Unpopularity
The 1800 and 2200 were not strong sales successes. While they were technically interesting, and offered a roomy interior and comfortable ride, they struggled to find a place in the market. The packaging expertise that seemed a miracle in the Austin Mini and Austin 1100, was much less relevant in a larger car, so that the car seemed to be 'between sizes', oversized and not a direct competitor for the market slot that it was aimed at. In modern terms, it is the same external size as a Mark 1 Ford Focus, but has the interior space of a Mondeo. The driving position was also a little too 'bus like' for some. Issigonis' refusal to acknowledge consumer interest in something more stylish and less eccentric cost the car dearly in sales, and it never achieved the volumes planned for it.
Some 386,000 examples of all variants were produced in just over a decade, with the Austin badged versions being the most common; some 221,000 units were produced. Relatively few have survived outside the hands of enthusiasts owing to its original unfashionable image, and more recently, its popularity in the demolition derby and banger racing scenes, owing to the bodyshell's exceptional strength and rigidity.
In early 1975, all three models were replaced by the wedge-shaped ADO71, or 18–22 series, which bore the Austin and Morris (1800 and 2200) names, while the Wolseley variant had no official model name save for being marketed as "the Wolseley saloon". From late 1975 all ADO71 models were marketed under the Princess name. The Wolseley name was no more.
Read more about this topic: BMC ADO17