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Triumph, Riley, Wolseley - ever to return?
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Rick
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Joined: 27 Apr 2005
Posts: 22429
Location: UK

PostPosted: Fri Dec 29, 2017 12:53 pm    Post subject: Triumph, Riley, Wolseley - ever to return? Reply with quote

Are any of these "parked" marques ever likely to re-surface I wonder, or are they best left to the past? I think I'd have preferred "MG" to have disappeared quietly, rather than soldier on with badges being glued to the back of (largely) Chinese hatchbacks and saloons (employment opportunities for the Midlands excepted).

Do returns after a period of absence ever really work?

RJ
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peter scott



Joined: 18 Dec 2007
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Location: Edinburgh

PostPosted: Fri Dec 29, 2017 1:30 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

For me the design evolution of old British marques is interesting but applying these names to modern car production is completely meaningless.

Peter
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Rootes75



Joined: 30 Apr 2013
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Location: The Somerset Levels

PostPosted: Fri Dec 29, 2017 1:35 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Agreed, just applying a badge is meaningless without the British Engineering and development to back it as per the originals.
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Keith D



Joined: 16 Oct 2008
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Location: Upper Swan, Western Australia

PostPosted: Fri Dec 29, 2017 2:00 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

About the only thing I have ever agreed with Clarkson on, is his question, "why is there no British car manufacturing business in Britain today?"

British automotive engineers are up there with any other nation in car development. There are many UK specialists who provide design and development for the Japanese and the German industries.

If the BRITISH car manufacturing industry ever surfaces in the UK again, then I would be very happy to see and support names like Austin, Morris, Wolseley, Riley and Triumph again, but not otherwise.

Keith
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alanb



Joined: 10 Sep 2012
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Location: Berkshire.

PostPosted: Fri Dec 29, 2017 2:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

If only our British manufacturers of the past worked during the 60s 70s & 80s as the present day manufacturers work (Nissan, Toyota & Honda) our famed old names would still be around, our mass producers of family cars are now second to none in output and workmanship, it's just a shame they are all foreign owned.
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Rootes75



Joined: 30 Apr 2013
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PostPosted: Fri Dec 29, 2017 3:04 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Those strikes and shortages of the 60's/70's essentially killed the British Industry. I remember ready the history of Rootes and some of the actions of the various workforces is unthinkable now. Such a shame in hindsight.
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badhuis



Joined: 20 Aug 2008
Posts: 1390
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PostPosted: Fri Dec 29, 2017 5:17 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Agreed, unions and strikes did not work out well. But don't forget that Bad Management and Bad Marketing probably had a bigger portion in the demise of the old marques.

Reviving old marques would do nothing for me, or for the newer generation(s) so why would anyone bother? It may work for something like TVR which was alive not decades ago (I wish them the very best).
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Ellis



Joined: 07 Mar 2011
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Location: Betws y Coed, North Wales

PostPosted: Fri Dec 29, 2017 6:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I think I'm correct in saying that BMW hold the rights to the all the old names : Triumph, Riley, Morris, Austin and Wolseley.

The last attempt or plan to use the Riley name was for a planned three door coupe version of the Rover 75. It was the idea of the head of BMW owned Rover cars. One or two examples were built but the plan was not proceeded with.

There have been rumours of a new Triumph sports car by BMW but I believe no more than a rumour.

Who owns the Rover name?
Tata or BMW?
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ukdave2002



Joined: 23 Nov 2007
Posts: 4100
Location: South Cheshire

PostPosted: Fri Dec 29, 2017 7:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I knew a few people who worked at Vauxhall's Ellesmere plant; well into the 80's they still had unofficial rooms on the factory floor with dart boards and card tables.....GM sent a Spanish General Manager over, who sorted the plant out, how he controlled the union I don't know, probably some simple straight talking " if we don't change we won't have a factory"

In the meantime the Japanese did a brilliant job of taking the best of what everyone else did and continually improving upon it.

Triumph & Riley marquees are owned by BMW, the other BMC marques by Nanjing, I think the brands have been dead for too long to have any marketing pull on new cars, and it would only be a badge.

Dave
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