If you went back in time to the UK 50 years ago, you would still see the likes of Ford, Vauxhall, Jaguar and BMW cars parked along the streets – but what car brands were around 50 years ago that no longer exist today? This blog will take a trip down memory lane and list 5 UK car brands that no longer exist. Let’s get stuck in!
1. Wolseley
Wolseley Motors was a British car manufacturer founded in 1901. Expanding rapidly after the war, Wolseley became Britain’s biggest motor manufacturer, manufacturing over 12,000 cars in 1921.
However, just before the Second World War, Wolseley Motors was bought by William Morris as a personal investment. Soon after that, all Wolseley products were "badge-engineered" Morris cars until 1975, when the Wolseley mark was dropped all together.
2. Triumph
The Triumph motor company was retired in 1984, primarily due to a combination of financial struggles, the impact of World War II (when the factory was bombed) and ultimately, a shift in ownership and focus towards motorcycles (which they still make today!).
Some of the most notable Triumph cars include the 1973 Triumph Spitfire, the 1983 Triumph Acclaim and the 1946 Triumph Roadster.
3. Morris
The Morris Minor was a staple car of the 1960s, being the first ever British car to sell over a million units. However, despite being an iconic British staple, the Morris car company ceased production in the summer of 1984 with their final model, the Ital, when British Leyland's Austin Rover Group decided to focus on the Austin and Rover brand instead.
4. Austin
The Austin car brand was phased out in 1989 after the Maestro and Montego models that were supposed to be the “rebirth” of Austin didn’t sell well enough to be profitable. As the Rover brand began to gain popularity, the desire to position Rover as a more premium brand led to the decision to drop the Austin name altogether.
5. Rover
The Rover car company ceased production in 2005 after over 100 years making vehicles. The MG Rover Group who owned the brand went into administration due to a failed deal with Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC) and mounting debts.
Although the Rover marque is now dormant, the brand is owned by Tata Motors, who acquired it along with Jaguar and Land Rover in 2008, later establishing Jaguar Land Rover Limited, a brand that is well-known today.
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