Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #78896 in Books
• Published on: 2008-10-15
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 256 pages

Synopsis
James Ruppert explains why you can't buy a British built hatchback car for you and your family from a British owned company any more. James was really worried because in 1974 his Dad did a very strange thing and came home in an Audi 100LS. James wondered whether the rot set in from that point onwards. But his dad remained a fiercely loyal British car buyer, which sadly did not make any difference when in 1978 he accidently bought the single worst car British Leyland ever made. So where did it all go wrong and why is the British car industry in the scrapyard? Tracing the rise, mediocrity and fall from 1945 to 2005 James Ruppert, Independent newspaper and Autocar motoring correspondent, former car salesman and author of Bangernomics, gives a unique commentary on what happened, and all the cars his Dad bought, plus find out the following: . How the British Army saved VW. . Why the British car industry rejected VW. . How the industry relaunched itself with pilfered BMW plans. . How Triumph almost became the British BMW, but instead BMW ended up owning Triumph, and still do. . How a British poached egg sold a million ...But not as many as a Beetle shaped car from Germany. .Oh yes and why the Cortina was almost callled the Ford Goats Dung .

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Customer Reviews

A Superb Read
Even if you only have a passing interest in all things automotive, this book is a thoroughly interesting read, with wry observations about British society, well-observed descriptions about the 1970s and a humour that's typical of the author's self-deprecating style.

And, if you are a motoring enthusiast, you'll rapidly find the contents of this book wholly indispensable. After all, the author is a highly knowledgeable motoring journalist, with a plethora of facts - some obscure, some obvious but all interesting - at his disposal.

A highly recommended read.

Excellent history of Uk car industry from 1950s to date
If you are my age, around 60, and have always had an interest in cars, you will really enjoy this book. It brought back so many memories of cars I have owned and driven over the 40 years since I was 20. Well written from a personal and family background, it contains an accurate description of the history of the UK car industry in a personal and anecdotal way rather than being a book by a nerd for nerds. I would strongly recommend it.

An enjoyable read
I liked this book a lot. I did not have far to go for each "fix" of entertainment. It is packed with amusing anecdotes. All are laid on in a linked and highly readable narrative and Ruppert is to be congratulated in that achievement. I really warmed to the general theme. The sad tale of his father's Sovereign struck a real cord and the thought of the "Grimaldi brothers" being responsible for servicing and repair, was one I had every empathy with. Nowhere have the hurt, anguish and complete time wasting, generated by incompetent dealerships been given such fair-minded but complete venting in a book on motoring experiences. It brought back similar memories of events that I had long ago forgotten about. The Grimaldi Brothers - yes that was quite an extended family they had!

My criticism - it is written with a motoring journalist's lack of rigor - (Not that many things are wrong, in fact I generally become more irritated with most motoring books, due to factual errors) - avoid those bits of the story that do not fit, or cast unsubstantiated assertions. I suppose the nerd in me likes all the details right. [One day someone will write effectively about the role of the British motoring press in the downfall of the British motor industry]. Like reviewer "Walter" I was mildly irritated with the lack of quality of finish and errors in the text.

I have given it 4 stars because the main theme is right, the main supportive facts are all correctly defined and I was entertained and enlivened reading it.

I recommend it, particularly as a gift, to an older motorist. I think not only will it appeal to the person with 30 motoring books on their shelf but perhaps more so to the reader who has no motoring books, but a lifetime of trying to buy and run a car, particularly through the 70's. It will bring out many laughs as they read it, both at the tale that is being told and then thinking about the distant relatives of the "Grimaldi brothers" they undoubtedly encountered. The recipient will thank you for giving them such a good time as they read it.