British Motor Corporation (Australia)

British Motor Corporation (Australia) was formed in 1957 when the Australian interests of the companies that made up the United Kingdom British Motor Corporation were amalgamated. In 1968, following further corporate changes in the UK, it was renamed Leyland Motor Corporation Australia which continued until closure in 1982.cite book |last=Georgano |first=N. |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Beaulieu Encyclopedia of the Automobile |year=2000 |publisher=HMSO |location=London |id=ISBN 1-57958-293-1]

Austin Motor Company of Australia

In 1949 the British Austin company bought the Melbourne based Ruskin Body Works and used the factory to make pick-up and tourer bodies for fitting to imported Austin A40 chassis.

British Motor Corporation (Australia)

In March 1950 British Motor Corporation opened a new, 57 acre [Size of factory referred to in caption for image Number:A12111:1/1958/30/8 taken in 1958 and held by the National Archives of Australia as part of Collection A12111:Immigration Photographic Archive 1946-Today] assembly and building factory in Zetland, New South Wales on the site of the Victora Park Racecourse.

During a period of significant postwar reconstruction, migrant assimilation and technical innovation, the factory employed a peak of 7000 people from 35 nations. The only plant in Australia to manufacture the complete vehicle, it introduced to Australia the in-line transfer machining of engine blocks, the “rotodip” paint process, automatic conveyor assembly processes and major advances in justin-time and flexible manufacturing concepts [ [http://www.engheritage-sydney.org.au/plaq/BMC.htm The Institution of Engineers Australia - Sydney Division Engineering Heritage Committee] ] [ [http://www.engheritage-sydney.org.au/plaq/BMC/index.html Zetland factory photo gallery available from the Institution of Engineers Australia website] ] .

This factory produced the Austin Lancer, a car based on the Wolseley 1500 but modified for Australian conditions. In line with the badge engineering prevalent at the time, Morris models were also made with the Marshal based on the Austin A95 Westminster and the Major version of the Lancer.

In 1961 the existing Morris models were dropped to be replaced by the Morris 850 a local version of the Mini. The Mini proving very popular in Australia as it was in the UK prompted a revised Australian only model line up to be introduced in 1965, beginning with the Morris Mini Deluxe, the first to use Hydrolastic suspension,to have wind-up windows, ignition key operated starter and an improved level of trim and options. Australian Minis were fitted with wind-up windows years ahead of their UK counterparts. Morris Mini Coopers and Cooper S were also made and supplied to the Australian and New Zealand Police forces as high speed pursuit vehicles [ [http://www.inthejob.com/Mini%20pursuit%20cars.jpgImage of Police Minis in Sydney circa 1967] ] . The Mini K (for Kangaroo) was the renamed Deluxe MKII and launched in March 1969 complete with Kangaroo decals [ [http://www.aronline.co.uk/index.htm?akaado15f.htm Scanned copy of the Mini K brochure] ] .

A local version of the BMC 1100 joined the line up (badged Morris1100) and henceforth the smaller front wheel drive BMC models were all to be badged as Morris and the larger ones as Austins borrowing from the established markets where Vice Regal cars were Austin Princess limousines and Morris cars were mass motoring cars. Production of the Mini Moke started in 1966 but fitted with larger, 13" wheels and longer rear wheel arms, than the UK original 10".

The Austin name resurfaced in 1962 with the Freeway, an Australian made six cylinder version of the BMC B-Series engine. A local version of the BMC 1800 was also made and was developed in 1970 into the X6 range with a longer wheelbase than the original. These were called the Austin Tasman for the basic model and Kimberley for the de luxe hi-end model. To add some Australasian brand confusion, in New Zealand the Austin Freeway was badged as a Morris Freeway and the Morris Mini Deluxe was badged as an Austin Se7en. All were made in the Sydney factory.

Leyland Motor Corporation Australia

In 1973, alongside the amalgamation of car companies in the UK into the Leyland grouping, BMC(Aust) followed suit with the local Rover, Land Rover and commercial vehicle operations were all brought together. Cars such as the Morris Mini Moke became the Leyland Moke. An Australian version of the Morris Marina joined the range and was later fitted with a local market only 6 cylinder 2623 cc engine.

The near legendary Australian big car model to see out the 1970's was the 1973 Leyland P76. It was based on a still born proposal for a new Rover car. This was designed to take a straight six or alloy Rover V8 engine with the latter being the more popular. Unfortunately V-8 engine supplies were restricted reducing production.

Following the worldwide collapse of British Leyland and its associates, linked with local protection tariffs for the remaining car manufacturers in Australia (Ford (Aust), General Motors Holden, and Chrysler (Aust) the Victoria Park/Zetland factory that was opened by Lord Nuffield in 1957 was closed by 1975. Production of the Mini in Clubman guise from imported CKD shells continued by the Pressed Metal Corporation (PMC) at the Sydney suburb of Enfield (located near a major rail interchange) until 1978 and the Moke until 1982. PMC also made Land Rovers and pressed metal coffins!

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