British Leyland Motor Corporation, formed in the wake of the post-war manufacturing boom, brought together almost all the British-owned car and commercial vehicle companies that then existed. At the head of the sixth largest car manufacturer in the world, its management confi dently expected to give the United Kingdom a leading place in the global motor industry. The eventual failure was one of the biggest and most disappointing disasters in British industrial history. Despite this, we can be proud of British Leyland's legacy: successful and much loved vehicles like the Mini and the Range Rover have endured, its working practices had a lasting effect on industrial relations policy, and brands that once formed part of the group continue to thrive in this ever-competitive market. From their unique insider perspective, three former employees of the brand reveal in unprecedented detail the ups and downs of this iconic British company.
British Leyland Motor Corporation, formed in the wake of the post-war manufacturing boom, brought together almost all the British-owned car and commercial vehicle companies that then existed. At the head of the sixth largest car manufacturer in the world, its management confidently expected to give the United Kingdom a leading place in the global motor industry. Their catastrophic failure was one of the biggest and most disappointing disasters in British industrial history.From their unique insider perspective, three former employees of the brand reveal how and why, despite producing profitable marques such as Jaguar, Rover and Land Rover, as well as the iconic best-selling Mini, British Leyland came to its sad end ...
Now with revised content and illustrations, this chunky book traces the history of Britain's ill-fated car manufacturing giant, concentrating on the decade 1968 to 1978. The focus is on the products of British Leyland, but the story makes reference to the political and economic context of Britain in the seventies and asks "Why did British Leyland crash?" and "Could this have been avoided?".Events are described chronologically, with specific sections devoted to six of the cars introduced by the company during the period, to the international aspects of British Leyland's rapid contraction, and to external issues such as EEC entry and Japanese competition. 100,000 words. Illustrated.
In 1968, British Leyland brought together many of Britain's motor manufacturers, with the intention of creating a robust unified group that could equal the strength of the big European conglomerates. But this was not to be. There have been many books about the politics and the business activities of British Leyland, but British Leyland - The Cars, 1968-1986 looks exclusively at the cars that came from the company, both the models it inherited and those it created. The eighteen years of the corporation's existence saw a confusing multitude of different car types, but this book resolves these confusions, clarifying who built what, and when. The book takes 1986 as its cut-off point because this was the year that the old British Leyland ceased to exist and what was left of the car and light commercial business was renamed the Rover Group. The book includes: Production histories and technical specifications of every major model; The special overseas models; Appendices on engines, code names, and factories; Buying guidance on the models built in Britain. This is the most comprehensive book so far to focus on the cars from British Leyland between 1968-1986 and it provides an overview of each model's production history, together with essential specification details. It is profusely illustrated with 178 colour and 63 b&w photographs.
The complete history of BMC and a comprehensive directory of the marques and models that made up the whole.This book details the company's origins, its achievements and its legacy, and provides a close look at the many car models that were produced during its heyday.
First published in 1980, this book considers the British motor industry over the period between 1945 and 1979, analysing the ways in which the industry suffered a considerable decline in the post-war era, when compared to motor industries of other countries or to most other British industries. Rather than blaming labour and management, as has frequently been the case, the author argues that the decline can be traced back to poor government policy. Tracing how, when and where government policies affected the industry, the book examines policies clearly directed at the motor industry, such as transport legislation and motor taxation. In addition the work considers the consequences of many policies which were targeted only indirectly at the motor industry as the author argues that whilst government policy may have succeeded in its aim, e.g. improving employment for the balance of payments, the motor industry may have suffered as a consequence. Written in non-technical language, the reissue will be of interest to those concerned with post-war UK economic development, the UK motor industry in particular and the history of government policy in general.
This, the third in a series of books showcasing the products of the passenger division of Leyland since 1960 with previously unpublished images of iconic double-decker buses.
Utilising their fantastic collections of previously unpublished images, Peter Horrex and Robert Appleton pay tribute to this popular and iconic chariot of the people.
From 1955 to 1980, the British Motor Corporation -- later British Leyland -- committed itself to motorsports, mainly rallying, as a means of product improvement and publicity. This fascinating story of those years is written by Bill Price, who was involved with BMC's various departments for more than two decades. Included are profiles of the managers, drivers, and mechanics; the stories behind marques like Austin, Austin-Healey, Morris, and Triumph; and the races, the victories, the disappointments, and the boardroom politics. Nearly 600 evocative photographs show the cars in action, and appendices provide event results for BMC/BL cars entered and supported in the events for a quarter of a century.
A history of the British automotive manufacturer and an analysis of what went wrong. What really happened at British Leyland (BL)? Was it ‘just’ the cars, or were other factors vital to the story? Who really was to blame for BL and MG Rover’s death? The ‘truth’ about BL is deeper than its cars – were ultra- Left-wing plots to topple BL and British society real? Did secret deals and political intrigue really exist? Was it Labour or Conservative powers who ‘killed’ BL, or was it BL itself? How was it that BL’s design genius was hobbled? Author Lance Cole lifts the bonnet on BL and presents a forensic yet easy to read new analysis in a story of BL, its cars, and the era of their motoring as powers on the political Left and Right waged war, sometimes even with themselves. Here is a book about cars and more, a conversation on all things BL: this is a new account of a classic British story told across a trail of evidence in a British industrial and political drama. Many mistakes made BL, but some of the cars were superb, the designs of genius, the engineering excellent; it is just that we have either forgotten, or been brainwashed into believing the worst. In a BL book like no other, written by a classic car fanatic with a background in industrial design, automotive, and wider journalism, this story lifts the lid on BL's cars and more. The author also adds inside knowledge from time working in the motor industry. Lance Cole tells the deeper BL story across the era of its greatest successes and its biggest failures. “An important and overdue book, well researched which will find a welcome place on the shelves of transport academics and motoring aficionados alike.” —The Journal of the Road Transport History Association “Cole’s engaging and informal writing style makes things very readable and helps us untangle a lot of the more complex shenanigans that went on. With fifty colour and fifty monochrome pictures, it’s well-illustrated too. Thoroughly recommended for its astute insight whether you’re a BL fan or not.” —Car Mechanics
