The Cortina and Escort were the mainstay of production for this period, with others in a supporting role.
The Capri came and went in this time, proving to be a popular car for a niche segment.
The Granada / Consul didn't last long in UK production as it was soon transferred to Germany. I presume numbers didn't justify two plants making them.
The MK IV Zephyr / Zodiac was not that popular looking at those production numbers (I had a nice Dinky car of the latter though), and the Corsair was on the way out by the late 60's. Just over 300,000 in total were made of the latter.
Yr | Total | Cortina | Escort | Fiesta | Capri | Gr/Con | Ze/Zod | Corsair |
68 | 486,500 | 261,800 | 161,700 | - | 3,100 | - | 24,700 | 35,200 |
69 | 524,000 | 265,900 | 145,000 | - | 79,600 | - | 19,900 | 13,600 |
70 | 450,600 | 195,400 | 156,700 | - | 69,200 | - | 18,900 | 10,400 |
71 | 368,500 | 182,200 | 128,400 | - | 41,100 | - | 16,800 | - |
72 | 546,700 | 264,200 | 198,900 | - | 46,700 | 36,900 | - | - |
73 | 453,400 | 220,100 | 147,300 | - | 49,400 | 36,600 | - | - |
74 | 383,700 | 186,300 | 138,900 | - | 37,300 | 21,200 | - | - |
75 | 329,600 | 140,400 | 152,500 | - | 21,200 | 15,500 | - | - |
76 | 383,200 | 146,400 | 188,300 | 8,200 | 27,000 | 13,300 | - | - |
77 | 406,600 | 168,500 | 177,600 | 60,500 | - | - | - | - |
78 | 324,400 | 152,100 | 133,100 | 39,200 | - | - | - | - |
Thanks Ray, interesting figures. I haven't compared Ford's best year (72) with BMC/Leyland's best year, but I suspect it was quite close...maybe 150,000 cars in it?
ReplyDeleteThere was a documentary on TV this week called 'Ford's Dagenham Dream' which traced the rise and fall of the factory. It is a real shame because what should have remained a successful business was undermined by dreadful industrial relations, which meant that by the 80s Ford gave up on the plant. The key moment was the demolition of the Foundry, after which it was only a matter of time before production was switched abroad. The improvement in relations and productivity in the 90s came too late to save it, though it remains a key centre of engine production.
Chris G
Industrial relations were very poor in the UK back in that time you mentioned Chris. It is so much better now, perhaps a realisation by both management and workers they cannot afford that sort of situation and be competitive.
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