RogerB
Crusader
Your comment in red above hits the nail on the head as far as a major reason for the Brit Motor Industry going down the drain.
As you know from other posts by me, I was involved in an international consulting game and had in our employ former key players in the African continent's security. One such employee had been the head of Dr Banda's Presidential Security team in Malawi. This in the '60's.
The story he tells is quite revealing.
As you know the Rover Car Company "owned" the market for 4-wheel all terrain vehicles with its "Land Rover" . . . . well you'll also remember in those days of 1960'-'70's the Land Rover was a boxy, jungle going 2 door thing with a flat roof and access in the back via split horizontal upper window and lower panel . . . rather like a utility.
Well, the Malawi government (and other former Brit Commonwealth African nations) wanted to buy and use Land Rovers as fast and lightweight troop/police carrying vehicles . . . problem was that being only a 2 door vehicle it was rough for the guys in the back to get in and out, and a tremendous liability in the event of emergency . . . . the guys in the back seats could actually get trapped.
So, the African folks (my employee was one of the principals on the line doing the negotiation) asked the Rover Car Company if they would make a 4 door vehicle that would be more suitable for their use
The Brit response was . . . well, British
In essence, they said "get stuffed" . . . the Land Rover is a 2 door vehicle and that's the way it is, take it or leave it
When the Africans asked the Japanese if they could accommodate the request, the reply was: "Certainly sir, and what size doors would suit you best?"
Thousands of these 4 door vehicles were sold into Africa by the Japs because of this, and in essence it established this particular model for them. And the rest, as they say is history.
The Rover Car Company is no more . . . who was it that took them over and runs the brand? Ford?
Rog
