BMC 1100 / 1300

This was the model that in its heyday held more than 14% of Britain’s newcar market, a figure that makes ADO16 unrivalled in terms of success. And it’s still a top buy now, particularly against its more expensive rival from Ford.

- Paul Guinness

The arrival of the innovative view Morris 1100 in 1962 marked an important moment in the history of the British Motor Corporation. The company seemed confident that the front-wheel drive, transverse engine layout of the Mini would translate well into a family-size offering; and such confidence proved to be well-placed, for the 1100 (and later 1300) range went on to become Britain’s bestselling line-up of the ’Sixties.

Indeed, the BMC 1100/1300 range (codenamed ADO16 throughout its development) went on to enjoy a twelve-year run, achieving sales of well over two million during that time – half of them here in the UK. So successful was the 1100 family, it took an incredible 14.3% of the British market in 1965 – with one in every seven new cars sold that year being from the BMC 1100 line-up.