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Decided to start a thread after this discussion - http://www.imcdb.org/vehicle.php?id=14050 - of a "1997" Jag XJ220, registered 3 years after end of production in April 94 when Jag were left with a big heap of unsold stock, finally clearing them by mid-97.
Other examples:
1] Ford Cortinas.
Notorious for having unsold stock stuck in the dealer network and distribution networks whenever new models arrived. When Mk2 arrived in Oct 66, there were still several Mk1s in the system, some of which did not hit road until early 67 with E plates - eg http://www.imcdb.org/vehicle_718528-Ford-Cortina-Estate-1966.html . The last Mk1 was a 2 door Super in Seafoam green, registered in April 67 as KTO 959E and modelled by Vanguards as VA07309.
Ford tried to sort this out when Mk4 arrived and delayed its UK launch until Oct 76 to get rid of the lingering Mk3s, over 6 months after the TC2 Taunus launch in Europe. UK Cortina production finished on 22 July 1982 with a 1.6 Crusader GHK 1Y, ahead of Sierra launch in Sept 82. However 11,598 Cortinas were registered in UK in 83, 139 in 84, and continued in trickles until final ones in 1987.
2] Lancia Beta Coupe Hi-Fi
When Lancia rust crisis exploded in UK, there were a few hundred unsold Beta S3 2.0 Coupes lurking on runways of dead airfields, and they mostly stayed unsold for a couple of years (overlapping into S4 era elsewhere), presumably gently rusting in the open air. Lancia eventually commissioned Tickford to upgrade/refurbish them as the 1982 Hi-Fi edition - new metallic red body paint, stripes, tints, racy wheel paint, spoilers, sunroof, interior bits and a cutting edge Voxson Hifi with graphic equaliser. And an edition numbered plaque on the body sides. Plus some rust-proofing - there were rumours Tickford had to to sort a lot of rusty undersides as part of the refurbishment.
Supposedly 300 done, but may have only been 150. Unique to UK - all RHD and never exported. http://ranwhenparked.net/2012/09/09/sunday-classic-lancia-beta-hi-fi/ , https://www.flickr.com/photos/47381765@N04/6928759686 , https://www.flickr.com/photos/47381765@N04/6385529885 , https://www.flickr.com/photos/47381765@N04/6385526571/
Any other contributions to keep this thread rolling??
Other examples:
1] Ford Cortinas.
Notorious for having unsold stock stuck in the dealer network and distribution networks whenever new models arrived. When Mk2 arrived in Oct 66, there were still several Mk1s in the system, some of which did not hit road until early 67 with E plates - eg http://www.imcdb.org/vehicle_718528-Ford-Cortina-Estate-1966.html . The last Mk1 was a 2 door Super in Seafoam green, registered in April 67 as KTO 959E and modelled by Vanguards as VA07309.
Ford tried to sort this out when Mk4 arrived and delayed its UK launch until Oct 76 to get rid of the lingering Mk3s, over 6 months after the TC2 Taunus launch in Europe. UK Cortina production finished on 22 July 1982 with a 1.6 Crusader GHK 1Y, ahead of Sierra launch in Sept 82. However 11,598 Cortinas were registered in UK in 83, 139 in 84, and continued in trickles until final ones in 1987.
2] Lancia Beta Coupe Hi-Fi
When Lancia rust crisis exploded in UK, there were a few hundred unsold Beta S3 2.0 Coupes lurking on runways of dead airfields, and they mostly stayed unsold for a couple of years (overlapping into S4 era elsewhere), presumably gently rusting in the open air. Lancia eventually commissioned Tickford to upgrade/refurbish them as the 1982 Hi-Fi edition - new metallic red body paint, stripes, tints, racy wheel paint, spoilers, sunroof, interior bits and a cutting edge Voxson Hifi with graphic equaliser. And an edition numbered plaque on the body sides. Plus some rust-proofing - there were rumours Tickford had to to sort a lot of rusty undersides as part of the refurbishment.
Supposedly 300 done, but may have only been 150. Unique to UK - all RHD and never exported. http://ranwhenparked.net/2012/09/09/sunday-classic-lancia-beta-hi-fi/ , https://www.flickr.com/photos/47381765@N04/6928759686 , https://www.flickr.com/photos/47381765@N04/6385529885 , https://www.flickr.com/photos/47381765@N04/6385526571/
Any other contributions to keep this thread rolling??