so sad. so much history, all gone. i went to see the remains of longbridge, was shocking. if longbridge was still ebing used. i would move from swindon, all the way to birmingham. i'm 15, and i appreciate the history surrounding longbridge.
Yes I agree with you. I have a lways loved the BMC & BL cars. I have hundreds of sales brochures, original press photos and models of those wonderful cars.
Basically what killed Austin Rover was the Unions.
I remember it was always on the news in the 80's and 90's. The shop stewards, and pickets, and strikes, and work to rules. Demands for pay increases above market rates. They don't have strikes and work to rules in China and Japan.
So the workers and unions have only themselves to blame for the demise of Longbridge.
Is very sad.this factory was birthplace of great cars in a golden era to British industries;and now the chineses killed what remains.Thanks:
-Incompetent admistration to BL ;
-Uncreative engineers and designers;
- A stupid handful of red workers and
disoriented labour goverment in 70's
Of largest carmaker in the world in 50"s to demolition. Is time to recriate one great british industries :no more indians, chineses,germans,building in Britain;is not racism, but the british people deserves this
Such a terrible waste, I was very lucky to visit Longbridge back when it was thriving (on the 15/6/98 to be exact, mainly to see the original/real/classic 'Mini' production line) and it's shocking to see it like that and to hear that it's now all gone. My thoughts are with everyone who worked there and lost their jobs and this country should hang it's head in shame for allowing it to come to this.
If you want someone to blame, blame our wonderful labour government. Rover had very strong export markets in France (yes!) and Italy, and sales were rising in Germany. The 200, 400 etc were not bad cars in comparison to French and Italian stuff, no better, no worse. BMW were pumping billions in and were about to modernise Longbridge.
Two things fucked them. The strength of pound (an export killer)and Steven Byers and the DTI pissing about.
I would like to say it is a "lovely" video, but it brings a tear to my eye. All the manufacturing/livlihood/British way of life that was lost after longbridge was demolished. I love rover cars- have a 220 coupe myself. So bloody well made. Our dear country is going to the scrapheap thanks to our government
JSJ24UK ur an utter bastard you have no compassion for the people who had a living to pay for i too am an ex rover 75 owner i only sold the beautiful machine due to family matters ur a right fuckin knob i hope u burn for eternity in hell ur a waste of human life
RIP longbridge and my condolences too all the workers
You silly twat MG Rover at the end the cars were well made, i have a MG 260 and a TF 160 love them both, as good as any other car or better in its class, When i dive them a feel pride in them.
Sad day when the old place closed,but over the years the gaps were getting bigger no investment cars/models/ideas/nothing was coming through,just companies taking what they could when they liked,many ideas thought up by British enginners are common place in other cars,leyland /rover just did not put the money into design,thats why rover was a laughing stock when it came to cars,ie look at Skoda now,a joke years ago investment by VW, worl beatersnow..think on..
i felt sorrow for all those lads who worked and were dedicated to there jobs who had mortgages and little kiddies it was a crying shame for there famalies.this just cause job losses every where with suppliers down to the rover showrooms garages shut down realy sad
Just terrible, it Pretty well sums up manufacturing in the UK, greedy shareholders, stupid governments, too many sick notes and the general lack of pride in work ethic.
The country is a reflection of the Rover works, poorly run by incompetents, underfunded, and then sold to foreigners for a pittance while the people that ran it became millionaires.Herbert Austin must be turning in his grave.
Sad but true..no good being patriotic or nostalgic..the UK motor car post the Mini and the Austin 1800 was a sad ending to a great car industry..badge engineering, bad design, poor build quality, appaling electrics (Lucas where are you now?) and the abysmal managment system of Leyland killed the UK car..peple were literally driven away from them to the Japanese makes..the likes of the Morris Marina, Austin Princess and Allegro were jokes.....Jaguar is are soon to be owned by Indian companies !
Thats not just Rover closing down thats History ending you Lexus driving retards.Longbridge in the Midlands ws as much a part of our culture as Cadburys,The Rotunda and Bullring among other achievments Brmingham have acomplished.Show some respect for peoples memories you self indulgent twat.
it almost makes me cry how we cannot make anything in this country now, Rovers had their faults,but were FAR SUPERIOR when it came to style, character and britishness.. all we seem to buy now are faceless Jap crap or bricklike german boremoblies... bring back BRITISH PRODUCTS PLEASE!!!!
