Hi there! If you’re watching this and noted I said V6 when I meant 6 (I got it right in my voiceover section) and I said exported instead of imported, yes, it’s a mistake. I do these videos entirely unscripted and occasionally you make a mistake whilst remembering a million facts and driving a completely new car. Thank you for understanding!
Another interesting point is that it was only the V8 version that won Wheels Car of the Year. Also, the cup holders are more 'cup places', where you would place the cup on the glovebox lid whilst picnicking inside the car. You'll notice the glovebox opens to flat. It was common in Australian cars at the time (and potentially elsewhere, I don't know)
I worked for Leyland assembling the P76 when I was a teenager. I used to fit the horrible chrome trim around the windscreen. We had endless problems. NZ farmers loved them as they could get two bales of hay in the boot along with the dog.
Leyland had P76's ready for delivery but no seatbelts available due to union strikes at small part suppliers. The car didn't get a fair go from the beginning.
Being a New Zealander, I'm familiar with this car. I was in my teens in the 1970s. So I remember them being assembled and sold here in NZ. I saw one being raced in 1975 at the Benson & Hedges 500 race event. It was an endurance race for NZ assembled cars. It didn't win , but gave the Australian Fords and Holdens , plus some Chrysler Valiants a run for their money.
@@saneman8147 no it's not , do your research. There are photos from Leyland R+D demonstrating this It was also featured on Torque with the late Peter Wherrett It was to pitch to Cockies that a sedan can be used on the selection to haul supplies as well as be used for the families requirements
Leyland Australia was up against it from the start with the P76. It was a totally fresh design at a time when labour troubles and financial restrictions very much worked against them. The P76 was more advanced than the Ford, Holden, Valiant competitors at the time. It deserved much better.
It just won the 2024 Peking to Paris Rally. 1st in classic class and top of the time sheets overall after 37 days and 14 500 km . Such an amazing achievement for a 50 year old Aussie Grand Tourer.
My plumbing boss had one of the first of these in NZ, a bright yellow Super. The 4.4 (269) was a good engine as was the rest of the running gear with the most noticeable negative issues being the fit and finish. From memory the trim around the windscreen seemed reluctant to stay in place, on several occasions as did other exterior fittings and trim to a lesser degree. Drove well though and was something a little different from the usual fare of the day. Thanks Steph.
Agree with what you say. I had a friend in Sydney who had a 6 cyl P76 and lost about 4 of the chrome trims on the top of the front windscreen. He went back to the dealer who told him to go direct to the Leyland/Jaguar Spare Parts Warehouse near Liverpool. Mate went in and spoke to Spare Parts Depot Manager, who asked how many he had lost. Mate Colin said about 4. Manager disappears for 5 minutes and come back out with (I think) 6 new trims, and says to Colin, "There you go, that should see you for a while". And all free of charge. But the P76 was so woefully assembled. You would be driving along and the glovebox door would fall off, or the centre console would come loose.. At one stage Colin came around to my house to do some repairs, as the entire left hand side of the dashboard had come loose. I,m surprised they stayed bolted together as long as they did. It was a shame really, as the car itself was a very good handling and riding car, and generally out performed it's Ford, Holden and Chrysler rivals. Cheers. David form Tasmania
An Aussie team in a P76 have just completed The 2024 Peking to Paris Rally and finished 1st in classic class and top of the time sheets overall after 37 days and 14 500 kilometres. A grand feat of achievement from a true Aussie Grand Tourer.
Steph, the six was a 2.6 litre version of the Austin Kimberley 2.2 litre ohc straight six, I had an Austin Kimberley which was a great car ruined by a HORRIBLE engine. The P76 was re designed by a Leyland employee ruining the original Micchelotti design, it was the 2.6 litre six which gave it the reputation of unreliability. I once bought a spare transfer gear for my Kimberley and it had a runout of 75 thousandths of an inch, or 1.9 mm.
It was the bmc e series 6 that had enlarged capacity courtesy of using the increased stroke on the 4 cylinder engines to make the 1.5 into the 1.75. The 6 was first used in Australia 2 years before the uk and once leyland australia closed the engine tooling was moved to south africa
My understanding is that the original design was penned by Romand Rodbergh at Leyland Australia, he was not happy with the subsequent revisions by Michelotti and if you look at the original models I would concur that on this occasion the Italians got it wrong. Ultimately it was poor quality control that damaged the P76’s reputation and the perilous state of the Leyland Australia’s finances.
I understand that part of quality problems stem from British Leyland staff coming over and having a hand in production. It had teething problems but was a wonderful design.
Strikes and poor management +++ was the main problem for the P76. I heard stories of rejected castings being used because strikes prevented new ones from being made. Also worked with a guy who worked on the line and saw the Force 7 line put into reverse so they could be crushed.
As an Aussie always thought these were under appreciated. Speaking of v8s, living in rural Queensland you’d be lucky to walk through town for 5 minutes without hearing a hotty v8 go by still to this day.
Sadly it seems that 90% of the time when you hear a v8 going by its just a 70 series cruiser. Its really disappointing when you hear a v8 and you think it'll be something cool, and then its just an overpriced shitbox land cruiser.
Coming from New Zealand, we had them here, but they never really took off. I don't know about build quality, but one thing against them was they came out at the time of the oil crisis and they hadn't had time to establish themselves before big gas guzzlers lost popularity. They were marketed as an executive car, but I think I remember them more as taxis.
I agree. But the fake contact wood grain shrinks and lifts around the gauges on the P76. Sad but I can understand why it has been changed on this car. Mine looks quite tatty now.
OMG, I've never seen one of these in such great condition! It's better than when it left the factory. Even the taillights look brand new. Never expected to see a P76 on Idriveaclassic and couldn't hit play fast enough!
Where I grew up, there was a local business owner who had an absolutely mint Targa Florio version which he even drove everyday to and from his workshop. I reckon Steph would love to have a go in the one Force 7V that is in the UK!
@@ayrproductionsthe Force 7 that was in the UK was sold to a collector in New Zealand about five years or so back , last I heard it was getting a respray job last year.
I always enjoyed riding in a P76 because they were very comfortable. Here's a fun fact: One proud owner of a Targa Florio, a sports version, always tells the story that nobody ever died in a P76 according to official records. Another wonderful episode Steph and hope you make it out here when the AOMC Florence Thomson Tour is on in February. A wonderful women's event that you could be a part of.
They were comfortable until you got onto winding or rough roads. A terrible handling car. A mate had one while I had a Peugeot 504. Just couldn't compete with the Peugeot.
I had a 6 cylinder Super, and apart from a notable lack of low end torque, everything about the car was better than the big 3 offerings. Very much a drivers car in every aspect. Handling was one of its better points, compared with the other 3. 10:30 it was actually a V8 or inline 6 E engine, a 1725 with 2 added cylinders making 2.6 litres. That particular air conditioner is an aftermarket unit. The factory unit was integrated, with central vents matching those shown at the ends of the dash.
You will always find the people that rubbish them have never actually owned one, Mum and dad got one and towed a 22' van around Australia with no problems at all, It was a great car and i wish i still had it now.
