Maestrum A650 MK1 Blackpool 1.1
Released in 1965, the A650 set to be the somewhat spiritual successor of the M32 - a small, economic hatchback that was easy yet still relatively fun to drive. The A650 achieved this in almost all it’s markets, however the low acceleration and depressing top speed left many feeling… bored. In an era where people were starting to want more power, Maestrum was left largely behind.
So, they decided to reach out to French car manufacturer Vantour (who were the most advanced in car technology in the world at the time) and the small Scottish brand Keira, who made sports cars suited for small and winding mountain roads of the Scottish Highlands. Maestrum asked them to assist in producing a more sport-oriented trim of the A650, in exchange for a rather large sum of money.
Vantour provided brand-new radial tyres and DOHC engines, whilst Keira tuned the car’s new 4 - speed gearbox and, when it arrived, the new 1.1 litre inline 4 engine. Whilst the engine provided more power than standard, it was still asked by Maestrum to be relatively economical, so it only produced 60 horsepower. More than enough to power the 800 kilo car, but still relatively low in the sports car market.
Maestrum fitted all of this to the existing A650 chassis, and after some visual modifications (including new wheels, trim pieces, foglights and a more sport-oriented interior) it was finished. It was named the Blackpool, after the city of the main Maestrum factory producing A650’s at the time. It proved to sell very well in England and Scotland, as being only £760 ($13,500 in AUD) it was very attractive to young drivers, being cheap enough to ensure but still having enough grunt to outstrip most first cars on British roads at the time. Pair this with it’s unique looks and you had the perfect “Boy Racer” car.
The MK1 was produced from 1965 - 1978, when the MK3 came into production (the MK2 was produced from 1970 - 1978, and it was deemed “a bad financial decision” to cut the strings of the MK1 to be replaced with the MK2.) and even saw a relatively successful rally career, getting podium finishes on multiple stages.
