@0:13 The '59 Sunbeam Raiper. I had one. Bought it from my dad for 50 quid who got it from a friend of his. It sat in his yard for 13 years. We hauled it home, flushed the engine, cooling system, and it ran like a dream for many years. I miss those times
The first car we had was a Zephyr Zodiac (manual geared )in 1958.My Dad had us kids polishing the chrome every week.He alone did the bodywork.Serviced twice a year ,it got sold on and lasted a further 20 years.Our next 3 cars were Humber Super Snipes- (4:50)magnificent vehicles which were built like tanks,resisted rusting and were SO comfortable to drive and ride in .They were all 6 cylinder automatic and I learned to drive in our 2nd one and passed first time.They were powerful but quiet cars ,and nothing today comes close to their workmanship.
The first time I took my new Super Snipe to fill with petrol no one at the garage could find the filler cap.Had to look in the book to find it.You had to remove the offside rear light cover!!!
I grew up in the 60`s. Me and my mate used to go around the streets car number plate spotting. All the cars were black or white. My mates dad had a Hillman Husky and later on a Triumph herald. My dad had a bike. I learned to drive in an Austin A40 and then half way through my lessons my instructor brought a Triumph Toledo. I passed my test in 1975 and my first car was a Vauxhall Viva HB. Cost me £70 F reg. Those where the days when you opened the bonnet and you could see the road either side of the engine and could identify all the components. No censors, no black boxes just prop shafts and rear wheel drives. Pull the choke out to start. Summer and winter settings for the air filter. Oh happy days.....
I used to do car spotting in the 60s and record the reg numbers of cars in a little note book. Buy why? What did we do with the numbers? I cannot remember why we did that! It seems do bizarre!!
I was a rep in the 50s, 60s and 70s, and have driven several of these cars starting with the Ford Anglia 108. In every case the cars came with a little sticker in the back window which said ‘Running In, Please Pass’ - and we weren’t supposed To go any faster than 30 miles per hour, for the first 500 miles!! Aaaahh, nostalgia!
today's cars are short lived electrical nightmares,today's mechanics most sadly are only fitters,replacing parts not repairing them,spoken from a fully qualified mechanic!
peter croft ...........Peter, an ex colleague used to work with Croall & Croall ( think I’m correct) in a Edinburgh servicing Rolls Royce. He said his boss would do the final inspection where he took a three penny bit from his pocket and stood it upright near the flying lady, if it toppled over he had to do it again...........too much vibration!!...............such standards!
hehehe I stand corrected then, my 1972 datsun got some used civic electronic ignition in the 90s when I bought the car after that she never gave any major problems till we parted years later...maybe these curvy cars needed some good old japanese electronics. I cant disagree with you afterall ..
Cars are reliable today, but have loads of computing power to make them super efficient, and many sensors, that often give incorrect data which often means an expensive trip to the garage. However, the computing and sensors are not what make new cars reliable, it is the high quality standards of the mechanical parts and good design. It would be nice to see a cheap simple car like a Morris 1000 made today with modern reliability standards, but without the computers and sensors. Just a cheap basic car that is simple to operate, maintain and repair. I think it would sell. I have 2017 Vauxhall Astra, and I have never opened the bonnet, as I know it would be pointless to do so, and this is from someone who used to maintain his own cars (Triumph Spitfire etc).
I remember just about all of those and owned several like them. Great nostalgia. For those so fond of these vehicles can I remind you that you'd probably service one before a 100 mile trip and carry a full tool set in the boot. There was a 50/50 chance that you'd need to use the tool set. Modern cars may be soulless but they use a lot less fuel and don't break down every other week. Just as well as you need a computer to figure out what busted most of the time.
My Grandad used to have a Ford Anglia (VMB 880E). My Uncle George used to drive us home from Auntie Pat's with the shopping from the Kwik Save in the '70's. RIP all three of them. RIP Mum.
A pity, isn't it. Such nice cars and almost no manufacturer survived. I'm German, but I always loved British motorcycles, cars and, of course, British lorries.
l'am also German but missing a lot of the true British Classics like Bentley, Rolls Royce, ALVIS, Bristol, Jenssen, Singer,Hillman etc. And the Title must read" Cars in the UK" cause many here shown are made abroad !
