History : BMC, BL and Rover production figures

30 September 2017 Keith Adams 31

Rover 800 production at Cowley.

The production figures reproduced below show clearly the relative success of the individual BMC>MGR models between 1959 and 2005.

Stories that can be extrapolated from the tables include the way that the Mini dwindled away following the launch of the Metro in 1980, how the Allegro never came close to emulating the success of its predecessor (although the figures look more favourable when combined with the Marina’s) and how the MGB remained a rock-solid mainstay right to the end.

They also show that the 1970s were not all bad news: the Princess range all-but matched the production volumes of the 1800/2200 even though it was widely maligned by elements of the press and trade which should have known better.

Consider this, though – more than two million Metros of all shapes and sizes were produced between 1980 and 1997, and yet the car is already beginning to look pretty rare on the UK’s roads.

*Note, for space reasons, all the 1980s models are identified by their model development codes.

Mini

1959 19,749 1970 278,950 1981 69,986 1992 26,195
1960 116,677 1971 318,475 1982 56,297 1993 20,468
1961 157,059 1972 306,937 1983 49,986 1994 20,417
1962 216,087 1973 295,186 1984 35,038 1995 20,378
1963 236,713 1974 255,336 1985 34,974 1996 15,638
1964 244,359 1975 200,293 1986 33,720 1997 16,938
1965 221,974 1976 203,575 1987 37,210 1998 14,311
1966 213,694 1977 212,323 1988 36,554 1999 11,738
1967 237,227 1978 196,799 1989 40,998 2000 7070
1968 246,066 1979 165,502 1990 46,045
1969 254,957 1980 150,067 1991 35,007 Total 5,505,874

Notes:
Figures cover production at Longbridge, Cowley and Seneffe and include CKD kits.

1950s and ’60s models

Sprite FX4/FL2 Midget MGB/
MGC		 1100/
1300		 1800/
2200		 Maxi
1957/58 2995
1958/59 17,565 216
1959/60 23,340 1480
1960/61 8480 1365 1647
1961/62 15,993 738 13,018 277 2904
1962/63 8164 1309 7311 16,391 97,649
1963/64 9389 1282 8279 26,496 219,473 50
1964/65 10,743 1530 12,163 24,033 242,807 25,395
1965/66 8456 1423 8656 28,812 238,359 56,876
1966/67 6824 1258 6636 35,529 160,097 33,822
1967/68 6809 1943 7444 25,103 249,500 45,009
1968/69 8167 1468 10,761 29,787 247,138 42,735 23,294
1969/70 1012 2272 15,206 34,062 199,671 36,042 27,618
1970/71 1417 2691 16,350 40,424 218,322 43,811 40,816
1971/72 2833 16,247 34,854 144,347 29,913 67,966
1972/73 2397 14,858 32,732 103,486 37,831 70,846
1973/74 2312 13,722 29,995 20,786 27,251 47,873
1974/75 2082 12,837 26,867 6468 8548 34,956
1975/76 3122 20,894 35,739 46,155
1977 2687 14,337 28,681 32,479
1978 2422 14329 27,355 38,567
1979 2439 9778 23,400 27,490
1980 2007 14,315 15,778
1981 2049 12,435
Totals 129,354 43,225 224,473 514,852 2,151,007 387,283 486,273

Notes:
Figures cover production at Longbridge, Cowley, Abingdon (Sprite) and Seneffe (1100/1300 and Maxi) and
include CKD kits (1100/1300, 1800/2200, Maxi).

Calendar of years:
1957/58 to 1974/75 (October to September)
1975/76 (October 1975 to December 1976 – 15 Months)
1977 onwards (January to December)

1970s models

Marina Allegro Princess TR7 Sherpa SD1
1970/71 6039
1971/72 155817 1
1972/73 201,724 27,528
1973/74 155,071 106,256 288 53 1110
1974/75 134,989 95,173 20,476 8982 11,775 30
1975/76 137,913 125,420 55,031 38,172 20,963 8708
1977 111,636 95,460 47,955 22,945 21,595 26,537
1978 105,667 86,117 33,951 6777 22,378 54,462
1979 96,487 61,415 37,128 18,869 22,390 46,599
1980 27,773 42,443 14,732 13,609 23,393 25,619
1981 22,908 4471 5070 10,594 35,885
1982 4471 15,031 32,885
1983 20,352 33,455
1984 18,751 20,379
1985 15,916
1986 2870
Totals 1,163,116 667,192 224,942 114,477 188,332 303,345

Notes:
Princess data includes 18-22 Series.
Figures include CKD kits (Marina, 18-22, Princess).
Data for years beyond 1984 not currently available for Sherpa.

