearbox). I had used the DCNF carbs out of the MG1600 Maestro along with a ported head, cam and lightened / balanced bottom end to get 145bhp which was reasonable from a 1.6 8V engine that had it's origins in the 60's. Had plans to do a stroker 1800 version of the engine using a modified 1750 crank or just put a K-series in it but ended up buying an Alfa 155 instead lol. Sounds like another great project you have, look forward to seeing it progress!

God seeing that Integra being taken apart was hard to watch 😢 Looking forward to seeing the end result though!

The Allegro was actually quite a cool car in the original designers concept, it was supposed to be a hatchback, and originally it had some intuitive and forward thinking ideas, shame the execution of it went off in a tangent but I still think it had potential 😊

What is it about rich boomers that want their 1970s cars back again? (Has the world gone mad?)🤔

White with orange stripes is just the perfect balance for the Austin

It’s what you would get if the Late Brake Show was crossed with Project Binky!! This really looks like a great project. Can’t wait to see where this goes!!!!!

Question, what is the process for accepting a build ? I imagine money is high up the list , but are there other criteria, what are the boxes that need to be ticked

Hints and tips. 1. Don't start with a Marina. 2. If you start with an Allegro throw away everything except the square steering wheel as that will make a nice talking point.

Haha! I thought it said "Rustin" Allegro on the back for a moment!

From someone wanting to do a 'floorpan swap' I've heard that dvla are clamping down on these because they are comparing them to 'cut n shuts' from back in T' day.. anyone know of this?

This is not The Thunderdome. 2 cars in, 1 car out isn't how it should be. If the Integra parts are being donated to the Allegro, then I really hope the Allegro parts are being donated to the Integra. 2 cars in. 2 cars out!

Shameful waste a great Honda. Dam!

Project Binky Vibes with the Allegro👌

Sorry guys, can’t get on board with this one. My take would be to restore the Integra and condem the All-Agro to the tin-worm worm food. Arse about face.

You should ask Steve from MED if he wants to buy the A-Series & Gearbox dont scrap it! Is it a 1275?

For Tom’s sake I think you should develop a pneumatic chaser before he needs a hand transplant.

Oh, no. Somebody has fitted an aftermarket round steering wheel!

British Leyland would have used their K series engine not a Honda engine though. They are now being pushed to 800hp

The Allegro looks cool. It will be fun/interesting to see that compared to Johnny's Allegro.

There already was a Hot Hatch AllAgro. HL 1750.... went like the clappers but handled like a pram.

I'm glad you acknowledged that the Allegro is not a well built car - you're going to have reinforce a fair bit as there is not much structural integrity in the shell. It's shame as the original designs were pretty good but then the BL machine just ripped the guts out of it. .

Let's see which is the better one, yours or Johnny's. And shame on you for ripping apart an Integra R.

Allegro looks to have more space for the transplant than Binky.

I’m all for someone making a fast allegro, but sacrificing an integra type R to do it? F**k no.

I know it is the most rational way, but - like Churchill - it saddens me a little that the chosen car is such a fine, original example

Cal I quite like having the body shop work first as its a logical order of things. I appreciate you will want to do an intro first of course.

Poor body structure/strength, it will need a roll gage IMO.

Fantastic project, nice little sleeper design, roundels (no numbers), slightly flared arches, BRG obviously, a few extra air intakes. Nice to do a complete LCD dash (but with original dials mimicked). Must have minilites. Hay ho, just sitting here thinking. Best wishes.

Where’s the rust on the Integra? I thought there were many hot Allegros back in the day when they caught fire!

The second design was very cool, almost R5 turbo style

Well everyone to their own but it seems a waste of human and material resources,especially the Type R

Have you thought about putting the A-Series in the Integra? ...

A shame to gut the Honda… I’d rather see that given the treatment it deserves and toss an old K series from a Civic into the BL thing.

Have hit my thumb knuckle so many times, I shiver with pain just mentioning it. Good luck Tom, build that guard.

Would have been better with a TVR spec Rover V8 tbh.

Am I being stupid or am I watching the late brake show 🤔

I suggest you cut the tail pipes back on the Morris it looks like a wheelbarrow

Looking forward to the Allegro Type-R!

Allegro,s have gotten better looking over the years .Kinda like the American AMC Pacer (Wayne's World Car) . They replaced a better looking better driving and better build quality Austin 1100 - 1300 .Plus people hated the none round steering wheel and no 1/4 light window that are a must in a none air conditioned car .

The Integra ❤️ 2:25 The Alegro has ROOM in there for an LS 🤣

No, no, no - save the Integra ( throw the BL cr*p into the skip )

Just hope they fit the quartic steering wheel

Oh no - not an "A" series into a Type R..........

hang on a second .. Japanese running gear into a old British Leyland ?? where have i seen that idea before ??

Hang on I know where you are going. The Austin will donate engine and gearbox.

hated the rustin all-agro, my old man had a puke green pile of shite, now't but hassle. sold it for an fso polonez, that old fso was bomb proof and never missed a beat.

As long as the end product still closely resembles an Allegro then why not? Looking forward to seeing it progress.

Allegro with Integra underpinnings….what a challenging and innovative project. You guys have no limits, and absolutely fearless! Can’t wait to see that taking shape. 👍

Hot hatch Allegro? Surely not a hatch?

Fanbloodytastic project. This is the 3rd Allegro project I’m watching being done now.

Hang on a mo the teggy, isn’t going to be the doner for the Allegro?

A Austin Allegro powered Honda, brilliant, who'd have thought 😅😅

The Allegro would have been more appropriately entitled the Adagio.

Use all the Honda parts to fund the build... the parts are worth a mint to JDM fans

IntegRo

passed my test in an All agro albeit a later one but i always liked the look of them as a youngster and i think the shape of it will make a really good rod

I love Integra Type R's so abit conflicted on this , would much prefer to see a write off being a donor but realise not always as easy as that, just a shame another relatively good Integra is being sacrificed.. sure the Alegro will turn out great though.

I always thought the subaru impreza (hatchback) looked like a modern allegro and the panamera looks like a maxi.

I love the juxtaposition of Churchill which is going to be a work of art and the allegro , no one can say the builds are not varied.

I approve of the Mk1 arches, I think you've got them just right. I always thought the Mk1 rear forest arches looked a bit odd with those big bubbles. Also love the Allegro renders, it's going to be amazing!

Whatever next I'm seriously looking forward to seeing how much of a monster you turn this allegro into chaps. Allways thought someone should do a Marina coupe, any takers ?.

I once saw a austin 1300 gt with the Honda engine &gearbox.

Good project an il like the shape of the allegro. I know very well the intégra and the type R have some couple of tricks in the body for rigidity. If you want to keep the Honda driving qualities you need to increase the allegro body. But very happy seeing a project involving a Honda

Instead of destroying a Type R why didn't they build a tubular space frame and have complete carte blanche.