The best Leyland car that never was | Axon’s Automotive Anorak

This week, however, I will make an exception to my rule as I’ve recently noticed an exceptional car for sale online at a specialist classic car dealer. This outstanding car is a Leyland Force 7V. “A what?” I hear many of you cry. The Leyland Force 7V is an Australian-built three-door coupe powered by a tuned Rover V8 engine with a pleasing fastback design penned in Turin by the talented car stylist Giovanni Michelotti.

The little-known Force 7V celebrates its fiftieth anniversary this year. A muscle-bound fastback coupe derivative of the ill-timed three-box wedged Leyland P76 sedan, the striking Leyland coupe was a sad victim of circumstance, just like its big P76 sedan sibling.

What makes the 1974 Force 7V currently being offered for sale so exceptional is that it is one of only 56 examples ever built. Some 47 of these were instantly destroyed and of the surviving nine, just eight were offered for sale to the general public at a panicked fire sale auction in September 1975. The ninth example was sent to England for evaluation and eventual personal use by the then-head of British Leyland. Amazingly, each of the surviving nine Force 7Vs that escaped the crusher are believed to still exist today. 

The Leyland Force 7V was Australia’s very first locally-created hatchback. By the time the model was being introduced in June 1974 with the initial examples coming off the New South Wales production line, the Leyland Motor Corporation of Australia was in serious financial trouble. These difficulties were hastened by the high development costs of the P76/Force 7, helping to prompt the eventual demise of the company’s local manufacturing operations in November 1974.

The Force 7V had real potential for success, specifically designed for the needs and tastes of the Australian market. It was aimed aggressively at its contemporary Aussie muscle car coupe rivals such as the Holden Monaro GTS, Ford Falcon GT Hardtop and Chrysler Valiant Charger R/T, all of which were ageing by 1974. Sadly, the fuel crisis of the time was not conducive to large V8-powered cars, and this, along with the collapse and subsequent bailing of Leyland Australia’s parent in the UK – which itself failed In 1974 and had to be bailed out by the UK Government – added to the inevitable demise of the financially weak Leyland Australia. 

Based on the Leyland P76, the Force 7 shared the sedan’s same wheelbase floor plan and mechanical components. Its overall length was chopped, however, by 23cm without reducing any interior room. But although its distinctive wedge styling was similar to that of the Michelotti-styled P76 sedan, the coupe shared no common body panels. Through the large rear hatch, the Force 7’s back seats could be folded flat to reveal an area large enough for two adults to sleep in comfort.

The standard P76 entry model (with single headlamps) had a six-cylinder 2.6-litre engine, with the option of a locally developed and built 4.4-litre 195hp V8, this being based on the ubiquitous ex-Buick 3.5-litre Rover V8 motor. All 56 Force 7 coupes built were fitted with the 4.4 V8, with the lesser six-cylinder engine planned as a later entry option, though none were ever built in that configuration

After its 1974 collapse, Leyland Australia sold its failed Zetland factory to the Australian Government, with its other Australian Leyland plant (based in Enfield) continuing to assemble Land Rovers, Minis and Mokes. To raise much-needed funds at the time, Leyland Australia auctioned off its remaining eight Force 7Vs in an attempt to recoup some of the car’s development costs, reasoning that the rarity of the stylish coupes would make them very desirable to collectors and future prospectors. The plan backfired and instead of the $30,000 to $40,000 that Leyland expected each coupe to fetch, they sold for less than AUD 10,000 each.

After 1974 and the loss of the P76 and Force 7, Leyland Australia concentrated on importing a range of mostly luxury models from the British Leyland UK range, such as Jaguar/Daimler, Rover, Triumph and Range Rover models, with the failed Leyland Australia company changing its name to JRA (Jaguar Rover Australia) Limited in March 1983, going on ironically to become one of Australia’s most financially successful car firms within just a few years. 

The colour palette of the P76 and Force 7 used some of the most amusing names ever to appear on a vehicle colour chart. Many of these colour names were cringe-worthy puns based on popular characters and songs in the Australian hit parade of the time, such as Hairy Lime (a play on the TV detective Harry Lime name), Eye Blue (Blue Eyes), Bold As Brass, N.V. Green, Dry Red, Bitter Apricot, and so on. The Force 7V currently being offered for sale is one of three survivors painted in ‘Home On Th’Orange’ with Artic White interior trim.

This orange Force 7V that has come up for sale recently caught my eye on an Australian classic car website as an exceptionally rare beast. Two of the seven examples that remained in Australia are kept in museums, leaving the other five Force 7s with enthusiastic collectors who tend not to put them up for sale very often, making this top-specification 7V a truly rare car. Now for sale In Gippsland, Victoria, Australia, this unicorn coupe has had three owners over the past 50 years. The car was repainted in the correct Home On Th’Orange colour about 20 years ago but online it looks to be very original with unique optional 14” alloy wheels, a four-speed manual transmission and the all-alloy 4.4-litre V8.

It also comes complete with ultra-rare items such as its original owner’s manual and service books and has covered a recorded 101,773 kilometres. The asking price starts at around $250,000+ but could go as high as $400,000. If I had the money, I’d be very tempted. Rest assured, that you won’t see another one passing you anytime soon on the road.