The LOST Prototypes Of The Longbridge Tunnels UNCOVERED! The ULTIMATE BARN FINDS!

In this video we explore some of the most incredible and mysterious British Leyland and BMC prototypes ever made but with a twist, these cars were stored in the Longbridge tunnels and after a disaster in the late 70s these cars were destroyed.
These include mysteries such as the Aqua Mini, Vanden Plas 3L and the Austin Healey 4000 GT
PLEASE NOTE: This site is an active construction site with the tunnels in a dangerous state. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO “EXPLORE” OR INFILTRATE THE COMPLEX IT IS NOT SAFE.
The thumbnail photo is not of the tunnels as there are no suitable images that exist.
I have credited where possible these works are transformative.
Austin Memories is the best source for all Austin/Longbridge related information I have used some of these images in this video: www.austinmemories.com
ARonline is a great source for information; www.aronline.co.uk/
Credit to: forum.retro-rides.org/thread/... for the Mini photo.
All images of the tunnels belong to the BMIHT it goes without saying this is the best place to visit if you enjoy these videos and history: britishmotormuseum.co.uk/
Follow me on Instagram for more cool stuff: / tomisdrivingcars

[@russelltaylor7779]

Having worked at Longbridge for 31 years, I have been and seen many unusual models in development! I was an apprentice when the fire happened, we had recently been into the tunnels to look at all the cars and bucks stored there. Over many years I acquired several things, the last was Lord Austin's safe which I removed the plaque from which is now on my tool chest in my workshop.

[@philipnickless8118]

I worked in the South experimental for 12 years alongside Ron Dovey ,Bunny and Godfrey Coates . What happened to the gearless mini we built for Alex Isigonis working entirely on hydraulics and the clubman we cut down the middle and put 6 inches in??. Sir Alec would often come down and give Ron Dovey little sketches of things for Ron to make on empty Players cigarette packets and when Ron retired he had hundreds in his drawer just tossed in the bin ,they would have been priceless now .

[@darrinslack1269]

I suspect you might be talking about the Eberts drive system first tried out on a morris minor

[@johnmoncrieff3034]

As an ex-employee of the Rootes group in Coventry I would like a similar hunt for all the experimental cars that did not make it to production! I know there were a number of these stored in a shed at the bottom of Lane one in Humber Road on the left hand side before the stairway that led to the STYLING STUDIO! Many were fiberglass bodied based on the IMP platform and other configurations!

[@user-lj8sd6ze6k]

I have enjoyed your article on the Longbridge plant. I have a vehicle that escaped the factory. It is HOJ156W a TR7V8 that was constructed at the Method built in department. A pre production TR8. If you want more info. Let me know. Ian

[@tomdrives]

Sounds like an interesting car, thanks Ian, I’ll let you know appreciate the offer.

[@Nick-Emery]

That princess prototype with the curved rear screen, is a stunning car, if that was a full on production it would’ve been mega

[@jfro5867]

Agree. Especially considering how bland and plasticy modern cars are. Handsome motor.

[@andrewbarton8525]

My dad worked for Austins for more than 40 years. Rose through the ranks from apprentice to director. Had a few odd cars as company cars or to test occasionally. Two spring to mind. A princess 2200hls with triple carbs and other tweeks that was supposed to put out 150 bhp, and a TR7 with a funny bonnet bulge that had the 2500 straight six from the TR6 shoe horned in.

[@GlennPowell-ls3lg]

For anyone that never saw the Longbridge site before its closure it was huge beyond belief.For any aircraft entusiasts Lancaster bombers were assembled there during WW2 .As for that aqua mini its a shame the standard road minis distributors didnt get the water protection that one had other than a plastic front plastic shield eventually.

