The Whole Story
The full and unexpurgated story of the rise and fall of our beloved industry, from 1952 to 2000. Sit down, take time and read the heartbreaking story. Prepare to wipe away a tear...
Humble Beginnings: The principal players
Chapter 1: In the early days, the British motor industry was comprised of many small players. Natural selection was the order of the days following the recession of the 1930s, meaning that the bigger boys took over the smaller boys. In that scenario, two giants emerged: Austin and Morris. Learn the history of these two marques, as well as Rover, MG and Triumph...
Enter...
Formation of an Empire: BMC is created
Chapter 2: A meeting of minds resulted in the joining of Austin and Morris. Mutual admiration was not a factor in the two company's management, but from the unlikely allegence, came some very productive and profitable years... This chapter charts the history of BMC from this point in time to explain why the company that had everything lost it all...
British Leyland: A turbulent time
Chapter 3: BMC were vulnerable in the late 1960s, and soon became the prey for the ambitions of the highly ambitious Leyland Motor Corporation. Donald Stokes was the man that the awesome responsibility of making BMH and Leyland gel, whilst moving the company forwards. Chapter three explains why it did not happen...
The Ryder Years: Ship sinking fast
Chapter 4: British Leyland endured some rocky years immediately after its formation - in 1968, no-one would have predicted, however, that company would be practically bankrupt within six short years. Don Ryder was charged with making it all work using government money...
Michael Edwardes arrives
Chapter 5: The diminutive South African was plucked from Ryder's team in order to return British Leyland to profitability. Edwardes will always be remembered for finally grasping the nettle of industrial relations, but he was also responsible for keeping the Labour and Conservative governments sweet...
The 1980s: A decade of lost opportunities
Chapter 6: Product led recovery, co-operation with the Japanese, and failed talks with the Americans - the ingredients were there for a full recovery, but somehow, they were not allowed to cook for long enough to achieve the long hoped-for profitability...
Come Fly With Me: Life under British Aerospace
Chapter 7: The great sell-off... much of the old guard is pushed aside in order to allow new-boy Graham Day to improve the balance sheet, whilst finding a new suitor. Who would have thought that he would make Rover look a good enough bet for BAe to take a punt...? Honda became an increasing factor in the company's product line - they would have liked to have shaped its future...
Night of The Long Knives: Auf Wiedersehen Honda-San
Chapter 8: Honda out, BMW in - Rover was now part of the prestigious German motor industry. Could some of that German magic rub off on the old British rival...?
Like a Phoenix from the flames
Chapter 9: It all went pear-shaped under BMW... Once the Germans had decided to wash their hands of the British company, a future partner was needed. Who would have thought that the old team would come back to steal the company from under the noses of the men that originally planned the sale...?
Down and out in Longbridge
Chapter 10: Phoenix came in and tried to make it work. The RDX60 programme foundered and a long flirtation with several prospective partners amounted to nothing. Almost five years to the day of its formation, MG Rover would die - and the Chinese company, Nanjing came in and bought the remains for £50m
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