An interesting conversation about retro design and potential new electric cars has been prompted by Renault’s recent announcement that it would be reintroducing the wonderful R5 supermini as an all-electric […]
I didn’t even bother to make a New Year’s resolution to cut down on buying cars. What’s the point? After all, me saying I won’t be buying any more cars […]
It’s mid-March 1979, and the UK is bracing itself for a heavy snowfall. It’s a cold and bleak time as the after effects of the Winter of Discontent are going […]
Simon Weakley, a former Austin Rover marketing man, steps into the realms of counterfactual history by probing a scenario in which Leyland Motors and British Motor Holdings did not merge to become British […]
Central to Austin Rover’s plans for the late-1980s and into the ’90s was a fresh-looking replacement for the under-performing Montego. There were many promising design proposals, but the AR16 and […]
It’s August 1984 and we’re in the beautiful harbour town of Paimpol in the delightful region of Brittany in France. The relative peace of this region seems like a million […]
Keith Adams tells the story of the Rover Coupe Concept Vehicle, which acted as a showcase for Austin Rover design and starred at the 1986 Turin Motor Show. It also […]
Mike Humble sticks his head above the parapet to come to the defence of the Vauxhall Vectra B, the car that Jeremy Clarkson famously slated on Top Gear. After running three […]
I revisited an old friend this morning, and it was like I was never away. If you’ve not heard of Pathetic Motorways, then I genuinely recommend paying a visit. I’ve […]
This is counterfactual history. Bill McWilliam discusses what could have happened if Leyland had walked away from the merger with British Motor Holdings. The following counterfactual story, in the form […]
Keith Adams tells the little-known story of the three-seat Talbot-Matra Murena, a mid-engined sports car for the ‘masses’ that ushered its maker into a brave new world for the 1980s. Sadly, its […]
The Land Rover Freelander underwent a rather convoluted development programme; it started out as a joint Rover Cars/Land Rover project to produce a vehicle to compete in the emerging SUV […]
The 1977 Matra-Simca Rancho is one of those wonderful cars that made more of an impact than anyone realised at the time of its launch. Today, no-one would bat an […]
The Rover 35 – codename R30 – was the one that got away. A five-door hatch that oozed class and sophistication, it was due for introduction in 2003. Instead, it was canned in 1999. […]
The Austin Allegro 1300 Special, a version never offered on the British market, had a great deal more showroom appeal than most UK versions. Chris Cowin takes a closer look… […]
David Morgan remembers the launch of the new opening credits for the Midlands’ most famous motel in March 1985, but filmed in September 1984 complete with an MG Maestro 1600. […]
Keith Adams tells the story of the Rover 55 or R60 – the 75’s smaller brother, and part of a two-pronged attack on the premium car market for the mid-2000s. […]
The Rover 200 (R3) started out as a Metro replacement, but was soon marketed into something far more grandiose. […]
And now… From Norwich! That would be the famous war-cry of ITVs late, great stalwart of off screen continuity – John Benson. Mr Benson worked freelance for the telly, usually […]
Raphael De Serres tells the story of how he ended up buying an MG ZS 180, and why it now occupies a place close to his heart thanks to being […]
Mike Humble sticks his head above the parapet to come to the defence of the Austin Montego and its marqueless later versions. After years of running and servicing the 1980s […]
The year 2021 sees the 45th anniversary of the launch of the Rover SD1, the great white hope for British Leyland and all who sailed in her. After years of […]
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