Car sales at worst level since 1966

The last time UK car sales were so appalling England had just snatched victory from Germany in a World Cup Final that was seen as the second round of World War Two, no one had ever heard of George Best and David Beckham’s parents were still running around the playground.

UK car sales have hit their lowest levels since the summer of 1966.

Back then Britain was still digging its way out of huge war debt and the average wage would hardly keep people in the basic essentials of life, and often wouldn’t allow for the purchase of a second hand car, let alone a new one.

Now it seems that we have entered a new era of rock bottom car sales figures, the worst in over forty years.

Sales have been sliding down hill all year as people worry about the economic situation that threatens to engulf the country.

In August sales of new autos fell by over 19% compared with the same month in 2007, as people avoid making big financial and credit commitments.

In Scotland the figure was even more disappointing, with a downturn of over 21% on the year.

The SMMT (Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders) have called on the government to do something to reverse this seemingly inevitable trend, and re-kindle consumer confidence in the motor industry.

Back in the heady days of World Cup victory there were just under 53,000 new cars registered for the month of August.

Time travel forward forty two years and sales for the month were only 10,000 more at 63,000.

It is fair to point out that the peak car registration month is no longer August as it traditionally was up until 1999.

The SMMT sees no good news on the horizon and predicts that sales will go much lower and may dip to 2.16 million for 2009.

And if all that doom and gloom was not bad enough England doesn’t even have a half decent football team.