“We need a British car of quality, style and mass produced. Why can’t we do it?”
The answer to that, Brydo, is that Brit managers/directors are utter crap – ignorant of their products; completely lacking in vision and interested only in lining own pockets, amassing power for its own sake and bullying staff just because, well, fill in own reasons here…
Examples: Lord Rootes refusing to take ownership of VW post-war because the German firm “didn’t have a future” (or words to that effect)
Not putting a hatchback on the original Mini. (debateable, yes, but you know what I mean)
The BL 1800 production line which took bare metal bodies across an open-air bridge in all weather, thus designing in rust.
The tragic missed opportunity of the Maxi (first or maybe second proper hatchback) completely knackered by bad engineering.
Many more spring to mind and not just in the automotive field but I’ve already gone on too long…