That odd, and later unstable conglomeration of great British marques, BMC lived in a strange world of certainty in the early 1960s.
The company's customer loyalty was unswerving and although Ford, Rootes and Vauxhall were pulling customers, there was enough cake to go round.
In the larger saloon market, BMC fielded some beauties like the Austin Cambridge and its MG, Morris, Wolseley and Riley derivatives.
These cars were crackers for their day. They had an undeniably British air which cocked a snoot at the transatlantic styling of Ford and Vauxhall products.
But things were happening in the halls of BMC and the Issigonis-designed Mini was on the road, hailed a major success for the company.
Suddenly it was front-wheel-drive all the way and the traditional designs were viewed as old hat.
Out went the old Farina styling and in came low-slung cars that looked like stretched Minis. These included the 1100 series, which, although successful, began to fall from grace due to complicated hydrolastic suspension and rotting subframes.
And at the top of the tree came the largest of the mini-inspired designs, the 1800 which, although technically advanced, could not hold a candle to the Ford Cortina.
The 1800 had a long and complicated development and when launched in October 1964, it emerged as a car that was heavier, much wider and more expensive than the car it was designed to replace.
BMC bosses were worried to the extent of keeping the old Farina models in the showroom alongside the 1800 while the market adjusted its perception of the marque.
The 1800 was also priced at some 14% above the Farina car and demand was slow, giving the management time to realise that it was never going to meet anticipated sales targets.
BMC even played the exclusivity card with the car being offered to Austin dealers first in September 1964.
It was not until 1966, that the badge-engineered Morris versions made their appearance on the market - a crazy thing to do at a time when British car meltdown was approaching over the horizon.
The 1800 never managed more than the modest total of 40,000 sales per year, although bosses had been assured by their analysts that the car could clear 200,000 units per year with ease.
It was hardly over the first hurdle when the rival Ford Cortina was roaring off into the distance, being a clear lesson to the company that if it did not give customers what they wanted they would change brands.
Citroen Traction Avant
Every now and again an automotive star is born, sending reverberations throughout the industry. This is exactly what happened in 1924 when Andre Citroen unveiled the Traction Avant. more
MGB
Never was a sports car more loved by the British public than the MGB - a car that was later literally dumped by its manufacturer. more
VW Karmann Ghia
For most who take an interest in that wonderful automotive era of the late 50s and 60s, the name Volkswagen conjures up just one image...the iconic Beetle. more
Triumphant Stag
The demise of the British motor industry was a saga of brilliant ideas, botched manufacturing and often dreadful management. more
Ford Classic
It was a big, bold, shiny, heavenly set of wheels. Some called it tacky, but with more front than Diana Dors, the 1960s Ford Classic was certainly a car of its time. more
Austin A99
Rally fans will remember or have read of Pat Moss's win at the wheel of an Austin Healey on the 1960 Liege-Rome-Liege rally. more
Jaguar XJ220
One of the great British supercars - the Jaguar XJ220 - is a rare sight these days. more
Rover Jet1
In the 1950s Rover was regarded as the staid wheels of the well-heeled. They went about life in their own snooty way, and you would hardly have guessed the company had a tiger by the tail. more
Austin Ambassador
There are some cars that are easily forgotten and the Austin Ambassador is one of them. Launched in March 1982, it took the reins from the disappointing wedge-shaped Austin Princess, with the added advantage of a tailgate. more
Ford Consul
When people talk about the fabulous Fords of the 1970s they usually go gooey-eyed over the Capri, Cortina and Escort. more
Abbot
For those lucky enough to have a pocket deep enough to indulge in a little fantasy, the world of military vehicles offers some amazing opportunities. more
BMC 1800
That odd, and later unstable conglomeration of great British marques, BMC lived in a strange world of certainty in the early 1960s.
more
BMW Z1
One car which I believe has never been granted the credit it deserves is the BMW Z1. This is the daddy of all the BMW Z Series.
more
Vauxhall Victor
Some cars can capitalise on their own failings. A perfect example of this is the Vauxhall Victor F of the late 1950s which has become quite a rarity because thousands of them just rotted away at a relatively early age. more
Ford Escort
So much has been written about the great Ford Escort, launched in 1968, that we tend to forget a model bearing the same name produced a few years earlier. more
Bedford CA Van
The Multi Purpose Vehicle is often regarded as a modern idea - but it has its roots in some important vehicles of yesteryear. more
The Riley RM
Just after the end of the Second World War, that great British manufacturer Riley hit the ground running with a model that still remains one of the most graceful family cars ever. more
Ford Prefect
How it was possible for a model name to progress and survive through that amazing transitional period from sit-up-and-beg styles to modern three-box thinking is well illustrated by the Ford Prefect more
Pierce Silver-Arrow
In the 1860s, George N. Pierce earned a living from making cages for birds and squirrels. Little did he know that his homespun ingenuity honed in Buffalo, USA, would result in a car that has become one of the most sought after classics in the world. more
A real prize Fighter
As we have seen in the past, some cars are classics before they hit the streets. Such a car is the new Fighter T from that amazing company Bristol. more
Triumph Spitfire
I always wanted a Triumph Spitfire but never got around to buying one. A shame because the Spitfire was a little cracker of a sports car that made a big impression before the end of British mass-produced two seaters. more
Vovlo 760
Back in 1982 Volvo introduced a model that set the market agape. When the large 760 was rolled out, one of the top motoring writers of the time, LJK Setright, described it as follows: "Scarcely credible even as a car of the present, though some of its qualities are redolent of a sadly lost past." more
Renault 5
When it first appeared in 1972, the Renault 5 was described as sympathetic and amusing by a member of the motoring Press. more
Porsche 356
In 1875 a world automotive genius was born. Ferdinand Porsche became a grand master of German motoring excellence and his name is linked to cars like the Mercedes-Benz 38/250... more
Ford Edsel
Sometimes a motor manufacturer can get it hopelessly and horribly wrong. Such was the case with the Edsel, an American giant of the late 1950s. more
