THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN
tristan_shale-hester@autovia.co.uk
@tristan_shale
THE UK car industry was very different 50 years ago. In 2021 only 850,575 cars were built here, albeit with Covid and the semiconductor shortage hindering efforts. In 1972, however, the figure was more than double 2021’s total, with more than 1.9 million cars rolling off British production lines.
It was also a year that saw various new models launched in the UK. Honda began selling passenger cars in Britain in 1972, starting with the Civic, and we also witnessed the Aston Martin Vantage, Ford Granada and Lancia Stratos for the first time.
Some of the most significant new-car launches that year, though,
