Where did the British car industry go wrong?

[Harry Bloomfield]

Myth. To reassure saab buyers

In 1972 Saab brought production of the 1.85 L slant-four in-house to their Scania division at a facility in Södertälje. An uncorroborated letter to the editor of Motor Sport magazine references a Saab press release of July 1970 that indicates that this was planned from the outset.[12] Following the transfer Saab embarked on a redesign of the engine that resulted in the Saab B engine. Displacement increased to 2.0 L, but the bore diameter was 0.3 mm (0.012 in) smaller than the enlarged Triumph version.

The B engine shared much with the original Triumph design, including bore centres and bearings, but some previously problematic features, such as the water-pump and its seal, were redesigned.

 

[ajohn]

Much of the comments around on brit cars are myths. The biggest problem really was sticking to old style assembly methods and not investing in new gear to do it. To go fully robotic needs a rather large market especially early on. Essentially one thing sums it up - the main location for F1 and other teams all thanks to earlier design skills especially on engines and ride and handling. Body problems down to the steel that was used and other than Japan a global problem where ever it gets wet.

So the UK was the first country where if some one was dropped off with no idea where they were the cars wouldn't tell them what country they were in. Bit of an extreme statement but essentially true. In short most UK manufacturers in all sorts of areas had no interest in carrying on or just couldn't compete with imports. Globalisation is another way of putting it - the end of worrying about balance of payments when the size of the economy was considered. Just how much money was spent so imports to exports ratios no longer mattered. Then lack of investment all round as no point.

 

[transam]

BSA also had a rocket three model

The Triumph version was the trident

T150 or the later T160

I had a T160

Interestingly or not Triumph brought out the Triumph Hurricane designed by an American Craig vetter

Badged as a triumph but used the BSA rocket 3 engine variant

AFAIK not many were made and genuine examples are very collectable / sort after

 

[ajohn]

In 1972 Saab brought production of the 1.85 L slant-four in-house to their Scania division at a facility in Södertälje. An uncorroborated letter to the editor of Motor Sport magazine references a Saab press release of July 1970 that indicates that this was planned from the outset.[12] Following the transfer Saab embarked on a redesign of the engine that resulted in the Saab B engine. Displacement increased to 2.0 L, but the bore diameter was 0.3 mm (0.012 in) smaller than the enlarged Triumph version.

The B engine shared much with the original Triumph design, including bore centres and bearings, but some previously problematic features, such as the water-pump and its seal, were redesigned.

Probably the same thing as Triumph did. Like I said it was made by Saab under license. Saves a lot of money on designing and proving your own engine,

 

[Bodd]

Well it did over 100K with no effort. I got rid of it with a slight timing chain rattle at tick-over and rusting rear mudguard lips.

I went out with a girl until I see her Mudguard Lips.

 

[Bodd]

An American article but a few British made cars on the list


https://www.thethings.com/classic-cars-we-wouldnt-drive-today-and-why/17/

 

[crystal ball]

I had an NSU Quickly a mean machine

 

[Bodd]

I had an NSU Quickly a mean machine

RO 80?

 

[crystal ball]

 

[noseall]

Where did UK car manu' go wrong? When other countries do it better and cheaper.

My old grandad went from a Ford Cortina to a Honda Accord (early ones were rot boxes). The difference was like night and day. It all started when you closed the door and heard a reassuring coming together of tight fitting seals as opposed to a metallic clank that sometimes took more than one take. 5 speed box. Started instantly with a flick rather than a whiny long cough. The differences were stark.

 

[Mottie]

Dunno about everyone else but I miss the dawn chorus of inertia starter motors rasping those engines to life!

 

[noseall]

Dunno about everyone else but I miss the dawn chorus of inertia starter motors rasping those engines to life!

I don't miss having to push start my bruv's escort van on cold mornings, no.

 

[Burnerman]

Dunno about everyone else but I miss the dawn chorus of inertia starter motors rasping those engines to life!

Ah yes, the sympathetic crash of pinion into ring gear
I’ve fitted quite a few ring gears to flywheels, getting them nice and hot with the gas axe - shrunk fit.
John

 

[Mottie]

Ah yes, the sympathetic crash of pinion into ring gear
I’ve fitted quite a few ring gears to flywheels, getting them nice and hot with the gas axe - shrunk fit.
John

I’ve done it in the past by putting the ring gear in the oven on max for about an hour and the flywheel in the freezer. My mum wasn’t best pleased!

 

[durhamplumber]

don't miss having to push start my bruv's escort van on cold mornings, no.

Lol...I do not miss at all Taking out Cortina Mk 4 spark plugs most mornings and warming them with a hairdryer..Then polishing the points...Bloody thing....Swapped it for a Datsun Cherry..Started first time everytime but I think the bodies were made of cardboard....Long before ""Limp mode"" was a motoring term...Who the hell invented that bolx