Month: January 2023

UK car production dropped to its lowest level since 1956, according to new figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Last year, the UK produced 775,014 cars, […]

Ten years on from the end of its UK production, James Godwin tells the story of the design process of the 1986 Ford Transit at the firm’s Dunton facility in […]

Ken Clayton recalls the highs – and lows – of launching the Austin Maestro (LM10) to the trade in 1983. There were logistical issues, management mismanagement and a sense that […]

Ah, the MGA. The good-looking sports car that sparked the real kick-off of MG’s expansion in the 1950s and, for a while at least, became the best-selling sports car in the […]

It’s 12 January 1979, and we’re standing on Ecclesall Road, Sheffield heading away from the Hunter’s Bar roundabout on the main road in from the Peak District to the city. […]

The good-looking Vauxhall Victor FE Series went on sale in 1972 and was met by indifference from the motoring press. But a programme of constant improvements saw it become increasingly […]

September 1994 and, as a new Jaguar XJ and Range Rover are launched during the same week, the fortunes of their respective manufacturers take an upward turn. Keith Adams compares […]

Ian Nicholls unravels the production data to try and come up with a definitive number of Minis built. He finds more questions than answers – but it looks like more […]

It’s been a long-held belief that building small cars was less profitable than large ones. However, as Chris Cowin explains, things are never that straightforward. Making the Mini pay for […]

Chris Cowin delves into the history of building the Triumph Acclaim at Cowley, countering the myth it was simply a screwdriver operation unpacking and assembling Japanese kits. Such a belief […]

Keith Adams recalls the UK Government’s bailout of Chrysler (UK) following the US company’s threat to pull out of the UK, potentially costing 25,000 jobs. At the time, Harold Wilson’s […]

Mike Humble ponders the Vauxhall Senator – a car once beloved by the UK’s management classes. However, what truly set this car apart from its rivals was the fear it […]

Keith Adams tells the short-and-sweet story of the Austin Allegro Equipe – a go-faster saloon that its maker sold as a homegrown alternative to the Alfa Romeo Alfasud Ti or […]

The Nissan Qashqai has emerged as the UK’s best-selling car of 2022, and the first British-built model to top the annual sales charts for 24 years. Figures released today by […]

The issue of the strength of the UK Automotive sector comes up regularly – and Robert Leitch’s recent piece bemoaning the loss of a British-owned (or ‘indigenous’) industry ultimately asks […]

It’s time to discuss the political influences on the BMC-Leyland merger of 1968, some 55 years ago this week. Harold Wilson’s Labour Party was four years into government and had […]

Thomas Josef Derrick Paul Karen OBE, Automotive and Industrial Designer, has died aged 96. Once described as the man who styled our childhoods, Tom passed away following a short illness. […]

A Volkswagen Golf? On AROnline? Why? This is my partner’s car, and I regularly get the chance to play with it. It’s not that I really like the Golf, but […]

Well, well, well, thank goodness that one’s over. It’s fair to say that 2022 was a roller coaster of a year – somewhat of a surprise as I think many […]