3 replies to this topic

[mab01uk]

"Would you believe that it’s six decades since the brilliant, bestselling BMC 1100/1300 (ADO16) was launched, and a generation of drivers were introduced to the delights of front-wheel drive?
But it’s true – 60 years on, Ian Nicholls ponders what impact this unassuming but technically advanced saloon had on the national psyche and the car industry as a whole.
Sixty years ago, on 15 August 1962, the BMC ADO16 range was launched as the Morris 1100 at Worcester College, Oxford, during the summer break, where the foreign press stayed.
As this site’s BMC 1100/1300 development story relates, around 2.1 million were manufactured in its life, in plants all over the world. It was also Britain’s bestselling car every year from 1963 to 1966, and 1968 to 1971. In conjunction with its smaller sibling the Mini, the ADO16 achieved overseas market penetration no other British volume cars managed.
In a time period stretching from 1962 to 1971 BMC/Austin Morris had the world at its feet. Yet new parent company British Leyland cataclysmically failed to adequately replace both models, snatching defeat from the jaws of victory, and allowing rival manufacturers to exploit the demand for this type of car."

BMC 1100/1300: a born winner:-
https://www.aronline...-bmc-1100-1300/

 

[Designer]

Yep fond memories of the 1100.

Learnt to drive in an MG Magnet (No synchromesh heal and toe double declutching) with my brother beside me.

Then went on to learn all the proper stuff with an instructor in an 1100 and passed my test in it (luckily first time).

[DeadSquare]

"Would you believe that it’s six decades since the brilliant, bestselling BMC 1100/1300 (ADO16) was launched, and a generation of drivers were introduced to the delights of front-wheel drive?
But it’s true – 60 years on, Ian Nicholls ponders what impact this unassuming but technically advanced saloon had on the national psyche and the car industry as a whole.
Sixty years ago, on 15 August 1962, the BMC ADO16 range was launched as the Morris 1100 at Worcester College, Oxford, during the summer break, where the foreign press stayed.
As this site’s BMC 1100/1300 development story relates, around 2.1 million were manufactured in its life, in plants all over the world. It was also Britain’s bestselling car every year from 1963 to 1966, and 1968 to 1971. In conjunction with its smaller sibling the Mini, the ADO16 achieved overseas market penetration no other British volume cars managed.
In a time period stretching from 1962 to 1971 BMC/Austin Morris had the world at its feet. Yet new parent company British Leyland cataclysmically failed to adequately replace both models, snatching defeat from the jaws of victory, and allowing rival manufacturers to exploit the demand for this type of car."

BMC 1100/1300: a born winner:-
https://www.aronline...-bmc-1100-1300/

 

 

That is a little bit hard on British Leyland to say that they " catclysmically failed".   They were landed with a pile of debt, rampant inflation which kept moving the cost of new plant out of its reach, and 'out of control' management by trades unions whose aim was to cripple the company into joining the nationalised 'gravy train' of coal, steel and railways etc:.

[Cooperman]

 

"Would you believe that it’s six decades since the brilliant, bestselling BMC 1100/1300 (ADO16) was launched, and a generation of drivers were introduced to the delights of front-wheel drive?
But it’s true – 60 years on, Ian Nicholls ponders what impact this unassuming but technically advanced saloon had on the national psyche and the car industry as a whole.
Sixty years ago, on 15 August 1962, the BMC ADO16 range was launched as the Morris 1100 at Worcester College, Oxford, during the summer break, where the foreign press stayed.
As this site’s BMC 1100/1300 development story relates, around 2.1 million were manufactured in its life, in plants all over the world. It was also Britain’s bestselling car every year from 1963 to 1966, and 1968 to 1971. In conjunction with its smaller sibling the Mini, the ADO16 achieved overseas market penetration no other British volume cars managed.
In a time period stretching from 1962 to 1971 BMC/Austin Morris had the world at its feet. Yet new parent company British Leyland cataclysmically failed to adequately replace both models, snatching defeat from the jaws of victory, and allowing rival manufacturers to exploit the demand for this type of car."

BMC 1100/1300: a born winner:-
https://www.aronline...-bmc-1100-1300/

 

 

That is a little bit hard on British Leyland to say that they " catclysmically failed".   They were landed with a pile of debt, rampant inflation which kept moving the cost of new plant out of its reach, and 'out of control' management by trades unions whose aim was to cripple the company into joining the nationalised 'gravy train' of coal, steel and railways etc:.

 

The statement that BLMC 'cataclysmically failed to adequately replace both models' is quite true. The main rivals introduced new and attractive models, fully updated to the latest expectations of the customers.

Of course, it is also true the on-going trades union activities combined with very poor leadership caused the eventual demise of the organisation and the failure to rationalise the model ranges was the real issue. The unions refused to allow plants to be closed or awitched to making a single model range for each market sector. Infact, they competed with themselves, rather than the competitors. It was all very sad.

The ADO16 was a fine car and I well remember going to the product launch in St.Albans and driving one. It was superb except, perhaps, the steering ratio was a bit low. We didn't know then that the big issue would be corrosion of the rear sub-frame mounts.