jpsellars.co.uk

Every so often a really fascinating book gets published. A lot of my purchases end up joining their friends on the shelf after the first few chapters as I run out of time or interest to finish them properly, but “Making Cars at Longbridge” had been devoured from cover to cover within three hours of the postman’s visit this morning. It’s fair to say I’d been anticipating its arrival for a long time.

The book tells the story behind a hundred years of the Longbridge “Austin” factory in pictures, and for anyone who never had the chance to take a factory tour before April last year this is probably the nearest you’re likely to get. Almost 200 pages of pictures depict life at the factory from a small ex-printing works among open fields in 1905 through its role in both wars, staff photos, expansion, offices, Montego mock ups taking shape in the styling studios, right through to the sad empty production lines last year and finishing of the last few Rover 75s.

Of course, more relevant to the staunch Maestro/Montego follower is “Making Cars at Cowley”. Both books are essential reading, especially if you enjoy a misty eyed look at happier times from our industrial past. Look them up on Amazon