Calendar of years:
1970/71 to 1974/75 (October to September)
1975/76 (October 1975 to December 1976 – 15 Months)
1977 onwards (January to December)

1980s models

Ital LC8 LC9 LM19 LM10 SD3 LM11 XX HX
80 51,274 32,954
81 54,910 165,745 20,454 1254
82 33,572 174,666 58,025 28,266 2282
83 26,753 180,763 49,778 13,905 101,195
84 8707 150,917 5368 84,553 26,425 58,845
85 174,666 88,849 65,844 95,874
86 158,546 63,721 63,167 70,623 15,609 472
87 161,285 58,280 80,263 73,447 54,434 2677
88 144,701 67,934 95,859 78,788 48,634 1260
89 138,751 59,938 86,809 76,560 35,387
90 109,605 38,762 50,728 29,460
91 81,422 18,450 23,892 † 12,968
92 79,600 10,226 12,881 28,136
93 79,677 7178 15,292 28,354
94 76,821 4043 14,542 21,802
95 81,782 13,311
96 46,118 11,400
97 40,199 11,131
98 6500
Total 175,
276		 2,078,
218		 133,
625		 43,
425		 605,
411		 418,
367		 571,
460		 317,
126		 4,409

Notes:
† 1991 production for Rover 800 – Mk1 (XX): 10,007; Mk2 (R17): 2961.

1990s models

200/400 Concerto 600 400 (HH-R) 200 (R3) MGF MG RV8
1989 11,490 2260
1990 131,648 26,449
1991 157,912 35,952
1992 158,146 32,444
1993 162,095 18,406 30,593 258
1994 191,114 8726 54,604 807
1995 115,021 2199 61,413 68,534 3548 2323 934
1996 10,906 43,701 123,514 108,913 16,112
1997 9096 40,291 119,455 144,096 13,398
1998 6271 40,294 104,569 141,778 14,832
1999 92 53,813 72,168 10,388
2000 9672
2001 10,544
Totals 953,699 126,436 270,988 469,885 470,503 77,269 1999

2000s models

Rover 25 MG ZR Rover 45 MG ZS Rover 75 MG ZT MG TF
1999 19,206 4895 53,581
2000 76,315 48,923 † 31,544
2001 62,055 8766 38,295 5898 33,883 3510 198
2002 37,986 22,756 26,163 7104 32,123 6914 14,011
2003 28,256 22,964 15,519 6583 30,449 8011 14,086
2004 17,361 19,650 15,003 5772 24,156 6844 10,954
2005 5961 7952 3554 2183 5439 1870 631
Totals 227,934 82,088 147,457 27,540 211,175 27,149 39,880

Notes:
† 2000 production for Rover 75 – 28,388 (Cowley); 3156 (Longbridge).

Data tabulated by Declan Berridge and Keith Adams

Keith Adams
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31 Comments

  3. Production figures do seem to be surprisingly hard to find, for something which clearly WAS measured at the time, especially for the non BMC products. Googling around, the data just doesn’t seem to be easily available, as I would be fascinated in the production numbers for such vehicles as
    Herald
    Dolomite (and it’s predecessors)
    Triumph 2000
    Spitfire
    Rover P6/ GT6
    Morris Minor
    Austin A40
    http://www.rimmerbros.co.uk/content–name-Triumph-Dolomite-Introduction
    This website has production numbers for the Dolomites and predecessors, suggesting 321948 rwd models and 214703 fwd models, number which aren’t insignificant

    Reply

  5. Hi
    I have these figures from various books on british motor industry
    Herald 529,000
    Triumph 2000 316,000
    Rover p6 327,000
    BMC farina 916,000
    Morris Minor 1,619,000
    spitfire 306,000
    Austin A40 556,000
    Dolomite etc as post 3 hope these help to fill in any gaps.

    Reply

    • Sorry, I never thanked you for these!

      Interesting that the Triumph 2000 and Rover P6 sold in very similar numbers, and that both INDIVIDUALLY slightly outsold the SD1, and even allowing for the slightly longer production run, the combined total was well ahead of the SD1, for which a whole new high volume factory had been built…

      Reply

  6. The Princess production figures don’t add up. The quoted total is 224,942 yet those figures added up come to 214,032. Also, the 1981 Princess production figures (4471) are the same as the 1982 Allegro ones? Is it possible that more Princesses than quoted were sold in its last year?

    Thanks.

    Reply

  8. From 1994 to 1999 the production figures were still quite respectable. The 200/400 series sold almost 2 million over their 9 year period yet it will never be remembered like the Escort or Golf will be.

    Reply

    • Yes… and very interesting to note that that absolute horror the Acclaim ( much lauded here from time to time ) sold roughly 1/5 the the numbers of the Allegro ( nearly always derided on this board ) and only came anywhere near its annual numbers when the Allegro was in its last years

      Reply

  9. In some ways the Acclaim was a “test the water” exercise, the first generation 200’s figures were close to the Allegro’s & often better than the Maestro in the same year.

    Reply

  10. Had a little play around with the figures quoted and for non mini car production, the figures display “normal variation” up until 1999 after which they nose dive. Any one know what happened in 1999? That seems to have been the year that BL>rover died.

    350,000 annual sales seems to have been the norm. Was that ever sustainable? It should have been.