[@MePeterNicholls]

I remember being in top of the Lickey Hills looking down on it. Absolutely it was incredible

[@layzv8939]

My old friend Dave King, used to work for Longbridge and moved into the management side for the parts company in the 80s. He gifted me some commemorative coins they were presented with for completing the Range Rover or discovery maybe early 90s? Anyway one of his stories involved a colleague “borrowing” a couple of V8 blocks back in the early 80s. They would all walk out in a big crowd through the security gates. Anyway he said there was a big crowd and one guy in the middle with a massive Mac coat on struggling to walk. He proceeded to pass out when the cable he had looped over his neck with both blocks hanging either side but concealed by his coat cut off his blood supply 😂 Suffice to say he got caught 😂 Another story of road testing something early 80s under a tunnel at night in central brum, pulling the choke and the whole thing cable and all came away in his hand 😂 God he had me in stitches, he became a postie in the end and last I heard he had got Parkinson’s 😢 Honestly the nicest and funniest man I have ever met He could write a book full of his longbridge stories I wonder if anyone remembers him? David King would be in his 70s now A true gent ❤

[@370DatsunZed]

Excellent research and viewing. Top work lad.

[@tomdrives]

Thanks :)

[@TheBrummie60]

Thanks for this most informative video. My dad would've been so proud of you for showing great interest in the mysteries of Longbridge of yesteryear; sadly no longer with us, dad worked at Longbridge for more than 40 years, starting as a young lad making the wings of the Lancaster bombers in1944 - I still have a box of Lancaster wing rivets. He worked on the Minis from day one, back in 1959, and spent the rest of his working life on the Mini track. He appears in the 'Mini at 30' BBC documentary, still available on the iPlayer. Again, eternally grateful to you for your fine endeavours here. 👍

[@tomdrives]

Thank you, people like you and your dad are the reason why I make these videos.

[@TheBrummie60]

@@tomdrives Beautiful comment, many thanks! 👍👍

[@alancobbin]

Another superb video ,cheers Tom 👍😉💪

[@tomdrives]

Thanks Alan

[@Wolfyjinny]

I was talking to my father-in-law about your last video, and he said "Oh yer, I was down there all the time, it was massive down there with loads of prototypes, clays and bits in the tunnels"

[@AldershotDave]

Why hasn't more effort been put into removing cars from the tunnels?

[@paulsmith3026]

Hi, I've been down some of the tunnels, mainly on nights when there was a breakdown in production, found one car from the 1930 s

[@a11csc]

makes me miss all the time i spent at cab1 cab2 and trentham

[@kevdipple5000]

I am 56 now. But I remember actually having pedalled the aqua mini in Saunders Park pond Bromsgrove, Many many moons have passed since then but I can remember getting into that mini and pedalling like mad with my short little legs I'm so glad to see it again.

[@Nick-Emery]

Thanks for all your work finding this information and sharing, I enjoy your content 😊 my uncle worked in the paint shop on nights at Longbridge (and the Lucas factory doing days) They were taking the pee because he said they had a sleep rota. No wonder it fell to sh*t

[@tomdrives]

Thanks Nick :)

[@_Ben4810]

My father visited Longbridge a few times in the 70's on engineering visits & he was always stunned to see knocked-up wooden ''cots'' (his word...) made from packing crates tucked underneath & behind the production line milling, boring & machining centres & blatantly in full-view even up in the steel roof rafters (Flight Shed...?) for the night shift to sleep in....

[@markwilliamson2864]

It’s a terrible shame that these amazing vehicles were effectively cremated underneath Longbridge.

[@tomdrives]

It is and it’s something that wasn’t widely known as well.

[@lucius6667]

Makes you wonder was it really a accident wouldn't of thought there be any flammables kept down there if was keeping cars and engines down there other then lubricants to stop them seizing ​@@tomdrives

[@lucius6667]

The main issue you have is the fact the factory was wide open when the rover factory closed including rumors of cars and parts being taken from the site as there was a massive amount of cars parts and what ever else that kept reducing in number every exploration video was released so wouldn't of been hard to get to the tunnels

[@_Ben4810]

The Chinese took everything there & pretty quickly also...Even all the stock of MG Rover workers uniforms (which of course were huge on any small Chinese worker) were shipped to China.