Passed my test in 1981 whilst serving my apprenticeship. At that time I restored a 1963 Humber sceptre. 889 EFR, what a fabulous car. Cross ply tyres, negative earth and a crank handle for starting. Loveing the memories, thanks
Sadly this was the demise of mechanics, very few and far between nowadays, mind you we have dozens of fitters, cos when your car goes wrong, all they can do is fitter new part.
@Alexander Challis Yes, and what did his generation do about it? That's the trouble, init, "Generations" but it is difficult for a single individual to make much of a change....
Don't these bring back memories? I passed my test in 1969 aged 18 and my first passion wagon was a fawn coloured 1953 Ford Prefect costing me £7/10s. I was in the RAF training at Halton - all short back and sides when everyone else had hair past their shoulders, flower power and flares. But, over the next three or four years I bought a number of these cars - yes, very fond memories from a much nicer time.
@@donsharpe5786 In 1969 my dad had a Triumph Vitesse 1600 and 16 year old me had my first motorcycle. It would be some years before I had any facial hair worth shaving let alone grow a moustache lol. Now 62 years later I shave with an old double edged razor like dad used back then. Sadly though these lovely old cars are a rare sight now. This video brings back fond memories.
I remember that my father has a Triumph Vitesse in the late sixties. This car was really rare here in Germany. I loved this car. The smell of the leather seats and the wonderful dashboard with wood and chrome. And I owned a Jag XJ6 about 25 years ago. A very smooth car. But the wiring and the electrical is straight from hell ;-)
Oh the memories came flooding back. I learned to drive in an old sit up and beg Ford Popular, with rod brakes. My first purchased car was a Ford Zephyr Zodiac, then on to a mini van (997 engine), then on to a Ford Anglia Van. These were my single days cars. I had the Anglia when first married but bought a Simca van for work and my wife had a 850 mini, white with black roof. When I stopped working for myself I bought a Simca 1000 sedan and my wife still had the mini. 1982 left for Australia and gave up British cars, more is the pity. Did drive a beat up Ford Escort for a while but it was not mine.
I have owned two British cars. Both gave me great joy and reliability. My first was a 1950 Austin Devon A-40 four door sedan. The second was a 1960 Austin Sprite. I sorely miss them. The Devon was equipped with a roof hatch, an exterior spare tire filler, a spot light/rear view mirror combination, leather seats and electric wind shield wipers....my first ever. The A-40 was exceptionally well designed and constructed. The Sprite was simply fun. It was my daily work and pleasure vehicle. I drove it many times from my home in San Diego, California to San Francisco and Los Angeles My all time favorite drive was from Morro Bay north of Los Angeles, up route one...a two lane highway along the Pacific Ocean...up to the beautiful seaside community of Carmel. The combination Abarth muffler and double port exhaust pipe served me well as music to my ears. I am now eighty years of age...and I still dream of those two little steeds of the road. Doug Vernon San Diego, California
This was the time when your car was your pride and joy cleaned and polished at the weekend. Todays car have not got the same appeal they are more like of necessity or an appliance like a washing machine or fridge throw it away when it breaks down.
So true. I particularly agree about the cleaning, who would have had there car cleaned by another? This was a Sunday ritual, a chance to cherish the car, to talk to neighbours and just have the satisfaction of a job well done.
Bought my 1stcar, a Hillman Imp in 1969 £15.50p, everyone said it was overpriced. Then graduated to a Ford Cortina mk1, Then a Sunbeam Alpine,a real car. Loved them all, even my old VW Dormobile
"Time is Tight" Booker T and the MGs. This music was played by Johnnie Walker on his radio 1 countdown show on 247 metres medium wave every Tuesday lunchtime when the British Market Research Bureau released the new BBC Chart.
My father owned a couple of those and I've had several since. Maybe they were underpowered and lacked power steering, but they had character. Great nostalgia!
I had a Ford 105E Anglia in the 1960s. Great car, never let me down (though it did need a LOT of maintenance). I and three mates drove it all the way to Zagreb and back in 1965. Apart from a broken spring in Yugoslavia (few paved roads back then), the car ran faultlessly, including being hammered the entire length of the German Autobahn. Those were the days!
