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On the Line, TV Series, 1982

Pictures provided by: dsl

1979 Datsun Cherry Estate

1974 Ford D-Series

1981 Ford Fiesta MkI

Ep. 1.01+

1981 Ford Fiesta MkI

Ep. 1.01

Ford Transit Ambulance MkII

1980 Land-Rover Range Rover Series I

1979 Morris 575 Van

1981 Talbot Sunbeam

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Author	Message
dsl ◊ 2022-04-25 19:58	No footage or captures to post as this series seems to have completely vanished, but have stumbled on a few photos to secure for posterity. It was a 13-part drama produced by ATV/Central Television in May 1982 with synopses of "The struggles of an independent British car manufacturer, Associated British Motors in the run up to the launch of its make-or-break new car, the Orbit." (so inspired by the Mini Metro??) and "Alan Baxter has left Leeds in search of work in the midlands car firm Associated British Motors". Can just about remember it being broadcast - it kept clashing with Scotland matches at World Cup 82, and I didn't have a video recorder in those days, so I don't think I saw every episode .... Anyway, the pictures, culled from imdb and a twitter thread - TV publicity pic - the ABM Orbit in all its glory (a dressed up Fiesta Mk1, and they forgot to include front indicators) - feature from Custom Car magazine (November 1981 issue) of the make-over (probably unreadable, but pics should be visible) - the accompanying paperback "novel" And that seems to be the only traces still surviving today ...
s13a ◊ 2026-04-05 17:20	@dsl, just a heads up that episode 1 was uploaded on Youtube about a year ago. I doubt the remaining episodes will appear anytime soon, but one episode is better than nothing.
dsl ◊ 2026-04-05 20:02	Thanks - I'm on it.
dsl ◊ 2026-04-06 23:49	First ep duly trawled. Basically a glorified soap opera with melodramatic car factory shenanigans - interesting for context and setting, but not one of the great tragic losses of British TV. Associated British Motors (ABM) are about to launch their new game-changing hatchback - the "Orbit" - when things start going wrong in TV-land style. Dodges the question of whether ABM is a brand new start-up - the implication is that it's been going for ages with established factory, staff, workforce, trade unions and all that sort of gubbins - but there's no mention or sight of any other ABM models. Vaguely set in the Midlands, with a few choice accents. Just one glimpse of future ABM/Orbit plans As consolation, here's a youthful Amanda Redman

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