British Leylands' other best sellers in plastic and diecast 1/24 or 1/25 scale

[McColm]

Wow, 7 pages for the Routemaster!!
Land Rover proved to be one of BL's  success stories as the short wheel base and the long wheel base design hardly changed from the first production models, giving four wheel drive to the masses. Real world whiffs have included a half-truck version fitted to a long-wheel base and Caterpillar tracks fitted instead of wheels on another. I forget which publication I saw these in, but I was waiting in WHSmiths London Charring Cross station for a train to Erith. An unlikely connection formed between Land Rover and the Austin Fairway FX4 (London Black Cab).
Land Rover provided the engines and when CarBodies & Mann Overton where looking for a replacement model for the FX4 the Range Rover (P38A) second generation 1994-2002 was looked into. The BMW 2.5L turbo-diesel replacing the Nissan 2.7L. This fell through and the TX1 was built instead. This kept the Nissan engine and introduced air conditioning to the London Cabbie in the SE edition as an optional extra. (a diecast model of the TX1 in the larger scale of 1/25, no plastic kits, sorry!) The FX4 had success in Europe, but lacked a large engine and ride comfort for the American market, but this didn't stop buyers from adding an 8L V8, stretching-limo version, 6 doors, hearse, convertible or Ute. A van version was offered to the Royal Mail and one of the newspaper vendors had a trial run.
The Mini kept its shape through the BL years and was successful on the road or track with John Cooper. The Hornet and Elf provided an up market alternative. Its replacement the Mini-Metro in BL's eyes never had the same impact. There was a Motorsports version that had some success along with the TR7. Both kits are no longer in production, although the small scales in diecast are available.
Harris Mann designed 'the wedge' as a replacement for the Triumph TR6, there is a 'Real World' 3 door estate version the Lynx 2+2 and a replacement for the MG known as the Boxer and Broadside using the spare-parts bin and Rover 3.5L V8 engine. This went on to power the TR8 and Spider versions.
The other 'wedge' went on to replace Austin, Morris and Wolseley 18/22 range. A four door large saloon or landcrab. Wolseley had the 2.2L straight six cylinder engine, quad headlights and velour trim. Austin had the single lens headlight and Morris the quad lights, the engine range was the 1800 and 2200cc. The Princess2 was the updated model, Wolseley had been dropped from the line up. The new 1700 and 2ooocc entered the line up adding to the 2200. There was no fifth door although Crayford and Torcars did the conversions in hatchback. Woodall-Nicholson did a stretch limo and hearse version. There was a Van der plas concept car built as well. I have a Revell 1/43 plastic kit which I'm modeling on the Crayford hatchback and there are diecast cars in the smaller scales.
Jaguar was also a success story, there was a saloon version of the E-Type built and one of the Whiffers did send in a coachbuilt hearse picture. Private companies did offer 5 door estate conversions of Jaguar XJ6, but you had to wait until the X-type was built. Lynx offered a three door conversion for the XJ-S.
The Jaguar 220, E-Type and the XJ-S are available in 1/24 or 1/25 scale plastic model kits on the auction sites. I haven't seen any XJ6 kits in plastic, but there are plenty of diecast models.

[PR19_Kit]

I doubt it's available in kit form, or if it was EVER available, but BL did add a hatchback to the Princess in 1982. It was renamed the Ambassador and most of the 4 cylinder engine options were carried over to the later model.

[McColm]

I forgot to include that one, thanks.
The Motorsport division of BL did do a rally version of the  Austin Maxi 1800 entered in the Daka Rally with an all female crew. I've never seen a plastic kit of this although I'm told there are diecast models.
There is the Rover, MG, Triumph, Morris and Austin not covered in too much detail in this topic but could be used on other pages. Most of the well known models are in smaller diecast scales. The odd plastic larger scale kit does crop up on eBay from time to time.

[Martin H]

Im sure I saw a Heller kit of the Austin Princess. I'm sure it was when we did the "operation magpie" kit collection for Combat stress.

[PR19_Kit]

They did indeed do the Rally Maxi!  

Two of them still exist, one's at the Gaydon Museum and it was driven by Prince Micheal of Kent amongst others. It was built by BMC Competitions at Abingdon and strenth tested by me at PSF Cowley.  

It was sadly lacking in torsional strength so Comps welded the hatchback shut, with just a conventional boot opening. The Rally Maxis used the Maxi GT engines that I mentioned in one of my Kit's Kolumns in the SIG newsletter a while back, and was surprisingly quick for such a 'cooking' car. Here's a piccie of it, nicked from Flickr at :- http://www.flickr.com/photos/30268259@N03/7136967293/



Airfix did a normal Maxi, a Mk 1 I think, which could be converted, but it's 1/32 scale.

[McColm]

Thanks.
I've got a Heller1/43 BL Princess kit that I'm converting into a 5 door. I've got an idea of using a block of wood and shaping it into a an Ambassador/Princess wedge. This could also be used as a template at a later date, so I can cut the panels of plasticard just like constructing a 'Real-World kit car'.
In 1980 Aston Martin put in a bid to buy British leyland and MG. I've seen the Aston Martin MGB prototype as it is up for sale again.
I know their Tickford coachworks was used in the production of the Mini-Metro, Ford Capri and I've seen a picture of the Trumiph Stag prototype.

[Mossie]

The Mini kept its shape through the BL years

It did, although BL tried to standardise the front end with the rest of the range in the form of the Mini Clubman.  People still loved the original though so both were produced through the seventies, the original shape winning through when the Clubman was discontinued.

