Containing unique images from the official company archive, this book charts almost one hundred years of car-making at Longbridge near Birmingham. The Austin Motor Company was founded here by Herbert Austin in 1905 and it has since been home to the British Motor Corporation, British Leyland, Rover Group and latterly MG Rover. Its products include some of the most famous British models ever produced: the pioneering Austin Seven of the 1920s; the classic Mini, introduced to the world in 1959 with in astonishing production run of 41 years and a final tally of over 5 million; the Austin Metro, trumpeted as the 'British Car to Beat the World'; and in later years the best-selling MG TF and elegant Rover 75. The factory has been a major employer and an integral part of the local community since its foundation. The sad events of April 2005, when MG Rover went into administration, will radically change the landscape. But the area is now looking to the future, never fogetting its long and proud tradition of manufacturing.
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About the Author
Colin Corke is a lifelong car enthusiasts and is a Reverend in Longbridge. Gillian Bardsley works at the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust at Gaydon.
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13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
By J. Davies
Format:Paperback
This book is, for all intents, a picture book of the history of Herbert Austin's Longbridge factory from the early days of the last century until its final closure as MG Rover in 2005.
Both authors have close links to the subject area, Gillian Bardsley having completed a biography on Alec Issigonis and Colin Corke who is the Chaplin of the Longbridge factory. There are hundreds of images from both war years and post war of the factory, its products and people giving an insight into the conditions and changing times the site has faced.
Full credit for the research carried out as many of these books do turn up some fascinating images of times past.
The last chapter is particularly poignant as the images were taken shortly after the closure of the plant with rows of both Rover 25 and 45 cars waiting to be completed on a desolate construction track.
Overall almost a coffee table book pictorial history of Longbridge with a few paragraphs of general history starting each chapter, which is slightly disappointing as there are no other sources included or any detailed map of the factory areas piecing together the images. For the casual reader to dip in and out of this is a good book, for those wanting a bit more flesh around the bones it is a little of a let down.
Both authors have close links to the subject area, Gillian Bardsley having completed a biography on Alec Issigonis and Colin Corke who is the Chaplin of the Longbridge factory. There are hundreds of images from both war years and post war of the factory, its products and people giving an insight into the conditions and changing times the site has faced.
Full credit for the research carried out as many of these books do turn up some fascinating images of times past.
The last chapter is particularly poignant as the images were taken shortly after the closure of the plant with rows of both Rover 25 and 45 cars waiting to be completed on a desolate construction track.
Overall almost a coffee table book pictorial history of Longbridge with a few paragraphs of general history starting each chapter, which is slightly disappointing as there are no other sources included or any detailed map of the factory areas piecing together the images. For the casual reader to dip in and out of this is a good book, for those wanting a bit more flesh around the bones it is a little of a let down.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By Amanda Udall
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
MY HUSBAND - ENJOYED THE BOOK AS IT BROUGHT BACK ALOT OF HAPPY MEMORIES - AS HE SPENT 15 YEARS OF HIS LIFE THERE. IT IS WRITTEN CAPTURING HISTORIC MOMENTS IN THE GROWTH OF THE FACTORY. IT HAS LOTS OF INTERESTING PHOTOS IN IT, WELL WORTH BUYING.
15 of 17 people found the following review helpful
By Patrick
Format:Paperback
I looked forward to reading this, having enjoyed Gillian Bardsley's excellent Biography of Sir Alec Issigonis. I can recommend it as a fascinating 'illustrated' guide to 'making cars at Longbridge' but as a result, it's a little short on words! Admittedly, the 1970's troubles are well documented elsewhere, as is the BMW ownership debacle, but there seems to be a continuing eerie silence on the genuine detail of it (BMW's ownership) all. I was hoping for some insight into the relationship between the two companies, perhaps something on why John Towers resigned so suddenly shortly after the takeover (He seemed far from happy in the BBC2 documentary "When Rover Met BMW") and I was hoping for a bit of closure over this, and the medium size car that was planned to prototype stage - ready for launch in 2005 - but now languishes in a cellar in Bavaria, as BMW took every detail of it away with them! (For me, another example of them willing Rover to disaster) This part of it all is dismissed in a short paragraph! Why?
So as an insight into the glory years of the company, this book is an affectionate tribute, but as a bona-fida bit of 'closure' it will still leave you clueless and having to rely on the hearsay and rumours that persist.
So as an insight into the glory years of the company, this book is an affectionate tribute, but as a bona-fida bit of 'closure' it will still leave you clueless and having to rely on the hearsay and rumours that persist.
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