Page 101 - Demo
P. 101
99The Leyland P76 is one of Australia%u2019s most notorious cars %u2013 but for all the wrong reasons. In%u00a0 the 1960s, British Leyland was building and%u00a0 assembling small cars in Australia at a time%u00a0when Aussies were going nuts for big Fords and Holdens.To compete, Leyland Australia convinced its UK overlords to fund the production of a locally made large family sedan that could go head to head with the big Holdens, Fords and even Chrysler.The result was the P76, a car designed with a boot large enough to fit a 44-gallon drum in the back %u2013 because apparently that%u2019s what Aussie farmers wanted. It was launched with considerable fanfare, including a marketing campaign that featured a nationally broadcast telemovie. The storyline involved a heist, with a brood of P76s central to the plot. This early example of brand-funded content showcased the bold range of colours available and the inventive names they were given. Options included %u2018Peel Me a Grape%u2019 (purple), %u2018Am Eye Blue%u2019, %u2018Spanish Olive,%u2019 %u2018Oh Fudge%u2019 (brown) and %u2018N.V. Green%u2019 (see what they did there?).Sure, this all-Aussie-made car might have won the Wheels Car of the Year Award in 1973, but that wasn%u2019t enough to halt falling sales or to silence the disgruntled customers who had shelled out good money to buy one. Their grievances were considerable: build quality was questionable, gaps between panels let draughts through, and many drivers had the unenviable experience of watching the carpet catch fire while they were driving. To cap it all o%u00a0, Leyland released this gas guzzler in the middle of an oil crisis, sealing the fate of the P76.Despite its reputation as a lemon, the Leyland P76 %u2013 an Aussie made car that captures our imaginations %u2013 still has a legion of fans.YEAR 1972DESIGNER Giovanni MichelottiMANUFACTURER Leyland AustraliaThe P76, a car designed with a boot large enough to fit a 44-gallon drum in the back %u2013 because apparently that%u2019s what Aussie farmers wanted.

