When the BMC 1800 was launched in 1964, few people can have imagined that one of its defining features – its doors – would later appear on a series of cars ranging from a 1.5-litre family hatchback to a 3-litre executive saloon.
However, the story doesn’t end there. As well as being pressed into service on no fewer than four distinct production models, ‘those doors’ were at the heart of a plethora of proposed models that never saw the light of day.
Without Declan's hard work, this site simply wouldn't exist. An avid car enthusiast with a fleet including two ADO16s and a pair of classic Fiats, Declan's choice of classics is second to none...
X6! I think the appropriate phrase would have been “had them dumped over here” rather than “get them over here.” BLMC cynically used Australian customers as unpaid, involuntary test engineers and went broke because of poor market research and warranty bills.
The X6 was the worst car ever mass produced in Australia; All the complexity of FWD and a poorly conceived OHC arrangement. Can’t believe any are being driven these days; I haven’t seen one for years……
That hideous Panther car would cost nearly £290,000 in today’s money! Those doors don’t even suit the profile of the roof! Wonder how many they actually sold? And did Panther ever produce a decent car- with the possible exception of the Dolomite-based Rio?
The ‘Aussie Rules’ Landcrabs were rather handsome- shame they weren’t sold here. Even the VDP looked good- more so than the Wolseley version that did make production.
For who is interessed in the rubber door profile of those doors Maybe I can help you out! I have a panther DeVille saloon from 1987 and the profile fits perfect.
I notice that nobody ever mentions the Australian Morris 13oo on this site. This was the ultimate triumph of British engineering down under……
The E series motor was so tall that they had to put a bulge in the bonnet to fit it in the 1100 shell; then they realised that the auto box was bigger than the manual, it wouldn’t fit under the E series! So they grabbed leftover Mini 1275cc A series motors to power all the auto versions.
I am surprised they didn’t just mount the transmission/engine sub-assembly in the back, driving the rear wheels. The boot was useless anyway…..
A Rolls Royce version of the 1800? BMC/BLMC management never really understood badge engineering, did it? The idea was to encourage the buyer to aspire to the more expensive marque. Chev buyers lusted after Buicks, the Buick owner dreamed of a Caddy……because the dearer car was better………..but BLMC thought the idea was to dress the dearer car down so that there was no coherent reason to buy anything. Although I was always impressed by the way a Wolseley badge glowed in the dark I never knew why I should buy one instead of a Morris, or an Austin, or a Riley or…….
Shame they didn’t do a landcrab based VdP – that looks quite good. Am I right in thinking that if someone was to get hold of 3 litre doors they’d fit perfectly into a landcrab body (an 1800 with quarterlights) and vice versa for the maxi etc? Those recessed latch kimberley doors look interesting too.
Unless the 3-litre was at one time originally intended to appear much earlier, why was it even necessary for it to feature the same doors as the Landcrab? The same goes with the Maxi given there was actually an alternative Maxi styling proposal without those doors in British Leyland: The Truth About the Cars, which leads one to ask if an alternate 3-litre proposal minis the 1800 doors was ever considered?
A case could have been made for the Landcrab to use the 1100/1300 doors had the company prevented the project from drifting away from drifting away into becoming a bigger heavier car, or failing that belatedly adopted the 1100/1300-based doors idea (or ADO22 variation) for the Maxi resulting in a smaller lighter car.
A smaller Landcrab would have in turn allowed an opportunity for ADO61 (depending on how early it appears) to be more X6-sized (instead of approximately P5-sized) and be light enough to feature a more extensive choice of engines like the Vauxhall FD and Ford Zephyr / Zodiac Mark IV, especially if the hefty underdeveloped revised C-Series was not the limiting factor (with other alternatives considered).
Geoff – two reasons to buy the Wolseley and not a Morris or an Austin. 1) you love history: Wolseley were one of the oldest car manufacturers in the UK – and they developed OHC engines very early on – even my humble little Wolseley nine from 1934 has one; they made aero engines and helped us win the war and (2) for those who decry history, they mostly gave you leather and walnut trim versus ‘orrible plastic and even more ‘orrible metal. And yes, the illuminated badge was great – the equivalent of always parking your BMW with the grill facing your neighbours Mondeo!
As rich of the history of Wolseley is, it along with Riley seemed to be gradually wound down by BMC in stature from exclusive body styles to simply being badge engineered models.
