Archive

AROnline’s historian-in-residence Ian Nicholls digs into the archives to discuss the Austin Allegro launch and growing pains from the perspectives of British Leyland’s movers and shakers at the time. Overture to […]

In an exclusive and far-reaching interview published in Motor Transport, Lord Stokes, Chairman of British Leyland, has spoken his mind on many topics vitally affecting the future of his company, and of the country. This summary first appeared in Autocar, 28 September 1972. […]

Last of the traditional sports car line, the Triumph TR6 was unveiled to the press in January 1968. Ian Nicholls recalls the press launch. […]

In September 1967, The Times talked to ex-Ford man Filmer Paradise and got him to spell out BMC’s plans for European sales and production. It’s an interesting snapshot of BMC’s huge market ambitions on the eve of its takeover by the Leyland Motor Corporation. […]

From the despondency following its closure in 2005, Longbridge came back to life just two years later under the ownership of Nanjing Automobile Corporation (NAC), which put the popular MG TF back into production. Here’s how we reported it back then… […]

BL was an industrial soap opera that provided Fleet Street hacks with plenty to write about. Here’s the story of sleeping night shift workers. In this occasional series Ian Nicholls revisits some of these stories, using the newspaper articles of the time as the main source of information. Did the media have it in for British Leyland? Judge for yourself. […]

On 26 April 1977, the Ryder Report was submitted for government approval. In it, were detailed breakdowns of what funding British Leyland would need, both to survive in the short term, and then deliver in the more distant future. […]

On 26 April 1977, British Leyland was still finding its way under government control, having been bailed out the previous year. The priority was to get the Mini’s replacement into production. To do that, it needed to deliver the Ryder Report, and hope that Callaghan’s Labour government would foot the bill. Here’s how The Times reported the story. […]

Nanjing Automobile Corporation announced it would start production in March 2007. Except that it never panned out as expected… […]

During the 1986 negotiations between Ford and Austin Rover, Longbridge’s future model plans were shared with the American company’s executives. Thirty years ago this week, news of this became public knowledge – does it mean that K-series were shared with Uncle Henry? This is how The Guardian reported the story. […]

Fifty years ago this week, it the merger between Leyland – owner of Triumph – and Rover was getting ever closer. This could only be a good, thing, yes? […]

On 19 February 1987, Graham Day’s Rover Group continued its march towards privatisation. Selling off loss-making Leyland Trucks – as it was described back then – was seen as an important first step in getting the company shipshape for its impending sell off to British Aerospace. […]

On 15 February 1977, BL looked in terrible shape, with strikes crippling the company , cars lying unbuilt, and market share melting away. This is how the papers were reporting the situation back then. […]

On this day… The Times, 1 May 1970 reported that delays for Jaguar XJ6s were so intolerable, Swiss buyers came to London and took matters into their own hands… Impatient […]

Motor, 4 June 1983 Robots and new production line techniques are helping to ensure the improved quality of Austin Rover cars. Howard Walker reports. You won’t see many white coats […]

Thirty years ago, British Leyland was on the cusp of launching its most important car in a decade – the Austin Maestro. And the company management was already beginning the […]

‘Twini’ Moke goes testing The Times, 8 January 1963 A twin-engined 1696cc version of the BMC Mini-Car has been produced experimentally at the BMC works here by Mr Alec Issigonis, […]

Compiled by Keith Adams, taken from AROnline‘s vast archive 50 years ago this week: Looks like snow was stopping play! The Times, 2 January 1963: On a day of snow […]

It’s 20 years since the astonishing XJ220 burst on to the scene – and today it still has more road presence than any other supercar of its era. With a […]

Sir Richard O’Brien Sir Richard O’Brien, who died on December 11 2009 aged 89, chaired the Manpower Services Commission (MSC) from 1976 to 1982 and later served as chairman of […]

Alex Park: Chief Executive of British Leyland Alex Park ran British Leyland during a controversial period of the motor manufacturer’s history in 1975-78. Park fought hard to revive the newly […]