0:00 Ford Anglia. 0:08 Morris J2 Van. 0:11 Sunbeam Rapier. 0:15 Ford Consul Mk2. 0:20 Triumph Herald. 0:25 Hillman Husky. 0:30 Ford Zephyr Mk2 Farnham Estate. 0:35 1954 Buick Riviera Sedan (USA). 0:40 Austin Vanden Plas 3 litre. 0:46 Ford Consul MK2 0:51 Wolseley 15/50 1956 0:56 Singer Gazelle Estate 1:01 Triumph TR3 1:06 Morris Minor 1:10 Morris Minor Traveller 1:15 Ford Consul Classic 1:21 Hillman Minx Series III 1:25 Jaguar MkIX 1:30 Ford Consul MK2 1:35 Austin Healey 100 1:40 Morris Mini Van
Nippa DJ -Thank you!! I thought that car at 0:35 was a Buick! And a US model at that. British cars have their own "flavor" apart from the cars of other countries, including, and especially, American models. And this one just screamed "USA! USA!!" I grew up in, and have never left, the States, and have almost an inherent talent for identifying at least the make, if not the model, of most American cars from the late 50's through the 70's just by the design of the lights! I used to be able to tell just from the tail lights, even at night. Can't do that now - too many makes and models out there, and they started looking too much alike for the longest time - we really did lose our own exclusive "look" after a while.
paul austin - Yes, I believe it is! That one is just a little before my time as a full-fledged member of the motoring public, although I'd have to say Fairlane (or Galaxie - I'm thinking they both got tossed back and forth as trimlines for each other for a while, though!) We had a 1969 Ford Galaxie when I graduated high school, in damn fine shape with the 390c.i. engine in it. It was a nice deep burgundy with black interior. My new (1975) fiance and I bought it from my mother, in early 1976, when she had put her eye on a much smaller 1964 Ford Falcon which suited her needs much better. A straight six and "three on the tree" was oh so much easier on rising fuel costs at the time than that big block V8! But, my soon-to-be husband and myself were relatively "fancy free," with no real serious expenses above and beyond the rent we would begin paying after the wedding, in July, 1976, so didn't mind so much keeping her fed! We spent a weekend doing a complete valve job on her though, with the assistance of the Auto Hobby Shop on the Air Force Base where my fiance was stationed, strictly for machinery for grinding valve seats (that was my job) and refacing the valves, etc., (that was his - he was a heavy equipment mechanic in the Air Force, and I had no qualms about getting my hands dirty, or breaking a fingernail or three! We started tearing it down Friday night after he and a mechanic-friend got off duty, and I drove it to work myself on Sunday afternoon! I was a Hostess in a nice restaurant, and nobody could tell I'd been happily up to my elbows in grease and sludge all weekend! 😎
Great nostalgic viewing ! Anyone who was alive then would enjoy this trip down memory lane ! Cars then had character , individuality and appeal , but were usually unreliable ! Nowadays they are soulless machines but far more dependable !
My first car was the first one in the video...an Anglia 105E.The gear box was good but I think the clock had been turned back as the engine was rubbish. I had a Gold Seal engine fitted and OK. I learned to drive in a Corsair. An ex school mate bought a Zephyr Zodiac on an American Express credit card. It cost £700 in the mid 60s. I couldn't believe he did that. Did I spot an Austin Healey 3000? ...coz I got a lift in one...very nice.
My first car was a two-tone blue Sunbeam Rapier saloon, in 1966 when I was 26. It had Laycock De Normanville overdrive on third and fourth, effectively making it a six speed gearbox. Then I had a Ford Consul which was crap - any suggestion of damp weather and it wouldn't start, then I discovered WD40! Next was a convertible Rapier in 1970, it was green but I got it sprayed a lovely metallic bronze. It was great driving around the English countryside in summer with the top down but I froze my arse off in winter with ice on the INSIDE of the windscreen until it warmed up!
Many years ago I owned a Triumph TR4A with wire wheels that was few years old when I purchased it ,but one of my greatest regrets ever was selling her but circumstances dictated that I had to ,and since then I’ve driven and owned many cars including an Audi TT and yes they have been faster of course they have but none have been a delight to drive like the old Triumph. Please I don’t mean to offend anyone that has a passion for foreign cars but before you pass judgment on any British car from all those years ago drive one and then make your mind up
the sunbeam rapier , with my brother in law driving we topped the ton , at just over 100 MPH, pity we do not have our own car industry nowadays, we had some very good designs and engineers.
