The Sale Race

THE latest available statistics from the SMM & T show that last October British Leyland sold 40,682 cars, Ford-of-Britain 22,634, Chrysler UK 8,098 and Vauxhall 7,155. Of the Importers, Renault regained the lead with 5,406 cars sold, followed by Fiat with 5,046, Datsun with 4,731 and Volkswagen with 2,469. For the ten-months’ sales ending in October 1973, British Leyland led with 464,452 cars sold, from Ford with 331,762, Chrysler UK with 141,767 and Vauxhall with 124,674. Of the Importers, the order was Renault (59,090), Datsun

(53,571), Fiat (42,933), and Volkswagen (39,414).

The best-selling models from each maker last October were the BL Morris Marina, Hillman Avenger, Ford Escort, Vauxhall Viva, Simca 1100, Datsun Sunny, Fiat 128, Renault 12, and VW Beetle, hut not in that order. The Cortina’s lead over the BL 1100/ 1300 models has changed, Marina now 9,676 to Cortina’s 7,256, with Escort ahead at 8,957. But for the ten-month period Ford sold 163,937 Cortinas, BL 101,327 Marinas, and 56,468 1100/1300 to Ford’s 98,170 Escorts.