Changes

Beginning 1925 William Morris, later Viscount Nuffield, began to mass produce small cars of modest power under the "M.G." nameplate. Morris modeled his methods after [[Henry Ford]], and sought high volume production of inexpensive cars geared to the urban middle class. In 1953 M.G. merged with Austin to form the British Motor Corporation, the largest  producer, which also produced the Austin, Austin-Healey, Morris,  Riley, Wolseley. It added Jaguar in 1966. BMC specialized in small, economy sedans and sports  cars, with 4 cylinder engines. It merged in 1968 with rival Leyland.  Another rival was the Rootes group, with the brands Sunbeam, Talbot, Hillman, Singer, and Humber. <ref> Timothy R. Whisler, ''The British Motor Industry, 1945-1994: A Case Study in Industrial Decline'' (1999)  </ref>

Beginning 1925 William Morris, later Viscount Nuffield, began to mass produce small cars of modest power under the "M.G." nameplate. Morris modeled his methods after [[Henry Ford]], and sought high volume production of inexpensive cars geared to the urban middle class. In 1953 M.G. merged with Austin to form the British Motor Corporation, the largest  producer, which also produced the Austin, Austin-Healey, Morris,  Riley, Wolseley. It added Jaguar in 1966. BMC specialized in small, economy sedans and sports  cars, with 4 cylinder engines. It merged in 1968 with rival Leyland.  Another rival was the Rootes group, with the brands Sunbeam, Talbot, Hillman, Singer, and Humber. <ref> Timothy R. Whisler, ''The British Motor Industry, 1945-1994: A Case Study in Industrial Decline'' (1999)  </ref>

Ford opened a plant as early as 1911 and soon had 40% of the British market. In 1931 Ford opened the largest auto plant in Europe near London. Ford eventually acquired Aston Martin, Jaguar and Land Rover. By 2008 it was selling off those divisions.<ref> Huber Bonin, et al. ''Ford, 1902-2003: The European History'' 2 vol Paris 2003. ISBN 2-914369-06-9</ref>  Rootes was taken over by Chrysler in the late 1960s and its brands phased out by the 1970s.  The Chrysler operations were taken over by Peugeot in 1978.  Nissan opened a plant in 1986.

Ford opened a plant as early as 1911 and soon had 40% of the British market. In 1931 Ford opened the largest auto plant in Europe near London. Ford eventually acquired [[Aston Martin]], Jaguar and Land Rover. By 2008 it was selling off those divisions.<ref> Huber Bonin, et al. ''Ford, 1902-2003: The European History'' 2 vol Paris 2003. ISBN 2-914369-06-9</ref>  Rootes was taken over by Chrysler in the late 1960s and its brands phased out by the 1970s.  The Chrysler operations were taken over by Peugeot in 1978.  Nissan opened a plant in 1986.

The gentry who bought cars before 1939 found driving was easy on rural Britain’s smooth road surfaces in its generally mild weather. The rural roads are famously narrow and winding, so cars were small with stiff springs for good handling characteristics on them. High taxes on gasoline and crowded streets encouraged smaller, fuel-efficient cars in the cities.

The gentry who bought cars before 1939 found driving was easy on rural Britain’s smooth road surfaces in its generally mild weather. The rural roads are famously narrow and winding, so cars were small with stiff springs for good handling characteristics on them. High taxes on gasoline and crowded streets encouraged smaller, fuel-efficient cars in the cities.

== Fuel ==

== Fuel ==