Respect is somthing that is earned and should not be expected. No one here has earned my respect. Your opinions mean nothing ot me, or anyone else as my opinions mean nothing to you and arn't taken seriously. It is people like you who are to blame for the way this country is today. Take a long hard look at yourself before you start deciding on how I should be spending my own hard earned money. Rover is history and it shall remain so. Who is the retard now, !FUCKWIT!. Have fun at the jobcenter.
Well, while we are still currently allowed to free speech in this country then you are entitled to your opinion!
I took a risk making the video that day but I am a true Rover enthusiast and wanted to dedicate it to all the employees who spent their lives working at Longbridge. It was a very sad and poignant occasion but there was a still a great sense of pride there.I will never forget it.
clearly you arent the sharpest tool so Ill keep it simple. For you to have money we as a country need to export something and Rover was the last thing we had and thats why we have the credit crunch and soon you wont be able to feed yourself ( or more likely, your parents wont be abel to feed you) as an add on can I just say thay you epitomise(?) everything that is wrong with this country you complete, ill educated, cock!
To people who have live around the area, Rover and Longbridge was as part of the Midlnds culture as the Bullring and the Rotunda.Its very sad to see this video and i too remember my father talking about the banters in that Factory.Thats not just a company thats Birmingham history you just watched die to all you lexus driving retards.
I loved my Rover 45 and love the MG ZS I have now. Thank you to the people of the West Midlands who have provided me with great cars since my firs Allegro. These cars are built by people with as much feeling and belief as the people who eventually own them. I know that ther's a new name above the door these days but what ever is built at Longbridge will get my custom 'cos I know that I can rely on the build quality. Good luck to everyone there...
It was a shock to see. I used to work at Longbridge on the production lines in Cab 2. I left to go to Jaguar in 2000. My memories are of full on production lines, full of people and cars and lots of noise. There used to be so much Banter and Laughter. Most of us used to work our Butts off. If you didn't have a laugh and a joke then it could be a pretty grim place to work.
The MGF was the best selling sports car in the UK, The Germans would not let Rover export MGF to the US because it would have out sold there Z range. My sister has a BM Mini too heavy too b
Just to let you know Metromandy, I will never be eating humble pie in my Lexus. Grow a pair of bollocks and get on with your life. I will support what I want to support and any car made by a British firm will never again be bought by myself. I have been given no reason to be patriotic to this awfull country and people like yourself are the reason why so many good people are leaving.
I'm so sad to see footage of how longbridge looked here, i had several family members who worked here , i also as a school boy always dreamed of working at the longbridge plant but unfortunatley failed mt application...it was my dream, luckly i was fortunate to go to a day trip they did in 1988....RIP REAL MINI
Whatever happened to this country? Once Britain built everything, then dropping standards and rip-off merchants, like Phoenix, appeared, and now we make nearly nothing.
No company in UK seems to have a long term strategy. Directors just think short term and line their own pockets. I suspect we are doomed to become a third rate country.
This scenes and demolition on this factory is very sad...The Britain had the most important automotive industries...This factory was emblematic... Like a brazilian: please british people: fighting for return to a real and big british motor industries!!!!!
If MG Rover got to build the Mini, they would have mucked it up. It's obvious to all that MG Rover couldn't build anything decent. I once had a Rover 75 and it was awfull. Now I drive a Lexus. If Rover was any good, it would still be here today. Just get over it and move on.
If you care to do a bit of research you will find that Oxford (Cowley) where the B*W MINI is built used to be part of Rover till 1999 where such 'classics' as the Montego and Rover 800 fastback were built.
I don't think we will ever get over it as a lot of us ex workers still live in the area and see the the redevelopment of the site almost daily.
But saying that we have definatley moved on.........we had no choice.
As I say again, thank god that MG Rover didn't get to build the Mini. I know that the Mini is built in Cowley. But reffering to the Montego and Rover 800 as classics, just because they are old, doesn't make them classics. I'm pleased MG Rover has gone.
youll not be saying that when we are all living like paupers cause we have no industry, no pride and no money. Its ignorant attitudes like yours that are killing this country
I'm sorry you were disappointed with your Rover 75 as in your previous comments, but please have a little more compassion for the feelings of the ex-workers.This video I made and dedicated to them because I am a true Rover enthusiast and have respect.
I don't think people realise that a lot of poor quality (Clarkson!) 'Rover' cars were built at Cowley (sorry Oxford!!), where the B*W MINI is now built.
If we'd have got the MINI (like we voted for at the NEC Mr Woodley) we would have had a job for life.
In my mind there is only one MINI & thats the five million that were built at Longbridge.
