Car electrics are made to a price set by the car maker. The very worst electrics I ever had on any vehicle was in a Bedford van of the '70s. All AC Delco. Just about every major part like starter motor etc failed. Sometimes more than once.
Lucas made very high quality electrics for the likes of Rolls Royce. And for aerospace.
Basically, UK car makers of that time made the cars as cheaply as possible and quality suffered. It wasn't just the electrics they penny pinched on.
So of course Lucas made stuff at the bottom end of the market - they had to survive.