If there is it would be in the ASB section.This is all rather fun with the detail of how BL went so, so wrong, but is there a current Sanity version of this thread for BL?
The Minor might have had a renaissance in sales (if renaissance is the right word) if it had remained in production into the 1980s. The Mini did. In which case it would have been an (unintentionally) sane decision. Is it true that the Marina was the Minor's chassis with a new body? If it is true, would putting the Minor back into production instead of the Morris Ital (the "facelifted" Marina) have been sane or insane?To be honest I'm trying to think of something insane that BL didn't do. So far the only thing I can think of is keeping the ancient Morris Minor in production until the Metro is introduced, or trying to develop a competitor for the Italian Supercars.
FWIW when FIAT cars were hand built by robots . . .I'm not sure what more damage could have been done by British Leyland without pointing out the truly abysmal the labor situation at BL was and how truly antiquated the facilities they made cars with, as those were in a way both management decisions as well, and they certainly were insane. Several cars lasted much, MUCH too long (the Marina being the worst offender of this, though the MGB definitely qualifies for this as well) and the company never did make much attempt to improve its production facilities, and it showed most famously when Ford bought Jaguar, looked at their facilities and went "Oh, you have GOT to be kidding" and immediately suspended production of the cars to improve the plant and equipment.
The Minor might have had a renaissance in sales (if renaissance is the right word) if it had remained in production into the 1980s. The Mini did. In which case it would have been an (unintentionally) sane decision. Is it true that the Marina was the Minor's chassis with a new body? If it is true, would putting the Minor back into production instead of the Morris Ital (the "facelifted" Marina) have been sane or insane?
After making the Morris Marina? You'd figure the lesson would only need to be learned once....Perhaps the most insane option would have been if BL built the Trabant under licence!
Hey they sold a million of those Marina's. Not bad for what was meant to be a temporary stopgap. They just kept making them long after they should have been replaced by a proper rival to the Cortina.After making the Morris Marina? You'd figure the lesson would only need to be learned once....
make the noise !That had to wait for two blokes in Shropshire with a positively erotic obsession with brackets to happen...
Don't knock the Marina too much - it was a good car to learn on.Hey they sold a million of those Marina's. Not bad for what was meant to be a temporary stopgap. They just kept making them long after they should have been replaced by a proper rival to the Cortina.
Hey they sold a million of those Marina's. Not bad for what was meant to be a temporary stopgap. They just kept making them long after they should have been replaced by a proper rival to the Cortina.
They could have somehow talked the government into nationalizing and consolidating the rest of the British auto industry as well. Goodbye Aston Martin Lagonda, Lotus Group, and Vauxhall Motors.I'm not sure what more damage could have been done by British Leyland
And if they talked the Government into nationalizing Ford UK the Yanks would probably have invaded. (To save us from Godless Communism of course nothing to do with pressure from Detroit)They could have somehow talked the government into nationalizing and consolidating the rest of the British auto industry as well. Goodbye Aston Martin Lagonda, Lotus Group, and Vauxhall Motors.
Had a go at it once: https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/british-leyland-survives-and-thrives.504942/This is all rather fun with the detail of how BL went so, so wrong, but is there a current Sanity version of this thread for BL?