[@e28forever30]

wouldn’t HAVE

[@emgee9775]

Yes, sadly special one offs, models, bucks, experimental rovers, and brand new cars just disappeared, never to be seen again.

[@melfortsnedge2749]

I worked with Martin Ince in the Prototype Build department and remember the AquaMini well. I also remember the tunnel complex. As an apprentice I used to skive off and spend hours exploring them. All sorts of stuff was stored there from engines to cars.

[@howardlake6178]

My first job was in a video recorder factory. Allegedly, people were smuggling bits out and making them at home. Slight difficulty with the big parts. I’m sort of wondering how a 10ft 6 inch Mini with 4 paddles on the side, got out of the factory 😂

[@_Ben4810]

Very, very easily to get anything out of Longbridge, esp on the nightshift....I would love to hear the stories of home-built cars assembled in the sheds, garages, lock-ups & back gardens of Longbridge, Northfield, Frankley & Rubery...There must have been many of them over the years....!?!

[@stevenbutler2030]

Great video mate 👍

[@tomdrives]

Thanks Steven

[@stevenbutler2030]

Looking forward to your next video 💯 👍

[@6643bear]

Hi Tom , another great video, it’s a great shame all got all damaged due to the fire. Regards mark

[@tomdrives]

It is… I wish there was more information on it all and thank you

[@raymondrichardson6061]

Really enjoyed that. Who Knew?

[@mathiaswiese5412]

Es gibt in Hamburg ein Museum nur für Auto-Prototypen. Die würden sich über diese Modelle freuen.

[@garymorris801]

fab mate

[@richardrobinson9084]

love ur vids about prototypes n odd models keep it up

[@glenfordburrell1076]

Does anybody remember the Rover Mini. It was knocked up by the apprentices of British Leyland. I remember seeing one in Highgate, Birmingham, in the early Seventies. Even at the age of Ten, O knew that it was a prototype,

[@BOXOFDEMONS666]

I drove past it every Friday delivering to Birmingham and then I remember them dismantling the factory and then one Friday morning the factories where flat but there was still a lonely bridge with a white rover on top of it

[@onedayiwillmakesomecontent]

Aqua mini probably rusted away like lots of other minis, hastened by it's water trips 😂

[@salvagedb2470]

When we sold our house in the early 80s the Guy who bought it had worked on the Mini back then , and for a laugh they put the Engine inline with a rear Diff drive , it went great , then Ignossis found out went absolutly Mad an demanded it be Destroyed ..

[@dirkdiggler3552]

8 ii8 7777777u77777777😮9888ui

[@SCClassics2022]

Hello @Tom//Drives,im pretty sure the picture you’ve used as your thumbnail isn’t actually longbridge,it is infact the old subway tunnels in Liverpool. I know this as I’ve been down there years ago and know the owner,the yellow mini in the thumbnail was owned by a vicar if i remember right and was dropped off for work and never collected again.

[@tomdrives]

That is correct... as stated in the description. There are no photo of the tunnels that exist that capture what I am trying to convey therefore a substitute i edited was used.

[@SCClassics2022]

@@tomdrives sorry I didn’t read the description,my bad🤦🏼interesting video though 👍

[@Nistio1]

dang

[@tomdrives]

Indeed

[@alseeineye]

That fire seems deliberate to me

[@_Ben4810]

Everybody smoked back then....The tunnels were a known skiving area for bored workers, what better place than a comfy old prototype car to sit in on a fag break...just don't discard the fag end on the floor covered in oil & petrol leaked from all those cars over the years....! 😉💥🔥

[@michaelhalsall5684]

It seems like that to me. The man who first tried to notify the Fire Brigade about the fire was reprimanded for doing so!

