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Concepts and prototypes

Concepts and prototypes

Concepts and prototypes : Jaguar XJ41/XJ42 (1982-1990)

29 March 2021 Keith Adams 23

The idea of producing a new Jaguar F-Type was on the back-burner for a long time. This attempt dates back to the 1980s, and went under the codename XJ41/XJ42. They […]

Capri

Concept and prototypes : Ford Capri (1966-1968)

25 March 2021 Matthew Hayward 36

The Ford Capri Mk1 underwent a remarkably short development programme, as these images clearly show. However, more than that, the company knew what it wanted from the final product – […]

Concepts and prototypes

Concepts and prototypes : MG Rover RDX60 (2000-2005)

1 March 2021 Keith Adams 34

Keith Adams tells the full story of the ill-fated MG Rover RDX60 programme and explains how Longbridge tried to create a new medium-sized car from the underpinnings of the Rover […]

Triumph supermini
Concepts and prototypes

Opinion : Triumph’s missed supermini opportunity

1 March 2021 Keith Adams 39

Here’s an interesting one recently brought to my attention. AROnline Contributor David Harvey got in touch to remind us that it wasn’t just BMC that had missed the boat to replace […]

Concepts and prototypes

Concepts and prototypes : MGF during the MGA era (PR3)

23 February 2021 Keith Adams 31

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 […]

AR16/17

Concepts and prototypes : Austin AR16 (1984-1985)

20 January 2021 Keith Adams 57

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 […]

Rover CCV
Concepts and prototypes

Concepts and prototypes : Rover CCV (1984-1986)

17 January 2021 Keith Adams 14

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 […]

Concepts and prototypes

Concepts and prototypes : Rover Oden/Land Rover Pathfinder (1992-1995)

11 January 2021 Keith Adams 7

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 […]

Concepts and prototypes

Concepts and prototypes : Rover 35 (1998-2000)

11 January 2021 Keith Adams 57

The Rover 35 – codename R30 – was the one that got away. A five-door hatch that oozed class and sophistication, it was due for introduction in 2003. Instead, it was canned in 1999. […]

Long-nose Rover 200 engineering mule
Concepts and prototypes

Concepts and prototypes : Rover 55 (1997-1999)

3 January 2021 Keith Adams 169

Keith Adams tells the story of the Rover 55 or R60 – the 75’s smaller brother, and part of a two-pronged attack on the premium car market for the mid-2000s. […]

Concepts and prototypes

Concepts and prototypes : Triumph Fury (1965)

20 December 2020 Robert Leitch 14

The Triumph Fury was a little more than a motor show crowd pleaser – it was a hint at what Triumph could really achieve with its sports car range during the 1960s. Shame this show concept didn’t make it into production… It was a huge missed opportunity. […]

Concepts and prototypes

Concepts and prototypes : MG DR2/PR5 (1989-1991)

16 November 2020 Keith Adams 24

The MG DR2/PR5 was created as a modern-day reboot of the Austin-Healey 3000 or MGC – an open-topped, two-seater, multi-cylinder sports car. Its conception and development process was an interesting […]

Austin/MG Metro (LC8)

Concepts and prototypes : Metro Ranger

6 October 2020 Keith Adams 22

During the Metro’s honeymoon period of the early 1980s, Austin Rover’s Designers toyed with the idea of a number of exciting variations on a theme. Here’s one that perhaps you […]

Austin/MG Metro (LC8)

Concepts and prototypes : Metro saloon (1978-1981)

6 October 2020 Keith Adams 62

Austin-Morris looked seriously at a plan to build a saloon version of its upcoming Metro hatchback. But as we exclusively reveal, it was canned rather late in the day due to financial cut backs. […]

Austin/MG Metro (LC8)

Concepts and prototypes : ADO88 supermini (1974-77)

18 September 2020 Keith Adams 13

The ADO88 project was BL’s attempt at creating a supermini out of the original Mini. It formed the basis of the Austin Metro […]

ADO74
Austin/MG Metro (LC8)

Concepts and prototypes : Leyland ADO74 (1972-74)

18 September 2020 Keith Adams 38

Leyland ADO74  – the first attempt by British Leyland at replacing the Mini never saw the light of day. It was one project, but had many faces: a wide variety […]

Alec Issigonis

Concepts and prototypes : BMC 9X (1968-87)

18 September 2020 Keith Adams 25

The most comprehensive story you’ll ever read about the aborted 9X programme – the ill-fated Mini replacement, engineered by the man who created the original. […]

Concepts and prototypes

Concepts : Rover 75 Coupe

18 August 2020 Keith Adams 41

Coupe rennaissance THIS was the car that Rover fans have been waiting for since the launch of the 75 in the autumn of 1998. The coupe version of what has […]

Lotus Etna front view
Concepts and prototypes

Concepts and prototypes : Lotus Etna (1984)

11 July 2020 Keith Adams 8

The Ital Design-styled, V8-powered Etna concept made its debut at the 1984 British Motor Show at Birmingham. It was based on the Lotus Esprit, added race-bred cutting-edge technology, and promised […]

Austin 3 Litre (ADO61)

Concepts and prototypes : The Wolseley 3 Litre prototype (1969-1970)

5 July 2020 Alexander Boucke 51

In 1969, Austin-Morris investigated ways to increase the appeal of the slow-selling Austin 3 Litre. This Wolseley 3 Litre prototype, as photographed at the Longbridge Elephant House in 1967, was […]

MG Midget
Concepts and prototypes

Concepts and prototypes : MG X120 (2003-2005)

6 June 2020 Keith Adams 20

MG Rover was planning a revival of the Midget, a new TF and an upmarket Boxster rival – until, that is, the lights went out at Longbridge in 2005… MG […]

Autocar-ADO74
Concepts and prototypes

Opinion : Leyland ADO74 – the contemporary perspective

8 May 2020 Keith Adams 20

It’s interesting comparing what we think now with contemporary consensus. I like to think that, in my historic writing, I tend to err on the side of reporting the contemporary […]

Austin Maxi character comes through following Roy Haynes' pre-launch facelift of the front-end styling of the ADO14 in 1967
Austin Maxi (ADO14)

Concepts and prototypes : Austin Maxi ADO14 (1965-1969)

30 April 2020 Keith Adams 21

The Austin Maxi ADO14 is one of few cars that received a substantial facelift before it went into production. In this case, the work followed the arrival of a new […]

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Memories

Memories : A scrapyard in England, 1991

24 June 2022 36

I can smell the dampness, the rust, the oil and other fluids oozing into the mud from here. It’s a grim and strangely fascinating sight, and one that was echoed […]

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