    Reply

    • Yes, those 1999 numbers are horrendous. Did sales just drop off a cliff due to the sale/closure announcement? Certainly things were much tougher in the marketplace, thanks to the Focus/Golf IV/Astra G competition, all excellent products and much better than their predecessors, especially in the case of the Ford

      350000 doesn’t sound anywhere viable to me, not with the products Rover were making.

      Reply

      • Also the loss of the Metro & a change in the almost all the rest of the model range might have shaken customer confidence.

        Reply

    • Had a look and yes the number of models was reduced but of those in production, the MGF/TF sold at about the same rate. The 75 and variants sold at about the same rate as the 600 (make of that what you will) But the 45 and variants sold at less than half the previous rate and the 25 at 2/3 the previous rate. If they had continued at the same rate then that would almost have doubled Mg/rover production. Alternatively the 45 and 25 should have been ditched and MG/Rover should have focused on the premium end. (A stratagy they half moved to with the focus on the SV and V8) the money saved from ditching 25/45 used to produce 75 coupe/drophead. MGF coupe/ MG FWD V8 etc. The SV dropping the carbon fibre body and becoming the next step up MG roadster (or even an austin heally) Looking at the figures it seems that the Alchemy bid would have been a better option.

      Reply

  11. I am looking for annual production figures for all variants of the Rover K Series engine from 1989-2005. Does anyone know where these might be available?

    Reply

  12. The figures for the Rover 600 in 1999 put mine in an even more exclusive group than I thought!
    According to Wikipedia, 974 were manufactured in 1999, compared to 92 in the chart above.

    Reply

  13. Never knew that MG Rover produced less than 100,000 cars in 2004.How did anyone expect them to survive with those sort of figures.They dropped nearly 50,000 in 3 years.

    Reply

  15. Slightly concerning that the 1800/2200 managed more cars than the XX over their production runs.
    But there seems to be an alternating good year/bad year thing going on. One year you’ll have anything up to double the next or previous year and it seems to be almost universal? Something to do with company cars being on a two year lease?

    Reply

    • Why concerning? The ADO71 was a popular product, and towards the end of it’s life, a pretty good product. On the other hand, XX wasn’t a huge hit to start with. The 2.5 V6 was gutless, and the car carried the stigma of a Rover badge. Despite what the diehards on here think, that was an issue – as a hangover from the debacle of SD1. It meant that UK customers had to be dragged away from big Fords and Vauxhalls (let alone Volvos and BMWs). Outside of the UK, a large car with a Rover badge couldn’t be given away free with cornflakes. That’s why the Stirling brand was created for the US market (even though that didn’t work either).

      Reply

      • The Princess surely OUGHT to have sold better than the Rover 800, as a smaller cheaper car, competing in the 70s with the Cortina and Cavalier etc

        ADO71 can hardly be considered a sales success really

        Reply

  16. I’m guessing some fall off in production was due to tooling being changed for updates followed by a jump as sales of the new version picked up.

    Reply

    • Let me have a stab based on Sherpa figures… so, Sherpa made for 10 years, average 19,000ish per year, J4 made for 15 years – if at the same rate (19k pa) = 285,000 total built… feels a bit low but anyone have other ideas or info?

      Reply

  18. any idea of how many Japanese spec 1994 rover 220GTI turbos and 1995 220GSI turbos where made

    Reply

  20. Digging around this looks to be how Rover / MG Rover performed from 1990 to 2005.
    1990 386652
    1991 329928
    1992 321433
    1993 341849
    1994 372459
    1995 349065
    1996 360751
    1997 377570
    1998 314244
    1999 214113
    2000 166454
    2001 163149
    2002 146057
    2003 125868
    2004 99740
    2005 27590

    Reply

  21. Can anyone provide production figures for Morris Minor LCV and Travellers by year to end production at Adderley Park, Birmingham ? Especially of interest AP production by year from transfer of production from Cowley.

    Reply

  22. Rather keen on seeing the pre-BMC production numbers explored sometime down the line, at least in general and for other marques in the UK if not for specific models.

    Both Austin and Morris dominated the UK market and between them produced around 60% of total UK output in 1929, followed by Singer Motors with 15% of total UK production.

    In 1939, the top producers were Morris: 27% (plus MG, Wolseley & Riley), Austin: 24%, Ford: 15%, Standard: 13%, Rootes: 11%, Vauxhall (building cars since 1903, acquired by GM in 1925): 10%.

    Curiously Singer Motors seemingly experienced a sharp decline from its previous 3rd position in 1929 to beneath 10% (below Vauxhall) in 1939 over the course of a decade. A result of overextending itself and not rationalising its range quick enough, before being dissolved and transferred to a new company in 1936 along with the bad publicity from the 1935 Ards Tourist Trophy disaster.

    It is known where BSA Cars that later included Lanchester and Daimler roughly stood in terms of UK share or what their potential production capacity? They reputedly had greater hopes for the BSA & Lanchester Ten as well as the Daimler Fifteen in the pre-war period, however it is not clear what their likely break-even point was overall.

    Reply

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