Sales highest since 1974
Page 6
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
FORD held on to its overall market leadership in 1977 with nearly one-third of the market in the best year for commercial vehicles sales since 1974.
Figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders show that of the 70,265 vehicles sold by Ford, 280 were imported from Ford's continental factories.
The total number of commercial vehicles sold in the UK during the year was 225,222 — an increase of 7.8 per cent on the 1976 sales level.
Leyland sales for the year were 57,403 and 25.3 per cent of the market; Bedford sold 43,047 vehicles representing 19.1 per cent of the market and Chrysler had 6.5 per cent with 14,461 sales.
Light van sales were up by 5.7 per cent at 72,430 with Leyland leading the market in this sector, but Ford sold more medium vans with 43.2 per cent of the year's registrations with 36,475 sales.
Medium van sales for the year were 12.2 per cent u 84,416 compared with the figures.
On the heavy side of market Ford again led by per cent of the market 14,576 sales in a field thai creased in size by 7.3 per to 61,486 sales overall.
But Leyland grabbed lion's share of the bus s with 64.9 per cent of the r ket and 3,664 registrati, while Bedford sold 1 vehicles and Ford sold 531