Our video this time around is a documentary from the BBC released earlier this year titled Classic British Cars: Made in Coventry. It tells the story of the rise and fall of the West Midlands car manufacturing hub. In it, viewers hear from the relatives of Sir John Black, the man who led Hillman to mega sales before revitalizing the Standard Motor Company.
The program also tells how iconic manufacturer Jaguar rose to produce the much-loved E-type after its founder Sir William Lyons moved the firm to Coventry. Footage from the documentary shows one of only four existing 1897 Daimlers being driven by its owner Michael Flaver.
The show also touches on the demise of Coventry’s car industry amid stiff competition from the US and Europe and the ill-fated decision to merge some of the cities biggest names to form British Leyland, which collapsed in 1975 before being rescued by the state.
The show contains some really great period photos and videos, and it really is a great watch.
Michael Carnell is the editor and founder of the Just British Online Motoring Magazine. As a lifelong British car enthusiast, he has owned or driven British cars of all ages from Austins and MGs to Jaguars and Triumphs. He currently owns a 1966 Vanden Plas Princess 1100 and a 1977 MGB. But there is always room for more - no matter what his wife says.