I believe the six cylinder was a straight 6 not v6, also I got to drive one of these (manual column shift v8) from Antwerp to Amsterdam about 20 odd years ago, I think it was one of maybe 3 examples of this car in Europe at the time and owned by a member of Rover owners club in Belgium.
GM USA killed Holden after the Australian Govt got taken for $millions in "subsidies"... to keep the GM plant going. It all went straight to GM USA. Theft really.....
The haters called them a P38 , on account that they were half the car they should have been . Dad had a Brown coloured V8 here in NZ that took us on many trips and in style .
Just a week or so ago P76 won the Peking to Paris rally Classic class for the third time. To quote : In the fight for the win in the Classic Category it was the familiar Leyland P76 of Matt Bryson that finished first, and top of the time sheets overall, and this is Matt’s fourth Peking to Paris victory, and no doubt an emotional one after the previous three triumphs were shared with the late, great Gerry Crown. It did this beating a Porsche 911S and 912 to second and third. Even further back were Escorts of Mk 1 and 2, Mercedes Benz 450SLC and quite a long list highly regarded cars. Some Lemon to do this over the vast distance of Peking to Paris and for the third time. Good driving team, but they would not choose a bad car for the task. Searching will reward with more vids recently posted.
in its day it won the East Africa Safari (Evan Green) and the Targa Floria, prompting Leyland to introduce the Targa Floria model which was a v8 super with go fast stripes and other minor trim changes.
And it was Matt's father John who partnered Evan Green on the 1974 London Sahara Munich World Cup Rally in a P76. John was one of the best rally navigators of his generation.
My Dad had a V8 4 speed, went like fury but reliability was a real issue. That one is a nice colour, don't remember it here, but looks good, especially matching rocker covers. There is a guy in Sydney who owns a Force 7 Coupe AND what is believed to be the only station wagon in existence, that would have been a great car. I hope when you come here you get to drive some uniquely Australian versions of BMC cars such as Austin Freeway and its cousin the Wolseley 24/80, Kimberley, 6 Cyl Marina and Morris Marshall. A great video, keep them coming
Being from Australia,that is one nice example A friend of mine actually developed these cars and has a great example in his shed When you coming over to Australia,next year we have the morry nationals in WA
What a fine example of a classic Aussie car. My Dad used to work for Leyland Australia and I still remember being a ten year old and Dad taking to the Zetland (Sydney) factory and showing me a brand new Force 7 car that was suppose to supersede the P76, however never went into mass production.
My father worked for a company in Melbourne called Zenford. They designed and built the body poduction line for these cars, including the Force 7. The line was transported to Zetland in Sydney.. For about two years I didn't see much of my father. The V8 engine was designed and built by Leyland Australia, not a Brithish V8. The boot was origially a bit longer from the design studio. It caused many problems for my father. there was a sporty model called the Targa Florio named after the race it won in Sisily with a well known journalist Even Green driving.
Actually the engine was based on the 3.5litre Rover V8. Further, Evan Green had the fastest time on the Targa Florio stage of a much longer event, the UDT World Rally (which he did not win)
I had a leyland terrior truck in Australia with a v8.. They had lots of p76 engines after production stopped so the put them in the terriors. Great engine ,did me well. Much quicker than my tk bedford
G'day Steph. Great to see you got to drive such a polarising local classic, and so beautifully restored. For all that they had their knockers back in the day, I have a friend in his eighties who fondly remembers his P76 as the best car he's ever owned. I reckon he wouldn't be alone!
That's different. Us UK car nuts don't always understand the differences of the car market in other countires. It's very interesting to see models developd for particular countires. That looks like a really nice example of an interesting car. Thanks so much.
An excellent review Steph. I appreciate you reviewing our Aussie history with Leyland Australia. My first car was a lowlight Morris Minor in the 60's. Later a mark 2 Cooper S. I felt sorry for BMC/Leyland in the latter years.
Quite a good car that was killed by popular perception and politics. The worst car ever sold in aust was the Morris marina. It sold well because of low prices but was riddled with gremlins. No body loved it. Almost as unpopular as Lada
In his book "When We Were Young and Foolish", the Australian journalist Greg Sheridan relates an anecdote about going on a long car trip in 1977 with his friend Tony Abbott, who would later become Prime Minister. Abbott picked up the young Greg in a purple, eight-cylinder Leyland P76 and proceeded to play Glen Campbell’s “Galveston”, “Wichita Lineman” and Abbott’s favourite tune, “Dreams of the Everyday Housewife”, all the way from Sydney to Melbourne, a distance of 550 miles.
Pre-production prototype P76s was extensively tested in outback Australia , so yes the seats were certainly tested in the outback heat, and if you still doubt that they were, a quick search of the web will reveal many photos of the cars being tested in outback conditions.
This car has been re-trimmed. Leather wasn't standard. The Executive had brocade seats. My Deluxe (manual with three-on-the-tree) had bench seats in vinyl.
Only hated by parochial twerps, most of whole have never sat in one or dive ne, let alone owned one! Quite possibly they have been beaten in there choice fo car buy one too! Great cars that are also fantastic to drive!
No V6, Steph - a horrible OHC straight 6, was the alternative to the V8. Bloody great cars. That one is a super-nice example. I could have bought one for $800 in the '90s. More like $80K today...
The tacho on the test car was standard OE fitment for the Super and the Executive. The supplier was VDO in Heidelberg, a suburb of Melbourne. The only P76 model that didn't come with a tacho was the Deluxe range. The Deluxe came with two Lucas 7" round headlights, whereas the rest had four of the Lucas 5.75" round headlights.
The only one I've seen in England was back in 1978 . Creamy Yellow ( Country Cream ) . I thought it was Yank until spotting the badge . I thought it was better looking than big British designs . Having been in Oz for 40 years now , I reminded how few I've seen here . Even back in the eighties , it was all Falcon 500 and Kingswood .
Designed for the Australian terrain..? We are the most urbanised costal demographic in the world..! BL had no idea what they were doing: they followed what surveyed consumers Said, not what they Did... 😳
Cupholders in the glovebox was very common in Australian built cars of the era! I believe the last Australian built car was the 2000 VS Commodore Ute and Statesman/Caprice. They are extremely useless 😅
The Marina nearly sealed the P38's fate before it was released. The Marina was such a dreadful car potential Leyland P76 buyers were already looking forward at a potential reliability disaster. BL U.K. head office kept shaving the development and production budget. It was lucky to get to $20Mill.
