Secrets of style : at BMC-Leyland Australia / by David Bentley, David Hardy, John Holt, Anthony Cripps

"Ever had that feeling that a motor car's appearance just doesn't look right, but can't put your finger on it? Take, for example, Australia's most controversial car: the Leyland P76. From some angles, it looks superb, even decades after it was designed. From others, it looks an ungainly embarrassment. In this book, the history of styling at the British Motor Corporation (BMC)/Leyland Australia's factory at Zetland in Sydney is recounted by those who were involved. From its earliest days as a service provider to Product Engineering, the BMC Styling Department eventually received some degree of autonomy but by then, it was too late. Closure of the factory in 1975 spelled the end, and styling for the subsequent assembly operation at Enfield went back to Engineering. Here, David Bentley, David Hardy and John Holt reveal the details of their work while recalling their experiences with their now-departed colleagues Bill Moody, Romand Rodbergh and Mark Cassarchis. Never-before-published pictures show what happened during the Company's turbulent history and give an indication to what might have been had things turned out better. More than a historical record, this book educates the reader's eye so that you may look upon both modern and classic vehicles with a new understanding and appreciation of the art of motor vehicle styling."--Back cover.