>From another list, but of interest.......
> The UK lunchtime news today informed the closure of Massey Ferguson > tractor manufacturing in the UK. While this is probably of little > consequence to most Triumph owners, it is timely to remember the > Coventry plant at Banner Lane where Fergusons have been made since > September 1946, is very definitely part of Standard Triumph's > industrial heritage. Built originally as a shadow factory for the > construction of aircraft and aircraft engines for WW2, there is no > doubt that Banner Lane played a major part in Standard Triumph's post > war success. While some aspects of car production continued after > hostilities ceased, the 'little grey Fergie' (with the wet liner four > pot as per Vanguard and TR up to 4A) came out of this plant - to the > tune of some 513,000 units in total in just over a ten year period. > Had it not been for the undoubted financial success of the tractor, it > could be argued with some conviction that the development of Standard > and Triumph cars might have been a little more difficult through lack > of finance? > There is no statement (AFAIK) as to when production will actually > cease - or what will happen to the site. I just hope that some of it > can be preserved - as the Standard Triumph site at Canley and > Fletchampstead wasn't, apart from the old social club. The buildings > themselves, especially the office blocks along the frontage are superb > examples of the industrial architecture of the late 1930's and not so > long ago were thoroughly cleaned which exercise finally removed the > last vestiges of war-time camouflage clinging tenaciously to the > brickwork. I think I'd better get up there PDQ with my camera before > some property developer turns the whole lot into yet another retail > park! > > Jonmac /// [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailing list /// Send admin requests to [EMAIL PROTECTED] /// or try http://www.team.net/cgi-bin/majorcool /// Archives at http://www.team.net/archive /// Send list postings to [EMAIL PROTECTED] /// Edit your replies! If they include this trailer, they will NOT be sent.