A friend had a Targa Florio,the spec'd up version of the P-76,and it was one of the nicest cars l have ever driven. Comfortable seats,an excellent driving position(for me at least),the all alloy 4.4 litre engine was quiet but responsive and the power steering was one finger,literally. Lovely driving experience but unfortunately Baby Shit Brown in colour. Lol
Great video, thank you. My recollection of these is that they were more infamous for being a flop, rather than innately bad cars. The front and rear styling lacked cohesion with the profile I think.
hi steph , amazing videos , love this old layland , its a bit before my time , i came to australia 2006 , most cars then were commodor ford falcan , and dear a compliment on your skin colour tights , a nice different from the black opaque , very beautiful dress :)
There’s a number of videos about these cars…but this is the first time I’ve seen one. Wow So let’s be clear, lemon cars aren’t what we want….and we had a lot of them around that time. However, even in those situations, you can look and take the good bits like (for the time) that interior, the superior engines, the air con, and say….why the hell didn’t Leyland uk emulate that on uk cars?…I’m not saying we should have had an aircraft carrier on wheels like the Aussie car but the other stuff, at least the good bits, yes why not? ……. That learner car in front….imagine the driver looking in the mirror and saying… OMG Karen looks what’s coming.
I thought of buying the p76 but when I saw how many paint runs the brand new car had I quickly changed my mind and went with the Datsun 180b instead. Never looked back 😊
That was good. I'm Australian and I'm in Australia. I'm old enough to remember these cars when they were first released and I thought the concept was really promising but, yes unfortunately they did not live up to expectations. At the time Leyland had a poor reputation in Australia and the fact that it was poorly made and unreliable just doomed it. Nice to see a good example and I agree with you, It's impressive. Thanks.
Awesome car, a very true review. My Boss had one here in New Zealand it was such fun to drive he had a very good run out of it. Certainly a BIG step up from a falcon or kingwood,
@7:04 picture shows a stock steering wheel. Shame that this has been changed. The original fitted this "Executive" model theme, but importantly the original is definitely an obvious nod to its Aussie roots: its incorporates a boomerang shape.
The repeaters for the sidelights, taillights and indicators were the most stylish feature of any car ever to my 6 year old eyes. The Ford LTD was rubbish in comparison.
The V8 was derived from the Rover 3500. Stroked square 3.5”x3.5” with a taller block and 4.4 litres. My mate put one into his series 1 P6B. He fitted a P76 4-speed before getting a Toyota 5-speed box.
As an Aussie I have to say they should have gotten more love when they were released as their design was top notch. For instance the engine is designed to go under the car rather than towards the occupants in a bad accident. That's the sort of thing you would expect in a modern car not something from the 1970s! Then there are lots of little things. For instance I love working on cars but one of the jobs I hate is removing fuel tanks. The P76 makes this a bit easier as they have a bung/bolt on the bottom of the fuel tank that allows you to remove all the fuel before you take the tank out. So a great car that is definitely under appreciated.
Sorry you are so wrong it is not Australia's most Hated car the fast back and station wagon was amazing and are highly sought after hear in Oz please don't rate cars you know any thing about
Steph, a Leyland P 76 recently won the Peking to Paris rally. I was 19 when these cars hit the Australian market. At the time Leyland was not only loosing ground to GMH, Ford and Chrysler but particularly the very well presented Japanese imports, new to Australia.
The Leyland P76 is quite collectable in Australia and l saw two P76s 3 years ago a very rare sight in Australia but there out there and the P76 has been modified to get some high horse power figures
@@garthpetch4173 l know that after all the Rover V8 was a far superior engine in every way than tbe Triumph Stag engine and another nail in tbe coffin for Leyland
12:37 It wasn't a lemon. It was just built by lazy idiots. When it's built to spec it's not a bad car. Not a great car, but certainly no worse than anything else running around at the time.
What surprise to see this P76 being road tested 50 years after being built, and in the U.K. no less. Greetings from Australia. At last you've driven a really notable car. What great condition this P76 is, and it has been lovingly maintained and improved over the years. These vehicles were a very good car for the time, although they suffered from quality control problems and the usual Australian knockers who can't deal with anything different from the Ford and G.M. examples. Back in 1977 I had the pleasure of driving the V8 version with 4 speed manual transmission and it handled beautifully. I will never forget driving it as I had it for the day. Boy, it went like stink. Yes it had problems with the fit and finish of the internal plastic trim, but it was great fun to drive when powering through the corners and it always braked straight and true. Loved that car and didn't want to give it back. One thing that I really notice is the way in which you use the steering wheel when driving the car. The way your hands are holding the wheel through the corners worries me, as you turn the wheel hand to hand. I was never taught to use the steering like that. Regards Mark
Best way to use a steering wheel in a modern car... crossed arms being blown into your face by the airbag going off in the steering wheel hub hurts...... shuffle shuffle shuffle....in every car... then you don't make a mistake in a modern air bag equipped car.....
I remember a mate buying a second hand Leyland P76 in the Melbourne Trading Post. He only wanted to buy it for the Motor and Transmission. From memory ??, the Engine was an all Alloy 260 cubic inch V8 ?? He finished up putting the motor in a Ford Escort. Unfortunately it didn't last long after a another mate pretty much destroyed the car after using another set of keys to get the car started and took it out for a drive and ran it through someone's front yard after losing control of it at a roundabout ??? Most of the damage was on the front of the car including the Engine Block ???
Hi Steph, I had the pleasure of owning a 6 cylinder p76 in the late 70s. After doing a pile of work for a roadworthy when I acquired it, I found it a very reliable comfortable car that was also fun to drive. It was a manual and a very throw aroundable car. I guess it was a car ahead of its time. It was a great experience. 🐸
I remember the Ministry of Transport Traffic Department had undercover mufti cars here in New Zealand and the officer's liked the car and a family friend made the black paint that went behind the instrument panel.The Executive model that I owned handled well
I’m no P76 expert, but the aircon in this car looks like an aftermarket (from the era) rather than factory installation. That sticker on the rear windscreen is also consistent with that.
Quite right. Took many years before airconditioning was standard factory fitted. Even the Australian made car our family bought in 1986 had the air conditioning dealer fitted.
Agree with below, My Super had 2 vent aircon, fitted by the dealer, factory had four levers in the heater control box and was vented through the main under dash rail. Only ever on the Executive and I've only seen one with factory aircon. This car is too over modified for me.
That interior is magnificent. Currently in Australia, there is very active P76 clubs in every state of Australia . They are very well supported and excellent cars to drive.
My father bought one after an HQ Holden. Yes, it was greedy around town, and there were quality issues, but I remember driving it and the power and handling were so far ahead of the HQ it was unreal. Power sliding around roundabouts was pretty awesome with my limited skills at 16! Sorry Dad.
@@nickabbott62781300kg was notably lighter than Holden/Falcon, especially compared to iron V8's. But original Laser-mazda 323 was under 900kg. no comparison
Hi from Australia, Steph. Great video, I’ve sent the link to my old friend who was Leyland Australia’s purchasing manager at the time of the P76, right up until the end of production. I’m sure he’ll like to see you enjoying it so much. Cheers.
I recall these when new. Very much a car that deserved and should have done better. Some of the build quality was concerning, sand left in castings causing cooling issues being one of them. British Leyland with the P76 and the SD1 elsewhere were talented in taking good designs and stuffing things up. Shame.
Looks like a pretty cool car. I've never seen one of these before! Now I feel like I have had a ride in one, thanks to your informative narration and good driving (as always). Also great to meet you at the Great British Car Journey museum event last weekend. Thanks for organising it all. Very enjoyable.
