1973 was a turbulent year for the global car industry, recognised as the year of the fuel crisis due to the reduced availability of petrol due to ongoing wars in the Middle East.
One of the few manufacturers to benefit from the change in motoring habits was Datsun. Now established as the UK’s biggest importer of cars, they launched the 120Y which went on to become the first Japanese car to hit the UK’s best-selling cars. Based on existing engines and running gear, its reliability, ease of driving and generous standard equipment made it a global success.
Pitched at the same market but using a very different approach, was the Austin Allegro. On paper it was undoubtedly the right car for the era, using existing engines, mounted to an FWD drivetrain and hydrogas suspension. While it was comfortable, it never maintained its predecessor’s best-selling status, nonetheless, its 10-year production run resulted in over 600,000 sales.
This year marks the introduction of the legendary Lamborghini Countach after its unveiling two years previously. Good for 170mph, it was offered to the lucky few who could afford and run the car but the company were fortunate to survive in what has to be considered a volatile era for low-volume sports cars.
This unfortunate timing also hampered BMW, which launched three high-performance cars this year, the 2002 Turbo, the 3.0 CSL and the 3.3L luxury saloon. The 2002 Turbo was Europe’s first Turbocharged production car but only produced in an LHD format.
Another car for those seeking higher-octane fun was the Vauxhall Firenza Droopsnoot. Like the BMW, it was developed from a motorsports background but any hopes of buying one were delayed due to production line issues and eventually just 204 examples were built.
The Chrysler 180 was a pan-European design with input from France, Spain and Coventry. Chrysler had by now established full control over Rootes, Simca and the Spanish truck manufacturer Barreiros, the 180 became Chrysler Europe’s biggest passenger car, with 1.8 and 2.0-litre models sold in the UK. Outsold by all of its UK rivals, it wasn’t a bad car but its unadventurous styling and uncertain pedigree didn’t help.
There was no such issue for the Matra Bagheera. Matra had always been innovative in their car building approach, and the joint Matra-Simca-Chrysler project with its three-abreast lounge-styling seating arrangement, a mid-engined layout and sleek styling offered plenty of appeal in a market with very few competitors. A handful were privately converted to RHD but remained a rare sight in the UK.
By no means a new car, having been on the roads in a virtually identical state since 1965, engineers finally dropped the Buick V8 into the MGB. The MGB V8 helped to add a little more presence to the BL range, but its 20 mpg fuel consumption and somewhat hard ride meant it was dropped just three years later.
Volkswagen was busy with the first of their new FWD water-cooled Giugiaro designs, the Passat owned much to the Audi 80, which had been released in the previous year. Following the Renault 16 and Austin Maxi’s lead, the mid-sized Passat not only offered a hatchback but sold with other body shapes setting expectations for the future of the mid-size family car.
The final car seems to provide the perfect solution for fuel-starved Britain, it was not only frugal but quick too. Styled by the respected Ogle Design team, the Reliant Robin was a finely engineered design and arguably more comfortable than a Mini. Its road tax classification was the same as a motorcycle until 2001. Its eligibility to be driven on a motorcycle license meant it was technically not a car as such, but 1973 offered so little in terms of new products it had to be worthy of inclusion.