‘The Viking and the Samurai’ is an eyewitness account, telling the story of the crucial relationship between British Leyland/Rover and Honda, through the eyes of John Bacchus, the man who negotiated it in the 1970s and then managed it for the next 16 years, until it came to an end with the sale of Rover Group to BMW in 1994. John was at the heart of events throughout the turbulent era of mergers, strikes, nationalisation and privatisation, all overlaid on the challenges of cultural differences.
In the 1970s British Leyland was navigating tough times, with regular industrial action, lack-lustre products, financial challenges and competitor pressure, piling ever more burden on its business at home and abroad. In the midst of this period, a relationship with Honda was forged, vastly improving the company’s manufacturing technology and product quality and delivering a new generation of vehicles that would transform the company’s fortunes for over a decade.
This account was written in 1996 when events were fresh in the author’s mind, but it was never published. Thirty years on from the BMW takeover, its historical importance has grown. It is now time to share this fascinating story with everyone who has an interest in the history of the British automotive industry. The production of this book is itself a collaboration by ex-employees and John’s friends.
It is available to purchase online from our club's webshop - https://rover200.org.uk/shop
John Bacchus, now aged 87, retired from the position of Director, Honda Collaboration, Rover Group in 1995 having spent the previous 25 years working for the Group and its predecessor companies. A dedicated car man, he worked for Ford and Chrysler before joining the newly hatched BLMC in 1969. In a company notorious for what he calls ‘Management by upheaval’, his own record of continuous service at a senior level is probably unmatched, reflecting the pivotal role that he played in making a complex and difficult ‘marriage’ work far better than many people thought was possible. Internal conflicts and dilemmas are discussed, while the mutual respect which developed between John and his Japanese counterparts is obvious throughout. The products resulting from the collaboration are also described, including their reception in the marketplace.
At the request of the Bacchus family, all profits from the sales of this book will be donated to Dementia Research UK, a grant-making charity, raising funds for research projects across the dementia community in all regions of the UK. It provides grants to national research bodies based at universities and hospitals and to regional centres delivering services and support directly to those suffering with dementia. Its website gives more details of their important contributions in this field - https://demruk.org/
In order to maximise the charity donation, we are not offering a club discount on this book - I'm sure you understand