The car did have some quality control and reliability issues but so did its Ford, Holden and Chrysler rivals, it however was the relentless anti BMC/LEYLAND propaganda on the part of the Australian motoring media which ultimately sunk it. At the time the P76 came out, there was a growing perception that cash strapped Leyland Australia was in financial trouble - a perception which was largely being fanned by the motoring press - and that the P76 was a desperate last ditch effort on the part of Leyland Australia to stay afloat.. As a result buyers stayed away from buying Leyland products. Like most things in the car world once a car gets a bad reputation, it's almost impossible for that car to shake it, that was very much the case with P-76.
Did you do all the work to bring it up to that amazing condition? All reports say none came off the production line as good as yours. Even the one Hubnut tested had issues that even my eyes could see.
I moved to Aus from pommy land in 72, and yes im still a bleeding pommy. Australians like big cars compared to the UK and also big engines. Of the big three we had Holden, Ford and Chrysler but the battle was between Ford and Holden, with big 6s in V8s Even the British Mark 3 Cortina was here and up only had the 2 litre engine, but Ford put some Aussie muscles in with a 250Cu in straight 6 which is 4.1 litres. The Australian ,motorist was very conservative about big cars so with 3 main stream players Leyland really had no hope. Now both Ford and Holden have stopped producing cars and left the country.
My dad was looking for a new car in 1973-74, he and i would go to the local Holden/Ford/Chrysler dealers, but in the end Dad traded in his EJ Holden wagon for a P76. He bought a super with the automatic and a six cyl. He had even driven and considered the manual column shift too, Shortly afterwards, he had the bucket seats replaced for some reclining ones.The interior was beige vinyl and exterior colour was orange, called BITTER APRICOT ! we all loved the car, Unfortunately it did start to have overheating problems in peak hour traffic in our hot Perth summers, typically, while broken down on the side of the road after work, dad would have the occasional yobbo driver cruise by and yell out to dad.... GET A HOLDEN !! Dad sold the P76 about 1976 for a new Chrysler Gallant, this was more economical and reliable.
Kids I went to school with and his parents had a white with blue decals Targa florio edition with four on the floor back in the day.Loved the look and sound of that car.
@@JohnSmith-pl2bk No - It was a relatively new P76 - but then again I drove a Peugeot 504 so maybe I was a little Biassed. We were both school teachers and we had to drive through the hills to get to the school. He couldn't stay with me on the corners but on the straights he went straight past me.
The P76 was almost my first car! I immediately fell in love with the design but as an 18 year old still at school I just couldn’t afford it at the time. Months later I managed to find a 1970 Valiant 245 Pacer which I bought for only $350! 🚗💨
Wow Steph what an amazing car , a true credit to the owner / owners I love everything about it from the colour to the wheels the modifications really suit it
Hi there!
If you’re watching this and noted I said V6 when I meant 6 (I got it right in my voiceover section) and I said exported instead of imported, yes, it’s a mistake. I do these videos entirely unscripted and occasionally you make a mistake whilst remembering a million facts and driving a completely new car.
Thank you for understanding!
Another interesting point is that it was only the V8 version that won Wheels Car of the Year. Also, the cup holders are more 'cup places', where you would place the cup on the glovebox lid whilst picnicking inside the car. You'll notice the glovebox opens to flat. It was common in Australian cars at the time (and potentially elsewhere, I don't know)
(and I think that's a dashboard light dimmer next to the headlight switch)
@@idriveaclassic I like your reviews. Casual, informative and interesting. Keep up the good work!
I think the registration is a wiltshire uk reg. WV the last 2 letters.
It’s a v8 and and as good as an example I’ve seen in 20 years. Beautiful
I worked for Leyland assembling the P76 when I was a teenager. I used to fit the horrible chrome trim around the windscreen. We had endless problems.
NZ farmers loved them as they could get two bales of hay in the boot along with the dog.
Or a 44 gallon drum!
union's greed killed Leyland Now look at Leyland today Chinese owned.
I knew you would say that!!
@@keithad6485
@@keithad6485I wanted to add that!
@@billeves4627 I worked in the Sydney assembly plant before switching to General Motors Holden.
Leyland had P76's ready for delivery but no seatbelts available due to union strikes at small part suppliers. The car didn't get a fair go from the beginning.
Being a New Zealander, I'm familiar with this car. I was in my teens in the 1970s. So I remember them being assembled and sold here in NZ. I saw one being raced in 1975 at the Benson & Hedges 500 race event. It was an endurance race for NZ assembled cars. It didn't win , but gave the Australian Fords and Holdens , plus some Chrysler Valiants a run for their money.
Lovely car, thanks Steph. When they designed it, one of the requirements was that the boot could accomodate a 44 gallon drum!
It does , and if you like the sedan look up the Force 7 and the Targa Florio
A complete urban myth.
It was never a lovely car, it looked it was designed by a committee.
@@saneman8147 no it's not , do your research. There are photos from Leyland R+D demonstrating this It was also featured on Torque with the late Peter Wherrett
It was to pitch to Cockies that a sedan can be used on the selection to haul supplies as well as be used for the families requirements
@@Neil-Aspinall I mean, this is a lovely example of the car.
Leyland Australia was up against it from the start with the P76. It was a totally fresh design at a time when labour troubles and financial restrictions very much worked against them. The P76 was more advanced than the Ford, Holden, Valiant competitors at the time. It deserved much better.
Better looking too. Far more advanced wedge shape compared to the others! 👍
It won the prestigious Wheels magazine Car of the Year in 1973.
It just won the 2024 Peking to Paris Rally. 1st in classic class and top of the time sheets overall after 37 days and 14 500 km . Such an amazing achievement for a 50 year old Aussie Grand Tourer.
@@saneman8147 the V8 version only
@@davidhynd4435 Trouble was, there were insufficient 44 gallon drums to go in every boot! : )
Ah, the P76... fond memories of summers/autumns spent endlessly driving around Australia looking for fruit-picking work back in the 1970s.
My plumbing boss had one of the first of these in NZ, a bright yellow Super. The 4.4 (269) was a good engine as was the rest of the running gear with the most noticeable negative issues being the fit and finish. From memory the trim around the windscreen seemed reluctant to stay in place, on several occasions as did other exterior fittings and trim to a lesser degree. Drove well though and was something a little different from the usual fare of the day. Thanks Steph.
Agree with what you say. I had a friend in Sydney who had a 6 cyl P76 and lost about 4 of the chrome trims on the top of the front windscreen. He went back to the dealer who told him to go direct to the Leyland/Jaguar Spare Parts Warehouse near Liverpool. Mate went in and spoke to Spare Parts Depot Manager, who asked how many he had lost. Mate Colin said about 4. Manager disappears for 5 minutes and come back out with (I think) 6 new trims, and says to Colin, "There you go, that should see you for a while". And all free of charge. But the P76 was so woefully assembled. You would be driving along and the glovebox door would fall off, or the centre console would come loose.. At one stage Colin came around to my house to do some repairs, as the entire left hand side of the dashboard had come loose. I,m surprised they stayed bolted together as long as they did. It was a shame really, as the car itself was a very good handling and riding car, and generally out performed it's Ford, Holden and Chrysler rivals. Cheers. David form Tasmania
@@impgt67Good handling cars don’t roll as easy as these piles of pommy garbage.
