Nissan Bluebird

As Sunderland's traditional industries of shipbuilding and coalmining were being wound down by the government car manufacturing was brought in as a new employer to the region. Although it was unable to employ the same number of people as the old industries it has become a significant employer with a number of related motor parts industries also bringing employment opportunities to the city. The fact that it was a Japanese company and not a British one was also significant. The factory opened in 1986 and has become the largest car plant in the UK. The Nissan 2.0SGX Bluebird was the first model produced there and Job 1 was the first car off the production line, on July 8 1986 and is displayed in the Time Gallery in the museum.