Local mechanic and car lover Phil Denyer has acquired another vintage vehicle for his collection.
The Leyland P76 is an important part of Australian motor history.
Produced by Leyland Australia, the Australian subsidiary of British Leyland, the P76 was intended to be a rival to large local models like the Ford Falcon, the Holden Kingswood, and the Chrysler Valiant. Leyland rushed the assembly process with the first of the P76s to come off the assembly line. This resulted in poor build quality and some reliability problems. The combination of the rushed assembly, a fuel crisis and strikes at the component manufacturersí factories, meant the Leyland P76 became known as a lemon, despite receiving the Wheels magazine Car of the Year in 1973.
A number of P76s were sold at Barraba Motors over the years, although none remain in town. Philís specimen hails from Inverell. A polarising car, the P76 has its lovers and haters, but no one can deny it has a bit of 70s style to it. It can be admired on the garage forecourt at Denyers Mechanical Repairs on Queen Street.
Photo: Phil and the Leyland P76