An Aussie team in a P76 have just completed The 2024 Peking to Paris Rally and finished 1st in classic class and top of the time sheets overall after 37 days and 14 500 kilometres. A grand feat of achievement from a true Aussie Grand Tourer.
It completed the whole journey,-on the back of of "Car-Carrier"-(H.K.news)
Steph, the six was a 2.6 litre version of the Austin Kimberley 2.2 litre ohc straight six, I had an Austin Kimberley which was a great car ruined by a HORRIBLE engine. The P76 was re designed by a Leyland employee ruining the original Micchelotti design, it was the 2.6 litre six which gave it the reputation of unreliability. I once bought a spare transfer gear for my Kimberley and it had a runout of 75 thousandths of an inch, or 1.9 mm.
The V8 also played a part too. There was still sand in the bores of some of the V8s from casting which led to overheating issues.
It was the bmc e series 6 that had enlarged capacity courtesy of using the increased stroke on the 4 cylinder engines to make the 1.5 into the 1.75. The 6 was first used in Australia 2 years before the uk and once leyland australia closed the engine tooling was moved to south africa
My understanding is that the original design was penned by Romand Rodbergh at Leyland Australia, he was not happy with the subsequent revisions by Michelotti and if you look at the original models I would concur that on this occasion the Italians got it wrong. Ultimately it was poor quality control that damaged the P76’s reputation and the perilous state of the Leyland Australia’s finances.
I understand that part of quality problems stem from British Leyland staff coming over and having a hand in production. It had teething problems but was a wonderful design.
Strikes and poor management +++ was the main problem for the P76. I heard stories of rejected castings being used because strikes prevented new ones from being made. Also worked with a guy who worked on the line and saw the Force 7 line put into reverse so they could be crushed.
As an Aussie always thought these were under appreciated. Speaking of v8s, living in rural Queensland you’d be lucky to walk through town for 5 minutes without hearing a hotty v8 go by still to this day.
Sadly it seems that 90% of the time when you hear a v8 going by its just a 70 series cruiser. Its really disappointing when you hear a v8 and you think it'll be something cool, and then its just an overpriced shitbox land cruiser.
Coming from New Zealand, we had them here, but they never really took off. I don't know about build quality, but one thing against them was they came out at the time of the oil crisis and they hadn't had time to establish themselves before big gas guzzlers lost popularity. They were marketed as an executive car, but I think I remember them more as taxis.
Think I preferred the dash with the 'wood' trim. I do like a bit of wood even if is fake on a lot of cars.
I thought that too. The early 70s Japanese black plastic look is awful.
totally agree, i have always loved the wood grain look in cars.
I agree. But the fake contact wood grain shrinks and lifts around the gauges on the P76. Sad but I can understand why it has been changed on this car. Mine looks quite tatty now.
OMG, I've never seen one of these in such great condition! It's better than when it left the factory. Even the taillights look brand new.
Never expected to see a P76 on Idriveaclassic and couldn't hit play fast enough!
Where I grew up, there was a local business owner who had an absolutely mint Targa Florio version which he even drove everyday to and from his workshop. I reckon Steph would love to have a go in the one Force 7V that is in the UK!
@@ayrproductionsthe Force 7 that was in the UK was sold to a collector in New Zealand about five years or so back , last I heard it was getting a respray job last year.
I always enjoyed riding in a P76 because they were very comfortable. Here's a fun fact: One proud owner of a Targa Florio, a sports version, always tells the story that nobody ever died in a P76 according to official records. Another wonderful episode Steph and hope you make it out here when the AOMC Florence Thomson Tour is on in February. A wonderful women's event that you could be a part of.
They were comfortable until you got onto winding or rough roads. A terrible handling car. A mate had one while I had a Peugeot 504. Just couldn't compete with the Peugeot.
I had a 6 cylinder Super, and apart from a notable lack of low end torque, everything about the car was better than the big 3 offerings. Very much a drivers car in every aspect. Handling was one of its better points, compared with the other 3.
10:30 it was actually a V8 or inline 6 E engine, a 1725 with 2 added cylinders making 2.6 litres.
That particular air conditioner is an aftermarket unit. The factory unit was integrated, with central vents matching those shown at the ends of the dash.
Another Defeat from the Jaws of Victory BL you gotta ❤️em !
Leyland Australia like BL's other subsidiary in South Africa, were pretty much autonomous in their operation
@@EVISEH
Right until BL home office stuck their oar in and trashed the prospects in Australia... by cutting off money.
You will always find the people that rubbish them have never actually owned one, Mum and dad got one and towed a 22' van around Australia with no problems at all, It was a great car and i wish i still had it now.
I love seeing Aussie cars overseas. That's a beauty!. Love the colour.. Thanks Craig, Great video Steph. 😅
I believe the six cylinder was a straight 6 not v6, also I got to drive one of these (manual column shift v8) from Antwerp to Amsterdam about 20 odd years ago, I think it was one of maybe 3 examples of this car in Europe at the time and owned by a member of Rover owners club in Belgium.
2.6 litre OHC inline six.
Yes, Leyland UK were miserly with the funds for Leyland Australia. You mention Chrysler Australia, it was also hamstrung by the parent company
I can believe that last part when Chrysler was being poorly run.
GM USA killed Holden after the Australian Govt got taken for $millions in "subsidies"...
to keep the GM plant going.
It all went straight to GM USA.
Theft really.....
I've owned 2 of these. Enjoyed every second with them.
The haters called them a P38 , on account that they were half the car they should have been . Dad had a Brown coloured V8 here in NZ that took us on many trips and in style .
@@02berlina That's an insult to the WWII fighter plane. At least the P38 got the job done.
That’s about right - take the P38 Range Rover for example!😂😂😂
This is a lovely car. I filmed it at the Royalty RoadShow last month. These should have been sold in England.
Ahhhh, the "Executive", my dream car. I've still got the tail lights but never got the rest of the car.
Just a week or so ago P76 won the Peking to Paris rally Classic class for the third time. To quote :
In the fight for the win in the Classic Category it was the familiar Leyland P76 of Matt Bryson that finished first, and top of the time sheets overall, and this is Matt’s fourth Peking to Paris victory, and no doubt an emotional one after the previous three triumphs were shared with the late, great Gerry Crown.
It did this beating a Porsche 911S and 912 to second and third. Even further back were Escorts of Mk 1 and 2, Mercedes Benz 450SLC and quite a long list highly regarded cars.
Some Lemon to do this over the vast distance of Peking to Paris and for the third time.
Good driving team, but they would not choose a bad car for the task.