An interesting tale - I can't testify it as fact, bit I heard it many years ago. Lord Rootes (of Hillman fame) was dining with the CEO of Ford UK. CEO Ford said they were designing a 4/5 seat family size saloon, & discussing a name for it. Lord Rootes said they were considering re-branding their Minx with a new name, but had decided to stick with 'Minx'. The name they had considered for their new model - rejected in favour of the original name 'Minx' - was 'Cortina'. (Car manufacturers always copyright loads of names & numbers, just in case). CEO Ford said he liked that name, so he bought it from Lord Rootes for £1, receipt written on a beer mat. The Ford Cortina was born. Hillman Cortina just doesn't sound right, does it?
We owned quite a few of the cars on display. My father for a long time bought his cars from the same dealer starting with a Wolseley 1500 (second hand) followed by another new one. After that it was a 1660. I went to university around that time and my parents bought me an Austin Mini. Then I bought a lovely Sunbeam Alpine with a 1725cc engine....do I ever wish I still had it !!
John Mitchell .My first car after passing my test in 1972 was a Austin mini Cooper had it four years and spent a fortune on having a respray new wings sills and so on and swaped it for a motor bike I miss that car so much aswell regreted doing it even now nearly fifty later 😭😭
Magic stuff! I was born in Edinburgh in 1957 and my father had a small garage, selling new cars and doing repairs etc., so for me looking at these photos is like stepping back into my childhood.... At 1.49, you show Annandale Motors, I remember sitting outside there in Dad's car while he was discussing business inside (he used to buy and sell used cars from them). I am writing this on a hot day in Hong Kong in 2010, but thanks to you I have gone back down memory lane!
Reminded me that I passed my driving test in a Ford Anglia then owned a Mk1 and Mk2 Ford Consul, Triumph 13/60 Herald, Hillman Imp, Hillman Minx, Austin A40, Ford Capri GT Mk1, Honda Jazz, Renault 25, Renault Safrane, Ford Fiesta, Austin Montego GTI, Mazda Xedos, Toyota Celica and now a Jaguar XF.
Rieann, back in 1964 there was only 6 cars in our street. You had to go the main road to see this many. Today our street is also a main road and every house has a car. Cheers, Chris Perry.
Beautiful Sunbeam Rapier. But to my eyes the outstanding beauty was the Series 1 (1956-1957), very nearly extinct, now. These had the pure lines of Raymond Loewy's original design.
There were still lots of 1950s and 1960s cars around in the 1970s. I remember them well! Especially being driven by older people who had kept them in good condition. So those cars must have lasted around 20 years. I think even as late as 1979 I still saw a few cars from the 1950s on the streets.
Very early 70s a bloke down our road had a Sunbeam Rapier…. Not with a paint finish but completely covered in brown Suede, kids would always draw with their fingers across the pile, even people just walking past would leave a trail, I remember he would wash it with fairy liquid and get it up into a real foam before hosing it down.
@paul austin Vauxhall isn't Yanks; Vauxhall is British & Opel its sister is Deustch. Thank to M. Thatcher & her government. She sold actually everything. British made items was dominant around the world for its quality. Now Britannia is doomed. Thanks to the Iron Lady. No more Sand, salt, steels etcetera. Such a shame.
M Scott I don’t remember a whole load of variation between Austin Cambridge, Morris Oxford, Riley 4/72, and Wolseley models. Hill man Hunter, Singer Gazelle and Vogue ? It would make a good parlour game , how many versions of the mini can you name in 30 seconds. I would suggest there was more “ badge engineering “ in the 60’s and 70’s than exists today. After 3 years use they did all look similar - covered in rust! ;)
I had a new Hillman Minx each year, supplied by my employer. I remember driving on the first section of the M1 up to just south of Leicester, With my foot flat on the floor, the car would do 79 mph .
Born in ‘52 I love these nostalgia trips apart from the rose coloured spectacle views of those leaving comments. These vehicles are of their era and there is no comparison to modern day cars which are vastly superior in every way. Anyone who argues otherwise cannot remember the rust, unreliability, poor performance and dreadful fuel economy etc,etc. Let’s just appreciate them for what they are - examples of how and why Britain lost its car and motorcycle industries.
