The Media Archive for Central England is the public screen archive for the East and West Midlands. An independent charity and company based at the University of Lincoln, MACE acquires, catalogues, preserves and makes widely available moving image materials that inform our understanding of the diverse cultures and histories of communities between the Lincolnshire coast and the Welsh border.
This film is part of Free
100,000th Reliant Car off Tamworth Production Line
At Britain's most quirky car factory - Reliant of Tamworth - they're celebrating the 100,000th Regal three wheeler and have had to push each one, by hand, over a busy main road.
From the collection of:
Overview
The Reliant Regal was launched by the Tamworth based light car manufacturer in 1962. Often a butt of jokes, the three wheeled car was loved by thousands of motorists for its low running costs and rust free fibreglass body. The homespun nature of the factory is illustrated with shots of the chassis for each car being wheeled across the busy A5 road, the only route to the final assembly plant.
The car that will forever be connected to television's Del Boy of Only Fools and Horses fame is the Reliant Regal Supervan, the utility version of the car seen here. The Reliant Robin, which is often confused with the Regal, was its replacement and was launched in 1973. Reliant car production continued in Tamworth up until 2001.
Related
Watch for free
Disabled Fundraiser Disabled Fundraiser
News 1974 4 mins Location: Tamworth
Disabled ex-miner Derek Sewell lets his chair do the talking in his quest to help people with mobility issues.
Watch for free
Tamworth Traffic Tamworth Traffic
Non-Fiction 1978 8 mins Location: Tamworth
It's taking forty-five minutes to travel half a mile! The people of Tamworth want their bypass now!
Watch for free
Getting it Back: The Story of Cymande - Q&A Getting it Back: The Story of Cymande - Q&A
Inside Film 2024 22 mins
The director of a documentary about British funk pioneers Cymande joins the band at BFI Southbank to talk about the film.
Watch for free
The West Case The West Case
Action and Adventure 1923 28 mins Silent Location: Tilbury
Plotting world domination, Devil Doctor Fu-Manchu steals plans for a new aero-torpedo in this earliest surviving thrill-a-minute serial instalment.
Watch for free
Enter the Scala!!! Enter the Scala!!!
Inside Film 2024 16 mins
Filmmakers Jane Giles and Ali Catterall discuss their documentary Scala!!!, revisiting the legendary and inspirational cinema venue and some of the most notorious films that screened there.
Watch for free
Smith Smith
Charity appeal 1939 10 mins
Long thought lost, this Powell-directed promotional short for a veteran’s charity was only rediscovered in 2003.
Watch for free
An Airman's Letter to His Mother An Airman's Letter to His Mother
Documentary 1941 6 mins
A poignant, stirring letter from a recently deceased pilot to his mother is read by John Gielgud.
Watch for free
The NHS75 Celebration The NHS75 Celebration
Short documentary 2023 3 mins
Former Bristol Poet Laureate, Miles Chambers reads a poem specially commissioned for the 75th anniversary of the NHS.