[@alseeineye]

@@michaelhalsall5684 just a bit of a hunch really, but looking at the wreckage it looks like the cars might have gone up independently - I mean do fires spread like that from car to car - don’t know what the motivator would be, but seems suspicious to me anyway

[@Hairyegg]

I was given the blue prints for the Dunlop hydrolastic units for the ADO16 they were pulled out of a skip at longbridge when our old parts man from the 1100 club got them

[@squeakmillward]

Could you do an episode where British Leyland bought Innocenti in Italy and built Innocenti minis there?

[@tomdrives]

I may have already started writing that one ;)

[@bilbobaggins4366]

What we're yhe tunnels originally used for train to somewhere ?

[@tomdrives]

Shadow factory and shelters in WW2

[@OldCarsNewVan]

I love Minis - but with the greatest of respect, they rusted for Britain on land - can you imagine immersing one in water🤣🤣🤣

[@tomdrives]

😂 well we drive an MX5 MK1 and that’s like a bath bomb so I know the feeling. This one though had a lot of modifications.

[@Roger.Coleman1949]

You're right , my first ' Surf Blue' 63 Morris Mini , bought off my parents 50 + years ago , was rusting badly within 5 years, but recently acquired a ' 61 ' Surf Blue ' Austin Seven , unused since 1974 and stored in very variable climatic conditions ever since and is in quite remarkable condition , original paint and never any welding in the 13 years it was in service.' Revisiting ' an early model now is an incredible experience on the quality of so many component parts , it is 100% original , everything has been serviceable , the engine largely untouched - soon to be back on the road after so long - cannot wait !.

[@yorkshire6458]

What would be good is doco about Leyland and the stupidness of having so many car makes and producing so many different models and not playing intress on certain models

[@tomdrives]

Soon…. Very soon…

[@scottsvxr]

Don't know if its true but the Brown mini with the v in it's roof was a car used for staff to run around the different Gates around the Austin site. Until one night shift dropped a container on its roof and it was hidden in the tunnels to avoid someone getting the sack! It was never found by the management, and mom's the word between the staff when management asked were it was😂

[@avec4amadman1]

I believe that’s true, and I saw it the British motor Museum in Gaydon at the end of last year

[@scottsvxr]

@@avec4amadman1 Yes there was talk of restoring it but I thing they just took the V out of the roof, which is a shame as it takes the story away. Most of my family worked at the Rover as I was growing up. Used to drink in the Greenlands and Austin Social Clubs and the story's you'd here through the great vine were too funny😂 always something going on a real buzz to the area. Now it's just a shell of the once Great place that Longbridge used to be😑.

[@leewiltshire354]

Good old trade unions & government f@#ked up all our car industry 😢😢

[@emgee9775]

What and bad management, cost cutting, crap build quality and harsh tv critics didn’t? 😂

[@chrisblay]

If you’re looking for a missing Mini from the seventies, try Mr Bean 🤣🤣

[@tomdrives]

😭

[@monkeyintensity1]

No , Mr Beans got squished by an army tank..... But he still has the prototype door latch .😊

[@kierannaylor5880]

I will never get my 8:49 minutes back

[@tomdrives]

whopper comment.

[@malcolmclenton1663]

The company is dead so why waste your time? I've lived in Longbridge most of my life but never worked at the car plant. That said, I knew a lot of people that did and quite honestly the stories I've heard it's surprising it lasted as long as it did.

[@tomdrives]

Why are you wasting your time watching a video about a dead company?

[@dennisvaneck9406]

Same reason you listen to Jimi Hendrix, Freddy Mercury, Amy Whinehouse....

[@raychambers3646]

Leyland is dead long live Leyland!

[@michaelmcqueen4305]

You too will be at some time- what do feel is really constructive ?

[@jamiefly]

Probably for the same reason you'd watch a video of a recently deceased relative... Troll😅😅😅😂

[@bilbobaggins4366]

Was the fire done on purpose by gov.con