I agree the new Mini may well have saved Rover. I was very angry to see it go to the Germans because MINI was a British Icon. As a modern replacement for the Mini and Metro it would have been fab but with a BMW badge it just makes me resent it.Rover created the Mini magic and BMW have just traded on it.Ok, Rover has a turbulant past but with all our services and resources being sold out to other countries it really makes me fear for the future of Britain...
your comments are spot on im ex mg rover 1995 2005 i hate the new mini its not a mini its to big and that joke of a clubman bag of shite i restore rover minis made them and loved them all my life 5 million were made at longbridge to me thats where the mini belonged
What the papers in 1:04 say.
MrDionisis7 11 months ago
so sad
MrJezza31 1 year ago 3
whats this song called btw?
88minicity 2 years ago 3
Hi, its called "Adagio" by Barber.
MetroMandy 2 years ago
so sad. so much history, all gone. i went to see the remains of longbridge, was shocking. if longbridge was still ebing used. i would move from swindon, all the way to birmingham. i'm 15, and i appreciate the history surrounding longbridge.
88minicity 2 years ago 4
Yes I agree with you. I have a lways loved the BMC & BL cars. I have hundreds of sales brochures, original press photos and models of those wonderful cars.
rlh43 2 years ago 4
@88minicity Same man I come from Swindon myself, I've loved British cars and now all of it to the dust and been owned by Franko the foreigner.
hamsterdance4lyf08 2 years ago 3
Basically what killed Austin Rover was the Unions.
I remember it was always on the news in the 80's and 90's. The shop stewards, and pickets, and strikes, and work to rules. Demands for pay increases above market rates. They don't have strikes and work to rules in China and Japan.
So the workers and unions have only themselves to blame for the demise of Longbridge.
CaraBrimleyRules 2 years ago 2
i worked there many happy times and sadly missed
andysllt 2 years ago
Is very sad.this factory was birthplace of great cars in a golden era to British industries;and now the chineses killed what remains.Thanks:
-Incompetent admistration to BL ;
-Uncreative engineers and designers;
- A stupid handful of red workers and
disoriented labour goverment in 70's
Of largest carmaker in the world in 50"s to demolition. Is time to recriate one great british industries :no more indians, chineses,germans,building in Britain;is not racism, but the british people deserves this
officialraf 2 years ago 2
this is probably the factory where my first car was built.....
its a shame what happened, thanks to BL who spent more time on strike than building cars
Turismo87 2 years ago 2
my first car was a rover 600 and i loved it, it had its problems but it was still great
Turismo87 2 years ago
Such a terrible waste, I was very lucky to visit Longbridge back when it was thriving (on the 15/6/98 to be exact, mainly to see the original/real/classic 'Mini' production line) and it's shocking to see it like that and to hear that it's now all gone. My thoughts are with everyone who worked there and lost their jobs and this country should hang it's head in shame for allowing it to come to this.
taffy1967 2 years ago 8
If you want someone to blame, blame our wonderful labour government. Rover had very strong export markets in France (yes!) and Italy, and sales were rising in Germany. The 200, 400 etc were not bad cars in comparison to French and Italian stuff, no better, no worse. BMW were pumping billions in and were about to modernise Longbridge.
Two things fucked them. The strength of pound (an export killer)and Steven Byers and the DTI pissing about.
CaptainCouncil 3 years ago 10
I would like to say it is a "lovely" video, but it brings a tear to my eye. All the manufacturing/livlihood/British way of life that was lost after longbridge was demolished. I love rover cars- have a 220 coupe myself. So bloody well made. Our dear country is going to the scrapheap thanks to our government
Strout88 3 years ago 3
JSJ24UK ur an utter bastard you have no compassion for the people who had a living to pay for i too am an ex rover 75 owner i only sold the beautiful machine due to family matters ur a right fuckin knob i hope u burn for eternity in hell ur a waste of human life
RIP longbridge and my condolences too all the workers
landrovernutta2008 3 years ago 15
haha shitty rover
Richard244Manning 3 years ago
You silly twat MG Rover at the end the cars were well made, i have a MG 260 and a TF 160 love them both, as good as any other car or better in its class, When i dive them a feel pride in them.
btx5 3 years ago 4
Sad day when the old place closed,but over the years the gaps were getting bigger no investment cars/models/ideas/nothing was coming through,just companies taking what they could when they liked,many ideas thought up by British enginners are common place in other cars,leyland /rover just did not put the money into design,thats why rover was a laughing stock when it came to cars,ie look at Skoda now,a joke years ago investment by VW, worl beatersnow..think on..
