Cars

Steve Harper talks through his involvement in shaping the MGF, as it was transformed from the F16 into the mid-engined PR3 in 1990-’91. Setting the mid-engined sports car template for […]

Just when you think you’ve seen everything, a new (to you) image comes along and surprises you. I had the pleasure of finding the two black and white  photographs (above […]

The Morris Ital development story was a case of Italian badge, British style. Although BL sold this car as being designed in Europe, it was styled in the UK by […]

No, not that one… but this one… The launch of the Mazda MX-5 in 1989 marked a huge turning point in the history of the sports car. Until that point […]

The Triumph Stag development story is a tragic missed opportunity – it had everything: looks, power, a soundtrack to die for and a market niche all to itself… Yet it […]

Romania during the 1980s was the unlikely production site for the last ever non-PSA Citroën to find its way to the marketplace. But the Oltcit – or Citroën Axel in Western Europe – proved to be the wrong product at the wrong time for both partners. Even if it was technically interesting and has a fascinating back-story. […]

Keith Adams considers some of the earlier hatchbacks which hit the market before the Volkswagen Golf Mk1 arrived and created a legacy that’s lasting to this day. Had history been […]

We lift the lid on the elegant Italian versions of the popular BMC 1100/1300 range. The Innocenti IM3, I4 and I5 were very appealing versions of this stalwart British saloon, […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 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… […]

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 […]