Searching will reward with more vids recently posted.
in its day it won the East Africa Safari (Evan Green) and the Targa Floria, prompting Leyland to introduce the Targa Floria model which was a v8 super with go fast stripes and other minor trim changes.
@@barryhood7659 It came 13th, and the event was 1974 London-Sahara-Munich World Cup Rally. Yet another P76 fable.
And it was Matt's father John who partnered Evan Green on the 1974 London Sahara Munich World Cup Rally in a P76. John was one of the best rally navigators of his generation.
Knew they were doing well, so great they won. Targa Florio was the model, only seen two.
My Dad had a V8 4 speed, went like fury but reliability was a real issue. That one is a nice colour, don't remember it here, but looks good, especially matching rocker covers. There is a guy in Sydney who owns a Force 7 Coupe AND what is believed to be the only station wagon in existence, that would have been a great car. I hope when you come here you get to drive some uniquely Australian versions of BMC cars such as Austin Freeway and its cousin the Wolseley 24/80, Kimberley, 6 Cyl Marina and Morris Marshall. A great video, keep them coming
Being from Australia,that is one nice example
A friend of mine actually developed these cars and has a great example in his shed
When you coming over to Australia,next year we have the morry nationals in WA
I'm always jealous that Australians got full sized cars with proper sized engines.
That's because we're full sized proper sized people! 😂
What a fine example of a classic Aussie car. My Dad used to work for Leyland Australia and I still remember being a ten year old and Dad taking to the Zetland (Sydney) factory and showing me a brand new Force 7 car that was suppose to supersede the P76, however never went into mass production.
@@IanRobertson-iu1ev Not supersede but run alongside.
Hi Ian. Nice to see another Robertson with the same car application
My father worked for a company in Melbourne called Zenford. They designed and built the body poduction line for these cars, including the Force 7. The line was transported to Zetland in Sydney.. For about two years I didn't see much of my father. The V8 engine was designed and built by Leyland Australia, not a Brithish V8. The boot was origially a bit longer from the design studio. It caused many problems for my father. there was a sporty model called the Targa Florio named after the race it won in Sisily with a well known journalist Even Green driving.
Actually the engine was based on the 3.5litre Rover V8. Further, Evan Green had the fastest time on the Targa Florio stage of a much longer event, the UDT World Rally (which he did not win)
I had a leyland terrior truck in Australia with a v8..
They had lots of p76 engines after production stopped so the put them in the terriors.
Great engine ,did me well.
Much quicker than my tk bedford
G'day Steph. Great to see you got to drive such a polarising local classic, and so beautifully restored. For all that they had their knockers back in the day, I have a friend in his eighties who fondly remembers his P76 as the best car he's ever owned. I reckon he wouldn't be alone!
I had 5 , 4 V8s and one 6 cyl 2 manual and 3 automatics they were one of the nicest cars I've ever owned
That is one very sorted P76. Great video. Even had the weather for it. Great stuff!
That's different. Us UK car nuts don't always understand the differences of the car market in other countires. It's very interesting to see models developd for particular countires. That looks like a really nice example of an interesting car. Thanks so much.
"Interesting" is being kind: it was an absolute Dog, and proved BL didn't know what they doing... 😳
An excellent review Steph. I appreciate you reviewing our Aussie history with Leyland Australia. My first car was a lowlight Morris Minor in the 60's. Later a mark 2 Cooper S. I felt sorry for BMC/Leyland in the latter years.
Quite a good car that was killed by popular perception and politics. The worst car ever sold in aust was the Morris marina. It sold well because of low prices but was riddled with gremlins.
No body loved it.
Almost as unpopular as Lada
In his book "When We Were Young and Foolish", the Australian journalist Greg Sheridan relates an anecdote about going on a long car trip in 1977 with his friend Tony Abbott, who would later become Prime Minister. Abbott picked up the young Greg in a purple, eight-cylinder Leyland P76 and proceeded to play Glen Campbell’s “Galveston”, “Wichita Lineman” and Abbott’s favourite tune, “Dreams of the Everyday Housewife”, all the way from Sydney to Melbourne, a distance of 550 miles.
Love it but... I'm not convinced they tested those 'vegan leather' seats by sitting on them in the heat of the outback 🥵.
Those seats don't look original, or are they? And did it come with a/c back in the day?
@@volvo480 Factory a/c was an option, even on the Executive.
Pre-production prototype P76s was extensively tested in outback Australia , so yes the seats were certainly tested in the outback heat, and if you still doubt that they were, a quick search of the web will reveal many photos of the cars being tested in outback conditions.
This car has been re-trimmed. Leather wasn't standard. The Executive had brocade seats. My Deluxe (manual with three-on-the-tree) had bench seats in vinyl.
@@chrisweeks6973
That vinyl would suck you in on a hot day then???
Only hated by parochial twerps, most of whole have never sat in one or dive ne, let alone owned one! Quite possibly they have been beaten in there choice fo car buy one too!
Great cars that are also fantastic to drive!
And, one of these vehicles , has just won the paris to peking rally , AGAAIN !! 😂😂😂😂😂
No V6, Steph - a horrible OHC straight 6, was the alternative to the V8.
Bloody great cars.
That one is a super-nice example.
I could have bought one for $800 in the '90s. More like $80K today...
The tacho on the test car was standard OE fitment for the Super and the Executive. The supplier was VDO in Heidelberg, a suburb of Melbourne. The only P76 model that didn't come with a tacho was the Deluxe range. The Deluxe came with two Lucas 7" round headlights, whereas the rest had four of the Lucas 5.75" round headlights.
Super and Exec had a clock, not a tacho. I think only Force 7s had a tacho??
In NZ none had a tacho as standard, just a clock.
@@chrisharkin3741 Dunno Chris, coz I can't remember; it's getting to be a long time ago! 🤣
The only one I've seen in England was back in 1978 . Creamy Yellow ( Country Cream ) . I thought it was Yank until spotting the badge . I thought it was better looking than big British designs . Having been in Oz for 40 years now , I reminded how few I've seen here . Even back in the eighties , it was all Falcon 500 and Kingswood .
Designed for the Australian terrain..?
We are the most urbanised costal demographic in the world..!
BL had no idea what they were doing: they followed what surveyed consumers Said, not what they Did... 😳
Cupholders in the glovebox was very common in Australian built cars of the era! I believe the last Australian built car was the 2000 VS Commodore Ute and Statesman/Caprice. They are extremely useless 😅
The Marina nearly sealed the P38's fate before it was released. The Marina was such a dreadful car potential Leyland P76 buyers were already looking forward at a potential reliability disaster. BL U.K. head office kept shaving the development and production budget. It was lucky to get to $20Mill.
A friend had a Targa Florio,the spec'd up version of the P-76,and it was one of the nicest cars l have ever driven. Comfortable seats,an excellent driving position(for me at least),the all alloy 4.4 litre engine was quiet but responsive and the power steering was one finger,literally. Lovely driving experience but unfortunately Baby Shit Brown in colour. Lol
Great video, thank you. My recollection of these is that they were more infamous for being a flop, rather than innately bad cars. The front and rear styling lacked cohesion with the profile I think.
hi steph , amazing videos , love this old layland , its a bit before my time , i came to australia 2006 , most cars then were commodor ford falcan , and dear a compliment on your skin colour tights , a nice different from the black opaque , very beautiful dress :)
There’s a number of videos about these cars…but this is the first time I’ve seen one.
