Selling your classic car? It's FREE to list your car on Honest John Classics | No thanks

Webster Goes

13 June 1974

Harry Webster, 57-year-old technical director of Austin Morris, has resigned and is leaving British Leyland at the end of the month. Webster, an engineer of immense standing in the motor industry, was the surviving member of the triumvirate chosen by Lord Stokes in 1968 to run the volume car operations of the newly merged Leyland-BMC empire.

George Turnbull, managing director, and Filmer Paradise, sales director, were the others. Both resigned last year following disagreement over the reorganization of Austin Morris. Webster will be remembered for the very successful Triumph Herald and Triumph 2000 series which he developed as chief engineer of the Coventry company. It was largely, because of this success that he was moved from Triumph along with his boss, Turnbull, to restore morale at Longbridge.

His first job there was to rush through a re-design of the Maxi then about to be launched. He has since produced the Marina and the Allegro. Further new Webster models will make their appearance next year. He is at present believed to be holidaying in Spain and was not available to comment last night.

There have been persistent rumours in Midland motor industry circles over the past nine months that he was far from happy with the reduced status of Austin Morris and the departure of Turnbull.

Webster is joining Automotive Products, the Leamington based components group, as director of engineering. John Panks, AP's chief executive, told us last night: "We are absolutely delighted to have secured a man of Harry's high standing throughout the European motor industry. His arrival will greatly strengthen our engineering team and help our push into European motor markets."

More news from the archive

Wed, 22 May 1974
By Clifford Webb Midland Industrial Correspondent The Transport and General Workers' Union has exonerated Mr Alan Thornett, the man...
Wed, 29 May 1974
THE GUARDIAN STRIKERS END CAR PLANT SIT IN From our Correspondent, Madrid, May 28 Striking workers at the Authi factory in Pamplona,...
Sat, 01 Jun 1974
By Clifford Webb British Leyland has submitted an application to the Department of Industry for permission to build a new car plant...
Thu, 06 Jun 1974
By Raymond Perman Labour Staff Workers at British Leyland's Austin-Morris car assembly plant at Cowley, voting in a secret ballot...
Fri, 07 Jun 1974
British Leyland have obtained an industrial development certificate to build a £10m foundry on land adjoining their existing foundry...
Tue, 18 Jun 1974
THE GUARDIAN STANDARD TRIUMPH NEWS Production was halted yesterday in Coventry at the Triumph car factory and 9,000 workers laid...
Thu, 20 Jun 1974
Clifford Webb writes British Leyland's unofficial combined shop stewards committee yesterday called for immediate action to put threshold...
Thu, 20 Jun 1974
THE GUARDIAN TRIUMPH NEWS At the Triumph car plant in Coventry----part of the British Leyland Group---a one day strike by 1,200...
Sat, 22 Jun 1974
British Leyland Britain's biggest employer is to cut its labour force. The news was given to union men in London yesterday by top Leyland...
Fri, 28 Jun 1974
Nearly 9,000 shop floor workers at the five British Leyland bus and truck factories in Chorley and Leyland, Lancashire, voted to strike...
 

Compare classic car insurance quotes and buy online. A friendly service offering access to a range of policies and benefits.

Get a quote