In a world of sharp 2 piece suits they must have seemed like heavy tweeds image wise.
wonderful cars. most of them dident see the light of production
Shame we didn’t get the X6 models over here.
X6! I think the appropriate phrase would have been “had them dumped over here” rather than “get them over here.” BLMC cynically used Australian customers as unpaid, involuntary test engineers and went broke because of poor market research and warranty bills.
The X6 was the worst car ever mass produced in Australia; All the complexity of FWD and a poorly conceived OHC arrangement. Can’t believe any are being driven these days; I haven’t seen one for years……
That hideous Panther car would cost nearly £290,000 in today’s money! Those doors don’t even suit the profile of the roof! Wonder how many they actually sold? And did Panther ever produce a decent car- with the possible exception of the Dolomite-based Rio?
The ‘Aussie Rules’ Landcrabs were rather handsome- shame they weren’t sold here. Even the VDP looked good- more so than the Wolseley version that did make production.
I thought the Rio was Cavalier based and sold through Vauxhall dealers.
All you need to know about the Panther Rio is here…
For who is interessed in the rubber door profile of those doors Maybe I can help you out! I have a panther DeVille saloon from 1987 and the profile fits perfect.
The 4 door booted Maxi, has the Mk2 Cortina look to my eyes, was Roy Haynes involved with this model?
It’s called plagiarism.
Yes.
I notice that nobody ever mentions the Australian Morris 13oo on this site. This was the ultimate triumph of British engineering down under……
The E series motor was so tall that they had to put a bulge in the bonnet to fit it in the 1100 shell; then they realised that the auto box was bigger than the manual, it wouldn’t fit under the E series! So they grabbed leftover Mini 1275cc A series motors to power all the auto versions.
I am surprised they didn’t just mount the transmission/engine sub-assembly in the back, driving the rear wheels. The boot was useless anyway…..
A Rolls Royce version of the 1800? BMC/BLMC management never really understood badge engineering, did it? The idea was to encourage the buyer to aspire to the more expensive marque. Chev buyers lusted after Buicks, the Buick owner dreamed of a Caddy……because the dearer car was better………..but BLMC thought the idea was to dress the dearer car down so that there was no coherent reason to buy anything. Although I was always impressed by the way a Wolseley badge glowed in the dark I never knew why I should buy one instead of a Morris, or an Austin, or a Riley or…….
Shame they didn’t do a landcrab based VdP – that looks quite good. Am I right in thinking that if someone was to get hold of 3 litre doors they’d fit perfectly into a landcrab body (an 1800 with quarterlights) and vice versa for the maxi etc? Those recessed latch kimberley doors look interesting too.
The Maxi saloon looks very much like a Hillman Hunter or Sceptre ( Arrow ) ….
Unless the 3-litre was at one time originally intended to appear much earlier, why was it even necessary for it to feature the same doors as the Landcrab? The same goes with the Maxi given there was actually an alternative Maxi styling proposal without those doors in British Leyland: The Truth About the Cars, which leads one to ask if an alternate 3-litre proposal minis the 1800 doors was ever considered?
Cost as the same production tooling could be used.
A case could have been made for the Landcrab to use the 1100/1300 doors had the company prevented the project from drifting away from drifting away into becoming a bigger heavier car, or failing that belatedly adopted the 1100/1300-based doors idea (or ADO22 variation) for the Maxi resulting in a smaller lighter car.
A smaller Landcrab would have in turn allowed an opportunity for ADO61 (depending on how early it appears) to be more X6-sized (instead of approximately P5-sized) and be light enough to feature a more extensive choice of engines like the Vauxhall FD and Ford Zephyr / Zodiac Mark IV, especially if the hefty underdeveloped revised C-Series was not the limiting factor (with other alternatives considered).
Geoff – two reasons to buy the Wolseley and not a Morris or an Austin. 1) you love history: Wolseley were one of the oldest car manufacturers in the UK – and they developed OHC engines very early on – even my humble little Wolseley nine from 1934 has one; they made aero engines and helped us win the war and (2) for those who decry history, they mostly gave you leather and walnut trim versus ‘orrible plastic and even more ‘orrible metal. And yes, the illuminated badge was great – the equivalent of always parking your BMW with the grill facing your neighbours Mondeo!
As rich of the history of Wolseley is, it along with Riley seemed to be gradually wound down by BMC in stature from exclusive body styles to simply being badge engineered models.
In a world of sharp 2 piece suits they must have seemed like heavy tweeds image wise.