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American industry did manage to produce many fine vehicles, and in particular, mastered the engineering of engines with large displacement, good displacement-to-weight ratio, and reasonably good reliability. British industry had some beautiful lines... vehicles that were spirited and balanced. But I can't commend for example Lucas electronics.
Oh No. He is bringing up the US auto propaganda line of Lucas electric being bad when Rolls installed them - who only install the best. US industry was scared stiff of superior imports. Those inefficient cast-iron pushrod low end torque US V-8 engines were suitable for trucks - where they should have remained.
The best V-8 the US produced was from 1960 until 1963, the Buick aluminium V-8. They were ditching it so Rover took the design it as they were about to design a new engine and here was one given to them on a plate saving money and time. It suffered problems with oil and coolant sealing but Rover improved it no end and made it for the next 40 years making fuel injected versions. Only the US was obsessed with V-8s, not one really bothered with them in a big way in cars. All the advances in engines came from the Europeans.
Even Jay Leno says the best car of the 20th century was a British car:
Most US classics had those V-8 lumps in them. GM, Fiat-Chrysler, etc, should be forming their own classic division to keep them rolling and not allowing the rust into history.
The comment about Lucas is not true. They were terrible. Some say they are the reason for the downfall of the British motor vehicle. Sure, LR and Jag are fine, but there were lots washed away by the 1970s Japanese import surge.
Lucas signed a contract with Delco and Bosch that meant the three primary companies will only sell to their own domestic markets and will not sell in the others. This gave Lucas a near monopoly. See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucas_...ing_agreements A quote there: "With a monopoly in place, Lucas proceeded to supply electrical equipment that was commonly cited as the best reason not to buy a British car."
Lucas jokes:
The Lucas motto: "Get home before dark."
Lucas is the patent holder for the short circuit.
Lucas - Inventor of the first intermittent wiper.
Lucas - Inventor of the self-dimming headlamp.
The three position Lucas switch - Dim, Flicker and Off.
The Original Anti-Theft Device - Lucas Electrics.
Lucas is an acronym for Loose Unsoldered Connections and Splices
I have had countless cars with Lucas electrics. None gave trouble. A propaganda campaign was started to put people off buying more fuel efficient imports after the 1970s fuel crisis, as US cars had fuel guzzling truck engines in them. The same was being aimed at Japanese cars: they rot, they fall apart after a year, the engines are too small so will burn out, parts are super expensive, etc. Rolls Royce were asked why they fitted a Japanese radio in their cars, they replied "because it is the best". Rolls Royce only fitted the best and fitted Lucas.
US companies set up in the UK, Ford and GM, used Lucas. No one put a gun to their heads to use Lucas. They used Lucas because it was reliable, simple, and did it economically. Look at the price of Bosch. You got sucked in and could not see it.
The worst vehicles I have ever had to live with were GM pickups and Suburbans. The worst car I ever drove was a Dodge Dart. The road holding and steering feel was appalling.
Location: By the sea, by the sea, by the beautiful sea
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Quote:
Originally Posted by John-UK
Oh No. He is bringing up the US auto propaganda line of Lucas electric being bad when Rolls installed them - who only install the best. US industry was scared stiff of superior imports. Those inefficient cast-iron pushrod low end torque US V-8 engines were suitable for trucks - where they should have remained.
Be honest, they did pretty darn well at places like LeMans too!
I have had countless cars with Lucas electrics. None gave trouble. A propaganda campaign was started to put people off buying more fuel efficient imports after the 1970s fuel crisis, as US cars had fuel guzzling truck engines in them. The same was being aimed at Japanese cars: they rot, they fall apart after a year, the engines are too small so will burn out, parts are super expensive, etc. Rolls Royce were asked why they fitted a Japanese radio in their cars, they replied "because it is the best". Rolls Royce only fitted the best and fitted Lucas.
US companies set up in the UK, Ford and GM, used Lucas. No one put a gun to their heads to use Lucas. They used Lucas because it was reliable, simple, and did it economically. Look at the price of Bosch. You got sucked in and could not see it.
The worst vehicles I have ever had to live with were GM pickups and Suburbans. The worst car I ever drove was a Dodge Dart. The road holding and steering feel was appalling.
The difference is that Japanese cars are extremely popular in the US, probably even more so than domestics. British cars, not so much.
The majority of people who bash Lucas have never owned or worked on a car equipped with them. Over 40+ years I have owned, restored, maintained American, British, German and Japanese cars and I can say without reservation that Lucas is really no worse (or better!) than any other maker. My Alfa owning friends like to say that Magnetti Marelli was Lucas' Italian cousin.
I know people that have driven coast to coast in cars with stock Lucas electrics with no issue. One of the biggest headaches I ever had with a British car was the Delco electronic ignition in a TR7 (yes, it was a terrible car for many other reasons).
Something to remember, the Lucas Company of old was very large and diversified and they were very heavy into aerospace. The company has since been carved up and parts sold off to other companies and those companies sold off and or merged, but, it is almost guaranteed that if you get on a Boeing or Airbus airliner it will have Lucas built or designed parts.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_GT40#History
The Ford GT40 was designed and built in England. They used the Ford V-8 lump and tuned it. Americans had little to do with the car, apart from putting up the money. One American was on the team which was headed by an ex Aston Martin man.
The Ford GT40 was the Lola Mk6 from 1962, by Eric Broadley and John Frayling. The GT40 was from 1964. They look the same.
Lola Mk6:
Last edited by John-UK; 06-12-2018 at 01:40 PM..
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