SpeedTriple59 3 years ago
i felt sorrow for all those lads who worked and were dedicated to there jobs who had mortgages and little kiddies it was a crying shame for there famalies.this just cause job losses every where with suppliers down to the rover showrooms garages shut down realy sad
j538uuj 3 years ago 4
what is the name of the song?
Norsecrow 3 years ago
Hi :) Its Barber's Adagio For Strings.
MetroMandy 3 years ago
Just terrible, it Pretty well sums up manufacturing in the UK, greedy shareholders, stupid governments, too many sick notes and the general lack of pride in work ethic.
malcstag 3 years ago
sad, sad video... gulp!
mickeymoose76 3 years ago
The country is a reflection of the Rover works, poorly run by incompetents, underfunded, and then sold to foreigners for a pittance while the people that ran it became millionaires.Herbert Austin must be turning in his grave.
vidpop 3 years ago 3
historic clip should be in the archives,thanks for posting :)
spiralisedcat 3 years ago
Sad but true..no good being patriotic or nostalgic..the UK motor car post the Mini and the Austin 1800 was a sad ending to a great car industry..badge engineering, bad design, poor build quality, appaling electrics (Lucas where are you now?) and the abysmal managment system of Leyland killed the UK car..peple were literally driven away from them to the Japanese makes..the likes of the Morris Marina, Austin Princess and Allegro were jokes.....Jaguar is are soon to be owned by Indian companies !
fordlandau 3 years ago
Thats not just Rover closing down thats History ending you Lexus driving retards.Longbridge in the Midlands ws as much a part of our culture as Cadburys,The Rotunda and Bullring among other achievments Brmingham have acomplished.Show some respect for peoples memories you self indulgent twat.
Branewbie 3 years ago 2
it almost makes me cry how we cannot make anything in this country now, Rovers had their faults,but were FAR SUPERIOR when it came to style, character and britishness.. all we seem to buy now are faceless Jap crap or bricklike german boremoblies... bring back BRITISH PRODUCTS PLEASE!!!!
mickeymoose76 3 years ago
Respect is somthing that is earned and should not be expected. No one here has earned my respect. Your opinions mean nothing ot me, or anyone else as my opinions mean nothing to you and arn't taken seriously. It is people like you who are to blame for the way this country is today. Take a long hard look at yourself before you start deciding on how I should be spending my own hard earned money. Rover is history and it shall remain so. Who is the retard now, !FUCKWIT!. Have fun at the jobcenter.
jsj24uk 3 years ago
Well, while we are still currently allowed to free speech in this country then you are entitled to your opinion!
I took a risk making the video that day but I am a true Rover enthusiast and wanted to dedicate it to all the employees who spent their lives working at Longbridge. It was a very sad and poignant occasion but there was a still a great sense of pride there.I will never forget it.
MetroMandy 3 years ago
clearly you arent the sharpest tool so Ill keep it simple. For you to have money we as a country need to export something and Rover was the last thing we had and thats why we have the credit crunch and soon you wont be able to feed yourself ( or more likely, your parents wont be abel to feed you) as an add on can I just say thay you epitomise(?) everything that is wrong with this country you complete, ill educated, cock!
unsavourytube 3 years ago
To people who have live around the area, Rover and Longbridge was as part of the Midlnds culture as the Bullring and the Rotunda.Its very sad to see this video and i too remember my father talking about the banters in that Factory.Thats not just a company thats Birmingham history you just watched die to all you lexus driving retards.
Branewbie 3 years ago
I loved my Rover 45 and love the MG ZS I have now. Thank you to the people of the West Midlands who have provided me with great cars since my firs Allegro. These cars are built by people with as much feeling and belief as the people who eventually own them. I know that ther's a new name above the door these days but what ever is built at Longbridge will get my custom 'cos I know that I can rely on the build quality. Good luck to everyone there...
simonburnley 3 years ago 2
very sad video.
ajhow 3 years ago
here here, I never did get the chance to visit the factory...
mickeymoose76 3 years ago
It was a shock to see. I used to work at Longbridge on the production lines in Cab 2. I left to go to Jaguar in 2000. My memories are of full on production lines, full of people and cars and lots of noise. There used to be so much Banter and Laughter. Most of us used to work our Butts off. If you didn't have a laugh and a joke then it could be a pretty grim place to work.
(Rob. A)
JAGUARRACINGGREEN 3 years ago 2
The MGF was the best selling sports car in the UK, The Germans would not let Rover export MGF to the US because it would have out sold there Z range. My sister has a BM Mini too heavy too b
metyman63 3 years ago
The place where my lovely Rover 45 was born!
