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In July 1973, the British car industry’s woes were just beginning. But were unions or American management at fault?

On the cover of CAR’s July 1973 issue the tabloid-style headline screamed ‘Whose Spanner In Whose Works?’ The story of the British car industry’s woes in the Seventies is wellknown in retrospect, with unrealistic trade union demands and corner-cutting management generally blamed. But this article brings in an international angle that’s rarely discussed. ‘British Leyland’s much vaunted money injection last spring may have come too late,’ wrote Clive Ranger. ‘In 1971 they invested only £48 million against £130 million for Fiat and £124 million for VW. No wonder foreign competitors in the British market have become a cause for concern.’

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2.0-litre Zetec engined Australian-delivered 1966 Ford Cortina 240 Mk1

This Mk1 Cortina may appear to be period correct when you first see it, but look a little closer — the discreet modern touches take it to another level.

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146bhp 1966 Anglia 105E

Built for the B-road, David Gilbert’s Anglia packs an old-school pushrod punch with some special suspension upgrades.

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1948 Jaguar XK120

What had been seen as a novel but not very commercial offering changed people’s views of how a modern sports car should look

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Rebuilt 1.8T BAM 20v engined 225bhp 1979 Volkswagen Golf GTI Mk1

Whilst the owner of this stunning Mk1 makes a living out of new technology, he clearly gets his kicks from a more traditional source. Log on and compute the vibe with us…

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BMP Tuning 321bhp most modified Volkswagen Golf GTI Mk8

Autrey McVicker at BMP Tuning has assembled the most modified Mk8 GTI to date and arguably the most powerful, too, but it wasn’t easy…

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1973 Austin Allegro 1300 Deluxe

The Allegro is the ultimate anti-style statement – which pleases Colin Corke greatly

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1963 Auto Union 1000 SP Roadster

Kevin Newman and Rich Briggs-Price have a wonderful collection of extremely desirable cars, but it is this Auto Union 1000 SP that remains closest to Kevin's heart.

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1953 Vauxhall Velox

Mick Johnson was handed a large pile of boxes when he took on a Vauxhall Velox in 2014, but he has turned it into a beautiful car. Phil Homer tells the story, and speculates as to why so few of this marque and model survive.

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2023 Renault Megane E-Tech Techno 60kWh

Every manufacturer will tell you that the latest car it's launching is its most important ever. While that’s probably not entirely true in this case, there is a sense that the Megane E-Tech represents a new start for Renault and one that it absolutely has to get right.

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1993 BMW 850Ci E31

BMW created the 8 Series to take on the GT elite. It was a technical tour de force that redefined the exotic mileeater as we know it, but does it still stack up? We try an 850Ci to find out.

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