@Professor McClaine there is no better example of the British disease than our former motor industry. I’ve been taking a realistic view of the cars they produced way before the internet was born.
i had a Hillman Super Minx,great little car.i drove it from NY to Minnesota in 1967 when i went to college.great to bop around in but when the temps went down to minus 20F in the winter it sat under a tarp in the dorm parking lot. even with a bit of cardboard in front of the radiator it never warmed up and when i could get it going i drove around in a snowmoble suit!
Love this - as a small child, our family owned the Morris Minor, the Morris Minor 'Woodie' Estate, the Mini and the Ford Cortina Mk I & Mk II Estates. Wonderful childhood memories ... :)
xetalg : my Mum had a Morris 1000 good little car I was in the Back with my.22 It went off, the bullet going through the side of Hat and through the roof of the Car. She never let me go shooting again AHHH good days
My Dad had many cars back then but the best one I remember was his Singer Vogue lovley car, 4 door, walnut dashoard, and front bench seat. He was atraveeling salesman and had a Morris 1000 which did thousands of miles in all weathers. Built to last, economical and reliable...which is what everyone wants today..right? Not much has changed, except the style of car
The Morris 1100 and Ford Anglia owned back then both had serious rust problems from lack of rust protection in the metal at the point of manufacture, The 1968 Ford Anglia was one of the last in production with a special Blue Mink metallic paint job that just peeled off the car which had a paint undercoat problem that caused the top coat to virtually come off over a short period. Too cut a long story short they cost my wife and I a lot grief and money lost back then , We are now in our mid 70s and love our modern reliable cars of today unlike the mythical better cars of yesterday. No 3 year paint and body guarantee like you get today . As you can tell from my rant it still hurts today ha ha
I started driving in the 60s and I owned many of the same cars. I started working as an apprentice mechanic in 1963 and worked on most English cars and vans. I loved being a mechanic then. Most vehicles were easy to repair then, not like the sophisticated computer filled cars of today. My first car was a 1947 Ford Prefect. Side valve engine, three gears, no heater. vacuum wipers that didn't work when you went up hill. Basic but I loved it and it gave me more pleasure than I get now with my new Nissan. Happy Days!
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+Sloopy .Dog My first car was a 1965 Vauxhall Viva SL in two-tone blue. It caught the rust bug and although it was running perfectly I had to scrap it when it failed the MOT. I still love that car. After that I had a 1970 Sunbeam Stiletto in red with a black vinyl roof, another super car.
+David M I had a Vauxhall Viva SL. Over the years I have had a lot of Vauxhall's. I've had 7 HA vans and a Vauxhall Velox, which I loved. In the 60 and 70s I changed my cars like some people change their shirts. I miss those days, motoring was cheap, cars were cheap, no MOT when I started driving. You could get 4 gallons of petrol for under a pound. I know wages then were low but money seemed to go a lot further. We now live in a rip off society. They were good days!
+freeganjustin You are probably right, I may be getting confused with the seat belt law. My memory is not what it was, which is a pity because at my age all I've got is memories. I once had a Wolseley 6/80 in the 70s. It had belonged to Lanchester police in Durham. It was a beast of a car. The front of the car looked like a Rolls and the back was shaped like a Morris. I've had some weird and wonderful motors over the years, all with their own personality. Happy days!
+freeganjustin A bit of information you may like: The MOT test was first introduced in 1960 under the direction of the Minister of Transport, Ernest Marples[8] under powers in the Road Traffic Act 1956. The test was originally a basic test including brakes, lights and steering check which was to be carried out after the vehicle was ten years old and every year thereafter. This became known as the "ten year test", or alternatively the "Ministry of Transport Test". The high failure rate resulted in the age that vehicles became due for testing being reduced to seven years on 31 December 1961. In 1962, the first commercial vehicle exam was created and a valid certificate was required in order to receive a tax disc, and in April 1967 the testable age for an MOT was reduced to three years. On 1 January 1983 the testable age for ambulances, taxis and vehicles with more than eight passenger seats, excluding the driver's, was reduced to one year. The list of items tested has been continually expanded over the years, including in 1968 - a tyre check; 1977 - checks of windscreen wipers and washers, direction indicators, brakelights, horns, exhaust system and condition of the body structure and chassis; 1991 - checks of the emissions test for petrol engine vehicles, together with checks on the anti-lock braking system, rear wheel bearings, rear wheel steering (where appropriate) and rear seat belts; 1992 - a stricter tyre tread depth requirement for most vehicles; 1994 - a check of emissions for diesel engine vehicles; 2005 - introduction of a computerised administration system for issuing non-secure test certificates. Also rolled out in 2005 was the creation of the 'Automated Test Bay' this differs from traditional testing by adding additional equipment to the bay to negate the use of an assistant during the test; 2012 - checks of secondary restraint systems, battery and wiring, ESC, speedometers and steering locks. I looked it up on Google.
