Here’s how to create an automotive commercial failure.
The lesson comes from the British Motor Corporation, aka the BMC.
It was back in late 1967 when they the unveiled their Austin 3-litre.
Look familiar?
Why yes, it looks like an Austin 1800 with a longer bonnet.
And that’s what it was.
Because under that long bonnet was a six-cylinder engine that drove the rear wheels.
Eh? Was not the 1800 a front-wheel drive car?
Yes, it was.
You see, it all happened because the (not) so smart folks at BMC wanted a large luxury car for the late 1960s/early 1970s to compete against the Rover 2000 and Triumph 2000.
But, being strapped for cash and creativity, they decided to re-use the four-cylinder Austin/Morris 1800 body, insert a six-cylinder engine, add some softer seats and other faux plush accessories and hey presto — it’s a luxury car!
Trouble was, they could not figure out how to make it work with front-wheel drive.
So, they made it rear-wheel-drive.
Nobody was fooled by this Frankenstein of a car.
It looked like the much cheaper 1800, had its bus-like steering wheel position, was lacking in performance and its wet weather handling was “suspect” according the UK consumer journal, Motoring Which.
Motor magazine said it “lacks the imagination and attention to detail.”
But wait, there is more to this debacle.
By the time the 3-litre was on the market, BMC had merged with Leyland, and with it came Rover, Jaguar and Triumph.
That meant the merged company now had the Rover 2000, Triumph 2000 and 3-litre Austin — all competing for the same buyer.
Only 9992 of these 3-litres were built before it was mercifully terminated in 1971.
David Burrell is the editor of retroautos
CHECKOUT: Plan B: the FG Holden you never saw!
CHECKOUT: XW Falcon propelled Ford to sales record