Wow
So let’s be clear, lemon cars aren’t what we want….and we had a lot of them around that time.
However, even in those situations, you can look and take the good bits like (for the time) that interior, the superior engines, the air con, and say….why the hell didn’t Leyland uk emulate that on uk cars?…I’m not saying we should have had an aircraft carrier on wheels like the Aussie car but the other stuff, at least the good bits, yes why not?
…….
That learner car in front….imagine the driver looking in the mirror and saying…
OMG Karen looks what’s coming.
I thought of buying the p76 but when I saw how many paint runs the brand new car had I quickly changed my mind and went with the Datsun 180b instead. Never looked back 😊
That was good. I'm Australian and I'm in Australia. I'm old enough to remember these cars when they were first released and I thought the concept was really promising but, yes unfortunately they did not live up to expectations. At the time Leyland had a poor reputation in Australia and the fact that it was poorly made and unreliable just doomed it. Nice to see a good example and I agree with you, It's impressive. Thanks.
The P76 was a good design equal to it's competition but it was poorly put together.
Awesome car, a very true review.
My Boss had one here in New Zealand it was such fun to drive he had a very good run out of it. Certainly a BIG step up from a falcon or kingwood,
@7:04 picture shows a stock steering wheel. Shame that this has been changed. The original fitted this "Executive" model theme, but importantly the original is definitely an obvious nod to its Aussie roots: its incorporates a boomerang shape.
I really like the Styling of the P76
Me too!
Yep, me too. It's a car that deserved to do better than it did.
The repeaters for the sidelights, taillights and indicators were the most stylish feature of any car ever to my 6 year old eyes. The Ford LTD was rubbish in comparison.
The V8 was derived from the Rover 3500. Stroked square 3.5”x3.5” with a taller block and 4.4 litres.
My mate put one into his series 1 P6B. He fitted a P76 4-speed before getting a Toyota 5-speed box.
The 5-speed conversion, warm cam, mods as per Hardcastle’s Rover V8 guide took 2 years.
As an Aussie I have to say they should have gotten more love when they were released as their design was top notch. For instance the engine is designed to go under the car rather than towards the occupants in a bad accident. That's the sort of thing you would expect in a modern car not something from the 1970s! Then there are lots of little things. For instance I love working on cars but one of the jobs I hate is removing fuel tanks. The P76 makes this a bit easier as they have a bung/bolt on the bottom of the fuel tank that allows you to remove all the fuel before you take the tank out. So a great car that is definitely under appreciated.
The seats and interior were actually pretty nice.
Sorry you are so wrong it is not Australia's most
Hated car the fast back and station wagon was amazing and are highly sought after hear in Oz please don't rate cars you know any thing about
Harsh for someone who hasn't the history and is only presented with... This is a car...
Steph, a Leyland P 76 recently won the Peking to Paris rally. I was 19 when these cars hit the Australian market. At the time Leyland was not only loosing ground to GMH, Ford and Chrysler but particularly the very well presented Japanese imports, new to Australia.
We called it the P38 as it was only half the car the motoring public expected.
What a stunning car
Hard agree. Was gutted to hand back to Craig.
It's a beauty all right! They were also sold here in NZ but they were always rare as you say, and I haven't seen one in years.
There are two regulars in my area north of Sydney, one a yellow colour and the other a hotted up project car in black.
Totally amazing car ,i worked on them.way ahead of there time .the labour government killed it .
That’s a fantastic example!
Not sure it actually was a Michelotti design. There's another RUclips video out there that covers the design
The Leyland P76 is quite collectable in Australia and l saw two P76s 3 years ago a very rare sight in Australia but there out there and the P76 has been modified to get some high horse power figures
The alloy V8 was a common aftermarket replacement engive for the Triumph Stag after original one overheated on a 35c day
@@garthpetch4173 l know that after all the Rover V8 was a far superior engine in every way than tbe Triumph Stag engine and another nail in tbe coffin for Leyland
12:37 It wasn't a lemon. It was just built by lazy idiots. When it's built to spec it's not a bad car. Not a great car, but certainly no worse than anything else running around at the time.
What surprise to see this P76 being road tested 50 years after being built, and in the U.K. no less. Greetings from Australia. At last you've driven a really notable car. What great condition this P76 is, and it has been lovingly maintained and improved over the years. These vehicles were a very good car for the time, although they suffered from quality control problems and the usual Australian knockers who can't deal with anything different from the Ford and G.M. examples.
Back in 1977 I had the pleasure of driving the V8 version with 4 speed manual transmission and it handled beautifully. I will never forget driving it as I had it for the day. Boy, it went like stink. Yes it had problems with the fit and finish of the internal plastic trim, but it was great fun to drive when powering through the corners and it always braked straight and true. Loved that car and didn't want to give it back.
One thing that I really notice is the way in which you use the steering wheel when driving the car. The way your hands are holding the wheel through the corners worries me, as you turn the wheel hand to hand. I was never taught to use the steering like that. Regards Mark
Best way to use a steering wheel in a modern car...
crossed arms being blown into your face by the airbag going off in the steering wheel hub hurts......
shuffle shuffle shuffle....in every car...
then you don't make a mistake in a modern air bag equipped car.....
I remember a mate buying a second hand Leyland P76 in the Melbourne Trading Post.
He only wanted to buy it for the Motor and Transmission.
From memory ??, the Engine was an all Alloy 260 cubic inch V8 ??
He finished up putting the motor in a Ford Escort.
Unfortunately it didn't last long after a another mate pretty much destroyed the car after using another set of keys to get the car started and took it out for a drive and ran it through someone's front yard after losing control of it at a roundabout ???
Most of the damage was on the front of the car including the Engine Block ???
please do video on an indian bajaj autorickshaw 2 stroke
Their selling point was that you could get a 44 gallon drum in the boot. The alloy v8 was good.
Lovely review of an interesting car... Would look great with a set of period correct Wolfrace Slot Mags...
Hi Steph, I had the pleasure of owning a 6 cylinder p76 in the late 70s. After doing a pile of work for a roadworthy when I acquired it, I found it a very reliable comfortable car that was also fun to drive. It was a manual and a very throw aroundable car. I guess it was a car ahead of its time. It was a great experience. 🐸
I remember the Ministry of Transport Traffic Department had undercover mufti cars here in New Zealand and the officer's liked the car and a family friend made the black paint that went behind the instrument panel.The Executive model that I owned handled well
I’m no P76 expert, but the aircon in this car looks like an aftermarket (from the era) rather than factory installation. That sticker on the rear windscreen is also consistent with that.
Quite right. Took many years before airconditioning was standard factory fitted.
Even the Australian made car our family bought in 1986 had the air conditioning dealer fitted.
