You know squat, I worked for 6 summers at a British car repair shop sourcing parts and helping with various tasks. There is very little I haven't seen or been part of. I also know that no car model period hasn't gone thru their fair share of issues right off the showroom floor as there are horror stories from every single maker. In the 60's and 70;'s you could see virtually any car overheating on hot summer days. Bad pressure systems, faulty rad caps, cheap hose clamps , you name it. British cars  from that era got a bad rap because most people didn't know how to maintain them and neither did many so called corner garages. The overall quality of Ford, Chev , Toyota, Chrysler and yes English cars were far from today's standards. My parents had Vauxhauls and Austins that were every bit as reliable as a Ford or Chev of the era. Many garages had no clue how to repair a pair of SU carbs and they would butcher them in the process. Some didn't understand positive ground either