Cars

In AROnline’s recent article on the design of the Rover 75,  Richard Woolley says, ‘There was only one design theme and, apart from some minor changes, it became the production […]

The 75 was the first Rover for a generation to be produced without tight budgetary constraints – and it showed with almost previously unheard of engineering quality. However, BMW’s Chairman […]

Much has already been written about the history of the Autobiography nameplate here on AROnline and how it has helped take the price and exclusivity of Range Rovers ever further […]

The 1970 Hillman Avenger Liftback was the Rootes Group’s attempt to extend the appeal of its new mid-sized saloon – with a smaller hatchback version. The project would originally go […]

The Austin Kimberley and Tasman, and their Morris-badged cousins, were an interesting development of the BMC 1800/2200 reserved for the Antipodean markets only. Built between 1970 and late 1972, unsold […]

The Vanden Plas 1800 was one of many prototypes based on BMC/Leyland products which was worked upon by the famous coachbuilder. This one used the Austin X6 as its donor […]

David Morgan tells the superbly-researched story behind the MG ZR, ZS and ZT/ZT-T models conceived to give the MG brand further appeal beyond the MGF sports car. They also helped […]

On the trail of the enigmatic Argyll Who says the ‘Car Guessing Game’ is no more than a bit of pointless froth? Around twelve years ago now, in a Celtic […]

Chris Cowin looks at a rare and half-forgotten Austin Allegro: the twin-carb Allegro 1750 Sport which was only available for one year. It’s the Allegro that ‘catches that sporting feeling’ […]

Back in 2000, The Independent’s Antony Hopker marked the end of production of the classic Mini at Longbridge.  Mini production ends after 41 years More than 40 years of classic […]

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 industry norm for the mid-1980s was for a car design to last about three to four years before it received its first facelift.  In the case of the Maestro, […]

No British car since the Austin Allegro has sparked as many urban myths as the X-Type. We’ve heard them all and, if anything, they certainly prove to be a talking […]

Thirty-five years ago, Austin Rover Group unveiled the MG Maestro Turbo, which at launch was the fastest accelerating MG road car ever built. David Morgan tells the story behind the […]

The Rover 820 Turbo 16V was a last-gasp performance variation of the XX-generation. Supplanting the V6 Vitesse, this car predicted the R17-generation’s shift to the smaller engine.  Rover Special Products […]

Although few people realise it today, there was quite some history of development work on Austin Rover engines at Tickford. As the Technical Manager – Engines at Tickford, it was […]

Keith Adams tells the story of how Tickford helped Ford reinvent its iconic 1600E… In 1989, the Escort and Orion were coming to the end of their production run, and […]

Keith Adams tells the story of the Tickford Capri, and how it made it from drawing board to production… Back in 1981, former Gold Leaf Team Lotus and Yardley Team […]

Keith Adams tells the story of the Tickford-updated Triumph Stag from 1982. Would you have bought one? Tickford was asked in 1982 to upgrade a Black 1975 Triumph Stag for […]

Frazer established itself as a new car company in 1981, offering this fabulous-looking Tickford Metro, which was first shown at that year’s London Motorfair. The Tickford name was owned by […]