There was also a factory aircon option but probably more, like this one, were dealer fitted at purchase when new.
Looks nice all the same.
@@johnd8892 Yes MITSUBISHI the Dealer in Townsville Qld Came from factory less Aircon goods for the parts dept monthly bonus
Agree with below, My Super had 2 vent aircon, fitted by the dealer, factory had four levers in the heater control box and was vented through the main under dash rail. Only ever on the Executive and I've only seen one with factory aircon. This car is too over modified for me.
That interior is magnificent.
Currently in Australia, there is very active P76 clubs in every state of Australia . They are very well supported and excellent cars to drive.
I can picture these people, my God.
There’s no need to insult perfectly friendly people. Everyone has harmless interests. We aren’t here to punch down. Thanks.
Great overview . It was a real shame that the timing didn't work out . With some more r & d before release it would have sold well !
The P-76 had so much potential, and the FORCE 7 Version was a great design. The unions had some responsibility for its demise.
What else have unions ruined
@@karibakid they fund the useless Government we have, which is ruining the country.
@@karibakid and poor management, they colluded to bring out the worst of both worlds in OZ and also it seems in the UK.
Don't forget the accents the reps all had - fully imported from the UK.
My father bought one after an HQ Holden. Yes, it was greedy around town, and there were quality issues, but I remember driving it and the power and handling were so far ahead of the HQ it was unreal. Power sliding around roundabouts was pretty awesome with my limited skills at 16! Sorry Dad.
They only weighed a tonne.
Greedier than a HQ?
@@jamesfrench7299 1400kg, the same as the original Ford Laser.
@@nickabbott6278 my March 89 Laser (Meteor) sedan weighs 1020kg and that's because it has the auto. Manual weighs just under.
@@nickabbott62781300kg was notably lighter than Holden/Falcon, especially compared to iron V8's. But original Laser-mazda 323 was under 900kg. no comparison
That is a really nice looking car!!
The add for this car showed a person putting a 205 litre oil drum in the boot and fitted with enough space.
The oft-forgotten aspect is that it had enough room for a bale of hay and a 44 gallon drum. you have to put the bale in first though.
The engines and transmissions were great; but the cars fell apart around them!
Hi from Australia, Steph. Great video, I’ve sent the link to my old friend who was Leyland Australia’s purchasing manager at the time of the P76, right up until the end of production. I’m sure he’ll like to see you enjoying it so much. Cheers.
Tell him if he finds a good one, he knows where I am (waiting in England to ship it over 😂)
@@idriveaclassic Will do!
very rare Aussie Leyland P76 model indeed
I recall these when new. Very much a car that deserved and should have done better.
Some of the build quality was concerning, sand left in castings causing cooling issues being one of them.
British Leyland with the P76 and the SD1 elsewhere were talented in taking good designs and stuffing things up. Shame.
Looks like a pretty cool car. I've never seen one of these before! Now I feel like I have had a ride in one, thanks to your informative narration and good driving (as always). Also great to meet you at the Great British Car Journey museum event last weekend. Thanks for organising it all. Very enjoyable.
The car did have some quality control and reliability issues but so did its Ford, Holden and Chrysler rivals, it however was the relentless anti BMC/LEYLAND propaganda on the part of the Australian motoring media which ultimately sunk it. At the time the P76 came out, there was a growing perception that cash strapped Leyland Australia was in financial trouble - a perception which was largely being fanned by the motoring press - and that the P76 was a desperate last ditch effort on the part of Leyland Australia to stay afloat.. As a result buyers stayed away from buying Leyland products. Like most things in the car world once a car gets a bad reputation, it's almost impossible for that car to shake it, that was very much the case with P-76.
I had one. 6cyc under powered. Could fit a queen bed in boot.
That was my car in Western Australia before I sold it to the current owner in England.
Did you do all the work to bring it up to that amazing condition?
All reports say none came off the production line as good as yours.
Even the one Hubnut tested had issues that even my eyes could see.
@@johnd8892 No, I sold it as an immaculate and original Spanish Olive Executive and the new owner modified it in the U.K.
I moved to Aus from pommy land in 72, and yes im still a bleeding pommy.
Australians like big cars compared to the UK and also big engines.
Of the big three we had Holden, Ford and Chrysler but the battle was between Ford and Holden, with big 6s in V8s
Even the British Mark 3 Cortina was here and up only had the 2 litre engine, but Ford put some Aussie muscles in with a 250Cu in straight 6 which is 4.1 litres.
The Australian ,motorist was very conservative about big cars so with 3 main stream players Leyland really had no hope.
Now both Ford and Holden have stopped producing cars and left the country.
Plenty of early 70s Valiants were in fleets which waned in the late 70s.
My dad was looking for a new car in 1973-74, he and i would go to the local Holden/Ford/Chrysler dealers, but in the end Dad traded in his EJ Holden wagon for a P76. He bought a super with the automatic and a six cyl. He had even driven and considered the manual column shift too, Shortly afterwards, he had the bucket seats replaced for some reclining ones.The interior was beige vinyl and exterior colour was orange, called BITTER APRICOT ! we all loved the car, Unfortunately it did start to have overheating problems in peak hour traffic in our hot Perth summers, typically, while broken down on the side of the road after work, dad would have the occasional yobbo driver cruise by and yell out to dad.... GET A HOLDEN !! Dad sold the P76 about 1976 for a new Chrysler Gallant, this was more economical and reliable.
The Chrysler Galant was sourced from Mitsubishi.
Kids I went to school with and his parents had a white with blue decals Targa florio edition with four on the floor back in the day.Loved the look and sound of that car.
Thanks for sharing, Steph. Hope the Morris Rally went well over the weekend. All the best for your car meet next weekend. 😊👍
P76 was my first V8, cruised all over NZ handled well and was pretty quick in the day
It was certainly quick however it didn't handle very well at all.
@@allanbriggs9007
Perhaps the one you had was ragged out in the suspension...
and Shane's wasn't?
@@JohnSmith-pl2bk No - It was a relatively new P76 - but then again I drove a Peugeot 504 so maybe I was a little Biassed. We were both school teachers and we had to drive through the hills to get to the school. He couldn't stay with me on the corners but on the straights he went straight past me.
At 10.15, the control with a picture of a dial on it is to adjust the brightness of the dashboard lights - a common fitment on Australian cars
Yes. From memory, its part of the ADRs (Australian Design Rules) but it was around well before that.
Well it's 5:00PM on an Australian afternoon for me 👍.
Ooohh I’ve caught you just in time for tea
@@idriveaclassic Fantastic
Steph u love it 🤪
5.37pm for this Aussie
5:43 for me
The P76 was almost my first car! I immediately fell in love with the design but as an 18 year old still at school I just couldn’t afford it at the time. Months later I managed to find a 1970 Valiant 245 Pacer which I bought for only $350! 🚗💨
Wow Steph what an amazing car , a true credit to the owner / owners I love everything about it from the colour to the wheels the modifications really suit it
when I first seen one in Oz with the L badge I ran for the hills & with looks only a mother could love but good review on a good example