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"Buy British"
I'm going to tell you a story about British production before the Single Market.
Are you sitting comfortably?
Then I'll begin:
I'm going to tell you a story about British production before the Single Market.
Are you sitting comfortably?
Then I'll begin:
Back in the late 1960's, Jaguar needed a new saloon. The developed the XJ, which replaced 4 different cars.
It was fresh, it was cool, it was smart. It was also made out of parts that Jag already made, so the only fresh money was needed for the body.
It was fresh, it was cool, it was smart. It was also made out of parts that Jag already made, so the only fresh money was needed for the body.
By the early 70's, the Series 1 XJ was replaced by the Series 2.
Jaguar repeated the trick, and the updates were modest. Minimal investment.
By the late 1970's, they gave it one last polish. Jaguar was struggling to make money as part of BL.
The Series 3 was the ultimate Jag
Jaguar repeated the trick, and the updates were modest. Minimal investment.
By the late 1970's, they gave it one last polish. Jaguar was struggling to make money as part of BL.
The Series 3 was the ultimate Jag
However, it was at core, a very good car. For the 1982-3 model year, they made a GLORIOUS, ALL THE EXTRAS model called the Daimler Double Six Vanden Plas.
Autocar named it "The best car in the world".
I know this, because I HAD ONE.
Autocar named it "The best car in the world".
I know this, because I HAD ONE.
It had full leather, cruise, climate control, power everything, lambswool rugs, >PICNIC TABLES IN THE REAR<, you name it.
Under the bonnet was a 5.3l V12, smooth as a gas turbine.
It drank like Ollie Reed, but it also had two 10.5 Gallon tanks, so...
Under the bonnet was a 5.3l V12, smooth as a gas turbine.
It drank like Ollie Reed, but it also had two 10.5 Gallon tanks, so...
It was a world-beater.
When I had mine in 2001, she was an old lady, but magnificent all the same. When I got it home, I just LOOKED AT IT for about an hour. It was HANDSOME.
Once I'd drunk it in, I decided to get to know every inch (I had to look after it myself, mind).
When I had mine in 2001, she was an old lady, but magnificent all the same. When I got it home, I just LOOKED AT IT for about an hour. It was HANDSOME.
Once I'd drunk it in, I decided to get to know every inch (I had to look after it myself, mind).
So I popped the boot and there, facing me, was a sticker saying:
"Thanks for buying British".
The fucking INSECURITY OF IT.
Here was the "Best Car in the World", and they felt they needed to say
"thanks for buying me because I'm not foreign"
"Thanks for buying British".
The fucking INSECURITY OF IT.
Here was the "Best Car in the World", and they felt they needed to say
"thanks for buying me because I'm not foreign"
Utterly pathetic. A car that could go toe-to-toe on the world market against any competitor, that had more power (and speed) than a light aircraft, that could crush continents in silence, all undermined by that stupid spineless appeal to the flag.
So while I completely buy into the idea of local supply chains, patriotism, food miles and all the other reasons to buy British products, WAVING A FLAG IS NOT ONE OF THEM.
And when I see the flag wombles mumbling up again, it makes me think of a dark time
And when I see the flag wombles mumbling up again, it makes me think of a dark time
One where, despite having world-beating products, genuinely well-made and desired all across the globe, some IMBECILE utterly miscalculated the value of the butcher's apron to a German, French or American businessman.
Grotesque to see some haven't learned in 40 years.
Grotesque to see some haven't learned in 40 years.
It also now means this empty symbolism, and I am honestly repelled by it https://twitter.com/skiologist/status/1352257069123055620?s=20