Rover 4ever!
TMCPG 3 years ago
Just to let you know Metromandy, I will never be eating humble pie in my Lexus. Grow a pair of bollocks and get on with your life. I will support what I want to support and any car made by a British firm will never again be bought by myself. I have been given no reason to be patriotic to this awfull country and people like yourself are the reason why so many good people are leaving.
jsj24uk 3 years ago
I'm so sad to see footage of how longbridge looked here, i had several family members who worked here , i also as a school boy always dreamed of working at the longbridge plant but unfortunatley failed mt application...it was my dream, luckly i was fortunate to go to a day trip they did in 1988....RIP REAL MINI
jackdanveggie 3 years ago
I went on a scool trip there too!
for a day in May 2004!
nobody knew how different everything was going to be only 1 year later!
brettdude92 3 years ago
Whatever happened to this country? Once Britain built everything, then dropping standards and rip-off merchants, like Phoenix, appeared, and now we make nearly nothing.
No company in UK seems to have a long term strategy. Directors just think short term and line their own pockets. I suspect we are doomed to become a third rate country.
jimlagos 3 years ago
This scenes and demolition on this factory is very sad...The Britain had the most important automotive industries...This factory was emblematic... Like a brazilian: please british people: fighting for return to a real and big british motor industries!!!!!
cmj1977 3 years ago
bmw are annoying me lol
james00james 4 years ago
If MG Rover got to build the Mini, they would have mucked it up. It's obvious to all that MG Rover couldn't build anything decent. I once had a Rover 75 and it was awfull. Now I drive a Lexus. If Rover was any good, it would still be here today. Just get over it and move on.
jsj24uk 4 years ago
If you care to do a bit of research you will find that Oxford (Cowley) where the B*W MINI is built used to be part of Rover till 1999 where such 'classics' as the Montego and Rover 800 fastback were built.
I don't think we will ever get over it as a lot of us ex workers still live in the area and see the the redevelopment of the site almost daily.
But saying that we have definatley moved on.........we had no choice.
badgerlad69 4 years ago 5
As I say again, thank god that MG Rover didn't get to build the Mini. I know that the Mini is built in Cowley. But reffering to the Montego and Rover 800 as classics, just because they are old, doesn't make them classics. I'm pleased MG Rover has gone.
jsj24uk 3 years ago
youll not be saying that when we are all living like paupers cause we have no industry, no pride and no money. Its ignorant attitudes like yours that are killing this country
mickeymoose76 3 years ago
I'm sorry you were disappointed with your Rover 75 as in your previous comments, but please have a little more compassion for the feelings of the ex-workers.This video I made and dedicated to them because I am a true Rover enthusiast and have respect.
MetroMandy 3 years ago 6
clarkson loved to s**t on Rover.
Its a British attitude. Both Renaults and Citroens had the same build qulity and still do. But they are French, so they must have style. SH***e
ivorbigunzz 4 years ago 6
I don't think people realise that a lot of poor quality (Clarkson!) 'Rover' cars were built at Cowley (sorry Oxford!!), where the B*W MINI is now built.
If we'd have got the MINI (like we voted for at the NEC Mr Woodley) we would have had a job for life.
In my mind there is only one MINI & thats the five million that were built at Longbridge.
badgerlad69 4 years ago 12
I agree the new Mini may well have saved Rover. I was very angry to see it go to the Germans because MINI was a British Icon. As a modern replacement for the Mini and Metro it would have been fab but with a BMW badge it just makes me resent it.Rover created the Mini magic and BMW have just traded on it.Ok, Rover has a turbulant past but with all our services and resources being sold out to other countries it really makes me fear for the future of Britain...
MetroMandy 4 years ago
your comments are spot on im ex mg rover 1995 2005 i hate the new mini its not a mini its to big and that joke of a clubman bag of shite i restore rover minis made them and loved them all my life 5 million were made at longbridge to me thats where the mini belonged
andysllt 4 years ago
Amen brother.
numberstation 4 years ago
Remember there was a Morris Mini too. That was built at Cowley in the BMC days.
cjmillsnun 3 years ago
Great footage on the East Works(Powertrain).
I worked in there for 18 yrs, my dad for 41yrs.
He got out in '99 when B*W where dumping us after they nicked the MINI brand and 4x4 technology from Land Rover.
badgerlad69 4 years ago
is'nt this a wonderful selling point for british industry.
rodjames98 4 years ago