The Popularity of British Cars in the 1970s and 1980s
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During the 1950s, the five largest companies in the UK produced 90% of the motor vehicles sold in the country. These companies were Ford, Renault, Rootes, Standard-Triumph and Vauxhall. These companies were well integrated with their European parent companies. Their popularity grew in Britain.
The 1960s saw the introduction of many new models by the British car companies. Vauxhall produced Insignia and Victor, both of which were very successful family cars. The Renault 5 was also well received by British buyers. Ford Cortina was also launched in 1962. Renault’s popularity in Britain was also strong, as was Volkswagen’s Polo.
The 1970s saw a big change in the way British cars were produced. British Leyland started to produce more than one model in order to compete in a single market segment. This resulted in a decline in the company’s share of the UK market. It also made the company increasingly junior to the other major players in the industry.
During the late 1970s, BL reduced its workforce. It also ceased production of many sports cars produced by MG and Triumph. Although BL Leyland still sold a range of vehicles in Britain, the company’s share of the market was lowered to about 32% in 1973. This resulted in a large drop in profits, jeopardizing the investment plans of the company. The company was also plagued by internal rivalry.
The 1970s also saw a strong surge in the popularity of Japanese cars. The Datsun brand, produced by Nissan, became extremely popular because of its cheap prices and low running costs. Nissan also enjoyed a reputation for the reliability of its cars.
The 1980s saw British Leyland continue to sell its cars in Britain. However, a number of the company’s new models were criticised by the motoring press. In response, the company decided to reduce the number of factories it operated. The company also discontinued several models, including the Rover 800 Series, Montego and Mini Metro.
The 1980s saw a drop in demand for sports cars in Britain. This may have been due to the popularity of the “hot hatchbacks” of the time. In addition, many of the British cars that were popular in the 1980s were also available with hatchbacks. In some cases, British Leyland was the first car manufacturer to offer a hatchback on an upmarket model.
In 2012, a new British car company emerged: Elemental Group LTD. The company’s logo shows a stylised “A” in red, with a dot or circle in the middle. It also shows the name of the company in serif capital letters. It is located in Woking. In addition to producing cars, the company also specialises in customizing Lotus Seven vehicles.
British car makers are known for their luxury and performance cars. The most famous British automakers include Aston Martin, Jaguar, Lotus, Bentley, and Land Rover. There are also many smaller car manufacturers in the UK. There are also 11 companies that produce cars outside of the Big Six.