For ninety-nine years, cars were made at Longbridge. Less than a year off its century, the factory closed and 6,000 lost their jobs. The story of Longbridge is full of tragedy and the loss of car making there has dealt a huge blow to the Midlands’ manufacturing base. The first cars to roll off the production plant were Austins, and the site has been a centre of car manufacturing ever since and some of the most recognised marques and models have been made there from the original Austin 7 of the 1920s to the Mini of 1959, as well as the Austin 1100. In later years, the factory also made Rovers and MGs, including the SD1, Rover 75 and MGF model. Through bad management, interfering Governments, state control and sale to BAe, then BMW, followed by the disastrous recent management, the recent story of Longbridge is a tragic one. But, it is easy to forget that the factory has produced millions of motorcars, including some of the most famous designs ever made, and that it was once an employer for tens of thousands in Birmingham.