random retro-spective
A revolutionary form of transport?
Sir Clive Sinclair unveiled the C5 in 1985 but production ceased in March as sales were low.
the retro hour: 1978
We've been through the archive and compiled everything we think you need to know about the year. To make it easier for you to find what you're looking for, everything is organised into categories.
the top stories
Sadat and Carter called for a Palestinian role in the Middle East Peace
Process
Anna Ford started work as ITN's first woman newscaster
Inflation fell to 9.9%, the first time in nearly five years it had been
in single figures
The unions agreed to the British Leyland "survival plan" put
forward by BL chairman Michael Edwards.
French naval helicopters failed in a bid to sink the Amoco Cadiz with
depth charges
The BBC began broadcasting from The House of Commons
In South Africa, the authorities refused to give Nelson Mandella the thousands
of cards he'd received for his 60th birthday
Express Newspapers announced plans for a new national tabloid called the
Daily Star
Britain said that it was not joining the EEC's new European Monetary System
The world's first test-tube baby was born on July 26th at Oldham District
Hospital
Pope John Paul was found dead by his private secretary after only 33 days
in office
on the chart
The Police dyed their hair blond for an American advert for chewing gum
Elvis Costello released his first album with The Attractions. It was called
This Year's Model.
The One Love Peace Concert took place in Jamaica - acts performing included
Bob Marley and the Wailers, Peter Tosh and Big Youth.
Sid Vicious was charged with the murder of his girlfried, Nancy Spungen
on the tv and at the cinema
The Smurfs appeared on television for the first time
Z Cars and the Black And White Minstrel Show ran their last series
Rumpole Of The Bailey, All Creatures Great and Small, Dallas and The South
Bank Show appeared for the first time on British television
The top shows of 1978 were Sale Of The Century, Survival Special, George
and Mildred,
The Muppet Show and Coronation Street
The most popular films of the year were Star
Wars, Grease, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Abba - The Movie and
Saturday Night Fever
At the Oscars ceremony, Annie Hall won Best Picture
Charlie Chaplin's body was stolen by grave robbers and found buried ten
miles away
sports achievements and milestones
Muhammed Ali lost his world heavyweight boxing title to Leon Spinks in
Las Vegas
In the University Boat Race, the Cambridge crew sank a mile from the finish
Argentina won football's World Cup beating Holland 3-1 after extra-time
Nottingham Forest were the First Division champions while Ipswich Town
won the FA Cup
Geoffrey Boycott was sacked as captain of Yorkshire Cricket Club
Martina Navratilova won Wimbledon beating Chris Evert
It was announced that three times Grand National winner Red Rum was retiring,
meanwhile Lucius won the famous race at Aintree in 1978
The Formula 1 driver's champion was Mario Andretti
Jack Nicklaus won the Open golf title
and finally
The world record for keeping a frisbee in the air was set in Massachusetts,
USA. The
record-breaking time was 15.2 seconds
New words for 1978 included trainer (a new kind of footwear), twelve-inch
single (a vinyl record measuring 12 inches across) and May Day holiday
The compact disc (or CD) and Magimix food processors were demonstrated
for the first time