[citation needed] Poore became chairman of Manganese Bronze Holdings PLC, an engineering company primarily concerned with making marine propellers.

Poore later sold off the propeller business and used the funds to buy up a motley collection of failing British motorcycle companies, Associated Motor Cycles, Norton, AJS, James, Francis-Barnett, Matchless, and engine manufacturers Villiers.

NVT was assisted by substantial aid from the Government, who were anxious to stave off the collapse of the British motorcycle industry.

Production of BSA bikes (the A65 twin and the A75 triple) ceased, and with Triumph lost to the Cooperative, the sole NVT model was the Norton Commando.

Compared with BSA's hopeless management team who had led their once-mighty company to ruin through incompetence, dire business decisions and a failure even to appreciate bikes, Poore at first seemed a breath of fresh air who could be the hoped-for saviour of the British motorcycle industry.

[7][full citation needed][dubious – discuss] With the purchase of BSA came its subsidiary Carbodies, builder of the FX4 London taxi; the classic "black cab".