h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I quite agree that the CONCEPT of the Austin Maxi was a fine one- versatile and with five speed boxes and a bed in the back, but purely from a personal point of view, I think it is flawed because it is so eyeball insultingly UGLY. General consencus of opinion within the motor industry at the time dictated that cars had overhang at the back, whereas the maxi has it at the front so looks out of proportion. can you imagine Ford making something that is so despicable to behold? no, they actually try to make money so design something at least pleasing to the eye, even if it did rust away pretty quickly (The mk3 Cortina for example, a maxi contemporary of the time, which at least had some cheap style with its coke-bottle style flanks) and also the maxi sounds like a bloody vacuum cleaner on the over-run--- yes, it does! 00000000000000h!

The Maxi was an interesting car. From the name Maxi - a cunning play on words, representing a larger car, Maxi being the opposite of Mini. The Mini being one of the most ground breaking and revolutionary cars of all time whilst being a thoroughly entertaining car to own and drive. True to its name the Maxi was the opposite.

Typically of British Leyland the Maxi was a great idea until the accountants got involved and compromised the design and manufacture of the car so we once again produced an ugly, badly built motor car with an ability to rust before your very eyes. Having a bed in a car was innovative but a prerequisite of any form of mobile accomodation is that it doesn't leak...

They were not one of our motoring industry's proudest acheivements.