I'd love to see a Clubman conversion for the Tamiya kit, we had two Clubman's through the years.  The first one was an estate and never driven, it was my Dad's mates and had died.  My Dad agreed to keep it on our court yard as we had plenty of space while he disposed of it.  Me and my brother adopted it as a play car, so it stayed there for several years until the edges got so rusty and sharp they became a danger, we were less than happy about that!

Second one I was about forteen, my Dad was after a new car.  I thought Mini's were cool, so I nagged him to get one but he refused as he said he needed something with a much bigger engine to pull our caravan.  I was suprised when he came home with a blue Mini Clubman a few days later.  It was a none standard colour, the story was it had been in a minor prang and the insurance company had specified a Rolls-Royce dealership to do the work, so it really was a Rolls-Royce when it grew up!  Depsite having nagged my Dad, it was less than great for me as I was growing at a rate of knots, in the back seat my legs came up to my chin and my backside ached every time we hit a bump as the rear suspension was basic to say the least!

[The Wooksta!]

There's an Aifix Maxi just been sold on ebay.  £180!  A mate recently sold a pair of the Airfix Marina, the second went for £164.  Mental...

[Weaver]

I doubt it's available in kit form, or if it was EVER available, but BL did add a hatchback to the Princess in 1982. It was renamed the Ambassador and most of the 4 cylinder engine options were carried over to the later model.

Also the inspiration for a great Not The Nine O'Clock News sketch too.....

At the time, Fiat were making a big deal about their newly automated factories with an advertising campaign who's puchline was "Hand built: by robots".

NTNOCN did a sketch in a car factory that started off thus:

"Hey Bob, have you got Bob's torque wrench?"

"Er, no Bob, I think Bob's got it. Bob?"

"Yes Bob?"

"Have you got Bob's torque wrench?"

"No Bob: Bob said Bob got it off Bob. BOB!!!"

<chorus> "YES BOB?"

etc...

It becomes apparent that everybody in the factory is called Bob, and as production halts in a chaotic and confusing argument, the sound fades out and a voiceover says:

"The new BL Ambassador. Hand built: by Roberts....."   

[lenny100]

Im sure I saw a Heller kit of the Austin Princess. I'm sure it was when we did the "operation magpie" kit collection for Combat stress.

there was one and bought it for £5 and still have it in my stash, my family had a real one for years and i was going to build it as that car but i have never found the right sade of bronze to paint it.

[The Wooksta!]

Don't use a proper car spray paint - the metallic flakes are too big.  There's a company that does paints for model cars and uses mica instead.  Can't remember their name though.

[lancer]

I doubt it's available in kit form, or if it was EVER available, but BL did add a hatchback to the Princess in 1982. It was renamed the Ambassador and most of the 4 cylinder engine options were carried over to the later model.

Also the inspiration for a great Not The Nine O'Clock News sketch too.....

At the time, Fiat were making a big deal about their newly automated factories with an advertising campaign who's puchline was "Hand built: by robots".

NTNOCN did a sketch in a car factory that started off thus:

"Hey Bob, have you got Bob's torque wrench?"

"Er, no Bob, I think Bob's got it. Bob?"

"Yes Bob?"

"Have you got Bob's torque wrench?"

"No Bob: Bob said Bob got it off Bob. BOB!!!"

<chorus> "YES BOB?"

etc...

It becomes apparent that everybody in the factory is called Bob, and as production halts in a chaotic and confusing argument, the sound fades out and a voiceover says:

"The new BL Ambassador. Hand built: by Roberts....."   

Ah yes!!! I remember that sketch, bloody funny and fondly remembered. I also remember the playground parodies of it at school the following day....

[PR19_Kit]

There's an Aifix Maxi just been sold on ebay.  £180!  A mate recently sold a pair of the Airfix Marina, the second went for £164.  Mental...

A 1/32 Marina for £164? 

A real one would be cheaper!

[Rheged]

There's an Aifix Maxi just been sold on ebay.  £180!  A mate recently sold a pair of the Airfix Marina, the second went for £164.  Mental...

A 1/32 Marina for £164? 

A real one would be cheaper!

Quite possibly true, but the Airfix Marina won't rust, and the  nearside door is less likely to fall off. (as happened to a former colleague of mine) Loon then bought a Maxi.  The seat mountings were loose and it was like  trying to drive sitting in a rocking chair.....but he only paid £40 for it so I suppose it could have been worse!

[raafif]

I'd love a Clubman mini model (1/24th) ... I had a real Clubman 1¾" --- (that's one with the chassis 1¾" short on one side ).  After my local racing brothers fixed it, it worked fine with the best brakes I've ever had on ANY car.

My brother would kill for a 1/24th Mini van model (he has several of the corgy/dinky ones) to go with his 1:1 scale 1962 van that our dad bought new from the factory. The welded-in grill sure makes it harder to work on than the Clubman but we still managed to replace the flywheel/clutch without removing the engine !

The Princess has to be the best-looking BL car ever (followed by the P-76 sedan).  A family friend bought a pre-production P-76 from the factory after his Pugeot 404 died mid-trip ---- after driving a few hundred miles the Lucas electrics gave out at 2am leaving them stranded in the middle of nowhere of the Australian east-coast.  By the end of their trip (Melbourne, Vic. to Glastone, Qld) the interior was a write-off & had to be stripped & re-done -- despite average Aussie highways (paved) everything just fell off.
He quickly replaced the car with another Pug 404.


Why hasn't anyone ever made a model of the Allegro  
Renault tried to copy it ...