Born in 1960 I recognize about 98 per cent of these especially the Corsair and Vauxhall 101. My dad owned one of each. The Corsair in 64 and the 101 in 67. his last car which he passed
12 seconds, c.1959 Sunbeam Rapier. Twin carbs, full instrumentation, 4 on the floor. Had 2 of them. And a 1967 Rapier, too. A bunch of Hillman Minx, one convertible,
My first car was a Sunbeam Rapier 111A when I was 19. Metallic gunmetal grey with a tan interior, lovely car. Sold it a year later and bought a mk2 Jag. Sold that a year later and emigrated to Oz.
what happened to Austin A35. A55 ,started my driving career with both, those were the years , screaming down the A3/A217 to Brighton at the blistering speed of 55mph for the weekend,the only dirty weekend probably was fixing a problem with the engine to get home again,normally contact breaker points closed up again,oh what fun,but at least we could mend them by the roadside ,not like now when its call out the AA/Rac and get recovered to a garage
Back in the early 1060’s I worked for a company a subsidiary of which was a Rootes Group dealership which meant I could obtain a small hard to come by discount of 5% plus importantly interest free high purchase over two years. This meant in1962 I bought a new Hillman Minx 111c 1600cc in green and cream. My pride and joy. A quite smooth car to drive with a bit of nice diff whine. Very good traction in the snow unlike current cars and when going fast into bends the near side front used to lift but all very predictable but with drum brakes fade was possible. In 1965 it was a mark 5 with front disk brakes no fade and no front corner lift unfortunately rust appeared after two years I believe due to Rootes selling out to Chrysler, by 1971 a Hillman Hunter which eventually just rusted away.
n n I agree. I get the Morris Oxford mixed up with the Austin Cambridge. My brother (RIP) and me used to lay on our stomach on the living room linoleum, with the newspaper that had a double page spread of car ads in the early 1960s. We’d say “oh I’m going to get that one when I’m big.” My favourite was the Sunbeam Alpine. I remember my auntie’s Ford Anglia and my uncle’s Ford Consul.
Nick Staffer I must be older than you Nick, I knew them all. The very first picture was my first car, a 1961 Ford Anglia that was six months old, I paid 650 Aussie quid for it in 1962, the first of over 70 vehicles I’ve owned since.
I had a 66 Holbey tuned Sunbeam Rapier in 1980! Wish I had it now man! JAO 667D ! My second ever car man! Overdrive on third and forth! One of my best cars of all time! I can still smell the real leather man!
3:55 - Lotus Cortina. Have one mouldering in my garage. Sweet, but noisy, highway dasher. Factory tube headers. Midnight trip to Arkansas, 1978, 200 miles in two hours on 10 gallons of leaded premium, and my ears rang all the next day.
All equipped with Lucas ? Dream on, have you never heard of Delco Remy as used by Vauxhall, whose manufacturing tolerance's were at least double that of Lucas which is probably why you never see any Transcontinentals still running ! 😆
Wow Crewe Toll service station and Musselburgh harbour. Also many of the cars that I owned or drove from the sixties onwards. Brilliant. Thanks for posting this gem. :-)
My first car was the Austin A105/6 Westminster. It had the lot and lacked for nothing. Four speed column change with overdrive and did 23 MPG in those days. Seeing all these great motor vehices brought back many fond memories of a bygone era.
Rover lover and British Engineering Romeo entered: couldn't see Rovers in here, i am in love with Rover P6.. I am also love in British Engineering gems like Commor TS3, 1940 Scammell pioneer, Foden engines and so...last glimpse of true British Engineering was happened when jack Brabham launched ""BT 46 aka Fancar"" but jealous rivals made it shutdown. Well Leyland motor corps brought many gems between us!! Well welcome to plastic, fabricated and Lambo era!!
My dad had a Hillman Imp back in the 60s. It was a rubbish car which made me hesitant when a family member offered to sell me theirs in the 1980s. I took it though and was thrilled to bits with it. Great little car that got me around from A to B.
