Wheels of Misfortune

An investigation into the rise and subsequent fall of the British car industry over the last century. In 1950, Britain was Europe's leading car manufacturer. Today it trails behind Germany, France, Italy and Spain in the European car market. The author investigates the role of management, trade unions and government in the demise of the industry. He argues that the key to the industry's failure lies in its long time reliance on insular, self-taught leadership and a national environment where engineering has been relegated to a secondary social status. His investigations are based on hundreds of interviews with engineers, designers and top executives including John Barber and Sir John Egan. He chronicles the rise of the Morris and Austin companies, their fusion into the British Motor Corporation, its decline and the amalgamation of the entire British-owned sector into the British Leyland Motor Corporation. An analysis of its seven years existence is complemented by interviews with key members of its management, including Chairman, Lord Stokes.