Cars from BMC and its successors have been sold abroad under a variety of alternative names. Here are just a few of them, including a couple of near-misses… Austin A40 Futura Home market name: Austin A40 Farina The Futura name was chosen for the Swedish market, not only to suggest a futuristic car, but also [...]

In this gallery, we take a look at some of the names used to sell various versions of the Morris Marina in overseas markets, plus one that didn’t quite make it… Of course, as those of you who have visited the BMC 1100/1300 page in this gallery will already know, the Marina featured here was [...]

In this gallery, we take a look at some of the names used to sell various versions of the BMC 1800/2200 in overseas markets… Austin Balanza Home market name: based on Austin 1800 This name (meaning balance) was used on MkI Austin 1800s sold in the Netherlands and Belgium. While it is thought to have [...]

Austin de Luxe Home market name: based on Austin 1100 MkIIINot just a new name, but a new engine too: this Spanish-built model used a 55bhp version of the 998cc A-series engine. Introduced in 1974, it also found its way into the Danish and Greek markets. Austin 11/55 Home market name: based on Austin 1100In [...]

In this gallery, we take a look at some of the names used to sell various versions of the Farina-styled saloon and estate models in overseas markets… Austin A55 Cambrian Home market name: Austin A55 Cambridge MkII Cambrian was chosen because it was thought that Cambridge would have infringed a Canadian copyright; just before the [...]

Ever wondered what a facelifted Maestro would look like? Well, now you know… The Chinese automotive group First Auto Works (FAW) acquired the production rights to the Maestro and Montego from Etsong (who had produced the Lubao QE6400 and derivatives) and developed the car into an interesting amalgamation of the two. On 11 May 2003, [...]

The aquisition of production rights for the Maestro by Etsong was intended to signal the beginning of a new venture. Following the ill-fated Bulgarian adventure, the Maestro/Montego found a new home in China. Etsong is an important Chinese tobacco company, but they also have an industrial division, a construction group, a travel agency, and own [...]

A couple of years after production had ceased in the UK, the Montego was re-introduced in the Indian subcontinent in order to compete in the executive car market. WHEN BMW bought the Rover Group in 1994, it has been said many times that Bernd Pischetsrieder was surprised to find the antiquated Montego and its hatchback [...]

NOT much has been written about the operation to build Maestros in Bulgaria, but at long last we’re able to put the record straight…. Thanks to an ex-Rover Group executive, we have been able to piece together the story of the Roadacar assembly operation in Bulgaria and conclude why it failed in the way it [...]

The Leyland P82 would have supplemented the P76 and Force 7, and would have provided an up-to-date replacement for the Leyland Marina. Writing exclusively for www.austin-rover.co.uk, Industry expert JACK YAN fills in the blanks to reveal the cruel end to a promising Antipodean project… Compact future lost IN the mid-1960s, BMC Australia, keen to get [...]

The P76 Sedan look set for a successful run in Australia, and during its development programme, an estate version, pickup and this – the Force 7 coupe – were developed. When the fortunes of Leyland Australia took a turn for the worse, the coupe became a victim of rationalization. Only a few survive to this [...]

Vanden Plas produced a variety of prototypes based on BMC/Leyland models. One of these used the Austin X6 as its donor car.

This excellent article comes from the Australian publication, “Australian Motor Sports and Automobiles”, December 1970. NEW AUSTIN AUSSIE SIX With very Australian names, how can the new BLMC six-cylinder car fail? Its advance specification and increased performance should win over plenty of traditional “big three” buyers. THIS is it, BLMC’s latest attempt at climbimg aboard [...]

These Antipodean specials were based on the ADO17 (note the doors), but were treated to unique front and rear styling. It could be said that the Kimberley and Tasman look rather like the four-door Maxi that was never put into production, but any attempt to dress-up the design failed, in truth. The car was phased [...]

In this gallery, we take a look at some of the names used to sell various versions of the Mini in overseas markets… Austin Partner Home market name: based on Austin SevenThe Austin version of the Mini was sold in Denmark as the Partner from its introduction in 1959 until 1964. Morris Mascot Home market [...]

Once it became clear the Moke was never going to cut in in serious military use, its future seemed to be tied into sunnier climes… Park Paget tells the story of its Australian afterlife… AT the beginning of the Seventies, BLMC-Australia had started to realise the Mini-Moke could be better marketed. As a result, the [...]

South Africa produced the Mini in an interesting variety of body combinations not seen elsewhere… Wolseley 1000 The Wolseley 1000 was South Africa’s first mix-and-match Mini, mating the glitzy Wolseley front end – complete with the obligatory illuminated grille badge – to the standard Mini bodyshell. Well, almost standard – as can be seen in [...]

The car known in the UK as the Morris Marina was sold as the Austin Marina in a number of overseas markets, including the US, Canada and South Africa. USA Canada South Africa South African Marina brochure Marina brochure supplied by John Shepherd

A question that is often asked by Marina enthusiasts is why-oh-why did the Australian version of the car use the Maxi E-Series engine, instead of the B-Series, as used in the UK. We posed this question to ex-Leyland Australia Operations manager, Merv Sheather and former Leyland Australia Parts Manager, Phil West. The answers were enlightening… [...]

Outwardly, it looked like an Ital with a nicer looking front bumper, but underneath, it sported a new chassis. The Huandu was built in Western China and proved fairly ubiquitous in its own part of the country… The following account was written for this site by Erik van Ingen Schenau, of the China Motor Vehicle [...]