The Black Knight was no ordinary Proton 1.5 GL. No, this was a Proton 1.5 GL with thrilling decals, special wheel trims, a rubber boot spoiler and a metallic dark grey paint finish. Each of Proton’s 201 UK dealerships received one of these fine cars, and today, Jon Coupland owns the only surviving example.
The marque originated in 1979 when the Malaysian government initiated a ‘National Car Project’. Four years later, Perusahaan Otomobil Nasional – “National Automobile Company” – was established as a joint venture with Mitsubishi. The Proton Saga debuted on July 9th 1985, and was essentially a second-generation Lancer made with 34 per cent locally-sourced parts. Within four years, domestic sales reached 100,000, and the first exports were to Cyprus, Ireland and New Zealand.
British sales commenced on March 15th 1989 via Lada outlets. Proton UK’s managing director Peter King believed “because the cars are value-for-money products, the dealers are strong on marketing and finance.” The Telegraph reported the aim was to “attract the driver who likes the Japanese style but who resists the rising Japanese price.” At £8,300, the fully equipped 1.5 SE flagship (Proton did not use the Saga name in this country) cost £1,400 less than a Nissan Sunny 1.3GL.
However, the Proton’s Mitsubishi origins led to some traders muttering that it was a “back door import.” In 1975 the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders instigated a voluntary restriction that limited Japanese vehicles to 11 per cent of the British market. This agreement did not bind the Proton, and some early advertisements even noted that it was a Commonwealth product, to further distance it from the Lancer.
This paper thought the Proton was “obviously good value. They should appeal to undemanding buyers who want a straightforward, modern car with, hopefully, the sort of reliability they have come to expect from Japanese factories.”
But Autocar had a different opinion, praising the build quality, equipment and transmission but asking, “Why buy a Proton when you could buy a (Fiat) Tipo, Escort, Corolla or Renault 19 for around the same price”? They concluded, “We can’t think of a convincing answer.”
Even so, Proton achieved their projected 5,000 annual sales in just six months; for some context, Hyundai took 18 months to reach this figure. In fact, 1989 was so successful for Proton UK that it decided to celebrate with the limited Black Knight, which arrived in December that year.
Coupland points out that its extra trim was a dealer-applied kit. Still, it offered a distinct amount of flair for £6,449, and few other cars on the market could boast such stylish wheels.
By 1992, Proton was the UK’s fastest-growing automotive brand and was outselling SEAT. The last Saga departed the factory in 2008 after 1.2 million units, and today Coupland owns a trio of pioneering first-generation models.
This Black Knight’s original owner garaged it in 1993, and it only re-emerged in 2017.
Coupland became G82 YVT’s third owner two years later, unable to resist the lure of its decals. He finds it very enjoyable to drive, with excellent suspension, although as the Black Knight is entry-level GL-based, there is no power-assisted steering. In 2021 it achieved the accolade of ‘Concours de l’Ordinaire’ at Hagerty Insurance’s Festival of the Unexceptional. Many visitors to the Grimsthorpe Castle grounds were reputedly mesmerized by its ultra-grey interior and orange stripes.
And last year, the Royal Automobile Club displayed the Black Knight at their London headquarters. Coupland explains, “The Festival of The Unexceptional team asked me if they could borrow it. Normally the RAC display elite and unique cars, but they thought it would be fun and certainly different to showcase the Black Knight. It is the very first, and probably the last Proton ever to be displayed there.”
After all, the Black Knight makes the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster and many other cars previously gracing the famous Pall Mall building look positively ordinary.
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