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[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

I quite fancy an XJS Lynx Eventer. Less than 100 manufactured, apparently.

No. Just no.

Killjoy.

[aaronjb]

Less bits to rust without the butresses... every cloud and all that

If it'd be anything like my XJ40 it's more the firewall falling out you want to worry about (and the floors) only thing holding it in was the pedal box and dashboard!

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

Less bits to rust without the butresses... every cloud and all that

If it'd be anything like my XJ40 it's more the firewall falling out you want to worry about (and the floors) only thing holding it in was the pedal box and dashboard!

That's not rust, That's British character.

[aaronjb]

  Well, it did seem to come pre-installed in most British cars of the era, so maybe you're on to something there..

[Doctor Gollum]

Of course none of this built in rust would have had anything to do with alternating strike days throught the seventies...

Coal dug on Monday would sit outside until loading on Wednesday. It would then sit on the train for three days because no one could drive it. Then, after the weekend, it would finally get delivered the following Wednesday.

Same story with the iron. And then the steel. And then the panels... you can see where I am going with this

I suspect that you could strain tea through the panel surfaces prior to actually welding them together 

[Nick W]

Well, it did seem to come pre-installed in most British cars of the era, so maybe you're on to something there..

The same thing applies to European, Japanese and American cars.  Everything rusted badly, although some hid it better.

[Lizzie Zoom]

Well, it did seem to come pre-installed in most British cars of the era, so maybe you're on to something there..

The same thing applies to European, Japanese and American cars.  Everything rusted badly, although some hid it better.

You are so right on that one. The early Datson's were infamous for rust quickly appearing.  It was stated not long after these problems became apparent, and I am not really sure how true it was, but the reason why these early Japaneses cars rusted so badly was they did not enjoy the benefits of good European rust proofing of the chassis due to them only being built for the Japanese climate.

[Doctor Gollum]

Well, it did seem to come pre-installed in most British cars of the era, so maybe you're on to something there..

The same thing applies to European, Japanese and American cars.  Everything rusted badly, although some hid it better.

You mean the Japanese climate with four defined seasons

You are so right on that one. The early Datson's were infamous for rust quickly appearing.  It was stated not long after these problems became apparent, and I am not really sure how true it was, but the reason why these early Japaneses cars rusted so badly was they did not enjoy the benefits of good European rust proofing of the chassis due to them only being built for the Japanese climate.

[aaronjb]

They don't, or didn't, use salt on the roads in winter, so less corrosive environment. So says the hearsay anyway.

[Kevin Wood]

You are so right on that one. The early Datson's were infamous for rust quickly appearing.  It was stated not long after these problems became apparent, and I am not really sure how true it was, but the reason why these early Japaneses cars rusted so badly was they did not enjoy the benefits of good European rust proofing of the chassis due to them only being built for the Japanese climate.

My Grandad bought a Datsun 120Y back in the 1970's. Within 18 months the tops of the front wings had rusted through. He got a replacement set under warranty and within 18 months... etc.

Saw quite a few pristine ones driving around in South Africa while I was over there. Clearly they lasted better in their climate.

[78bex]

My dad owned a wolsley 2200 6 cylinder in Mustard 
The gear selector was mounted sticking out the right hand side of the dashboard
The car he traded-in was a white 1300 Marina, he waited till the summer to do the deal.
The hot summer of `76 dried the marina out nicely inside 

[Shackeng]

Strange, advert is '75 but tax disc '77.

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

Strange, advert is '75 but tax disc '77.

I noticed that. Probably an advert from  1976 with the tax running until 1977.

[TheBoy]

Of course none of this built in rust would have had anything to do with alternating strike days throught the seventies...

Coal dug on Monday would sit outside until loading on Wednesday. It would then sit on the train for three days because no one could drive it. Then, after the weekend, it would finally get delivered the following Wednesday.

Same story with the iron. And then the steel. And then the panels... you can see where I am going with this

I suspect that you could strain tea through the panel surfaces prior to actually welding them together 

Having known many, many people who worked at the factory that now produces the BMW Mini, it's not hard to see why British cars of the 70s and early 80s were utter shite - despite a usually good initial design.

The whole attitude was wrong, and the management did buggerall to weed it out. The phrase that Clarkson uses for BL workers, "that'll do", is far too kind. Damaged panels would go on. Panel fitting was rushed and often ill fitting. Corners cut. Terrible.

Fortunately, Austin Rover then teamed up with Honda, and there was a big change in attitude, and that showed in the cars that started to come out, such as the R7 Rover 200/400 series.  Sadly, come the early 90s, BMW bought what was then Rover, and never invested in anything (BMW wanted BL's mass manufacturing techniques and 4x4 technology, not a car manufacturer). Then some of the original Austin Rover management bought Rover Cars from BMW for a quid, and that ended as expected, as the old mentality came back.

[Sir Tigger KC]

I believe Longbridge is a retail park and housing estate these days?