Alan Murphy Agreed, although I did make a journey in it of 160 miles (there and back) all in one day! :) Now I think about it we did once travel from London to Devon in my dad's Imp.
I do remember all those British Fords and other brands. They were very good engines plus the interior with green and beige and comfort sits. Consul, Zodiac, and brands as Vauxhall were long lasting machines.
I'm pretty sure my dad had most of these, at some point in my childhood! I can remember Singer Vogue, MkII Jags, Hillman Hunters, Zephyrs & Zodiacs, Humber Snipes, Austin Cambridges, & even a few Yank imports, including a Rambler Ambassador Station-Wagon, & a ridiculously over the top Pontiac Grand Prix!!
Some of these I've ridden in or driven. Ford Anglia, Consul, Zephyr, Wolseley 4/44 and 24/80, 50s Jaguar, Hillman Husky, Morris Minor utility, Minor sedan, 64 Chevrolet, various Austin A40s, Minis and a Bedford 1 ton truck with a crash gearbox.
My dad had a ford anglia with the sloping inward back window (see heartbeat) he took it to a new car wash and the brush got caught in the back. Dad and the operator were both panicking while ten year old me thought it was the funniest thing I had ever seen
I had a Saturday job, "helping" at a car wash. The brushes made two passes, but didn't change the direction of spin . . . If drivers of early BMC 1100s, or VW Beetles didn't seek my assistance (a notice warned them, specifically) the top brush could rip off the boot lid of 1100s, or dent the engine cover of the Beetle, by catching in the lighting mount, above the number plate !
Believe it or not but my Dad and I still drive a Triumph Herald Estate that he bought brand new in 1965 and it is still going strong. Would'nt part with it for the world.
My first car was a 1962 Ford Prefect 107E I have wonderful memories of it, but it would never start in winter mornings, and also had wipers that stopped going uphill. However it had four gears as it had the new Anglia engine, but still retained the Prefect shape. Great days !
From 1960 I served my apprenticeship servicing nearly all these cars. Amongst all the monocoques the Triumph Herald was unique. For fast repair and thus cheaper insurance it had a proper chassis with only 7 quickly detachable body parts.
@0:13 The '59 Sunbeam Raiper. I had one. Bought it from my dad for 50 quid who got it from a friend of his. It sat in his yard for 13 years. We hauled it home, flushed the engine, cooling system, and it ran like a dream for many years. I miss those times
The first car we had was a Zephyr Zodiac (manual geared )in 1958.My Dad had us kids polishing the chrome every week.He alone did the bodywork.Serviced twice a year ,it got sold on and lasted a further 20 years.Our next 3 cars were Humber Super Snipes- (4:50)magnificent vehicles which were built like tanks,resisted rusting and were SO comfortable to drive and ride in .They were all 6 cylinder automatic and I learned to drive in our 2nd one and passed first time.They were powerful but quiet cars ,and nothing today comes close to their workmanship.
The first time I took my new Super Snipe to fill with petrol no one at the garage could find
the filler cap.Had to look in the book to find it.You had to remove the offside rear light cover!!!
I grew up in the 60`s. Me and my mate used to go around the streets car number plate spotting. All the cars were black or white. My mates dad had a Hillman Husky and later on a Triumph herald. My dad had a bike. I learned to drive in an Austin A40 and then half way through my lessons my instructor brought a Triumph Toledo. I passed my test in 1975 and my first car was a Vauxhall Viva HB. Cost me £70 F reg. Those where the days when you opened the bonnet and you could see the road either side of the engine and could identify all the components. No censors, no black boxes just prop shafts and rear wheel drives. Pull the choke out to start. Summer and winter settings for the air filter. Oh happy days.....
That's funny. I sold my E reg HB Viva to my brother for 70GBP in '76.
I used to do car spotting in the 60s and record the reg numbers of cars in a little note book. Buy why? What did we do with the numbers? I cannot remember why we did that! It seems do bizarre!!
I was a rep in the 50s, 60s and 70s, and have driven several of these cars starting with the Ford Anglia 108. In every case the cars came with a little sticker in the back window which said ‘Running In, Please Pass’ - and we weren’t supposed To go any faster than 30 miles per hour, for the first 500 miles!! Aaaahh, nostalgia!
I worked in a garage back then ..have serviced /repaired most of them ,,so easy to work on.. not like the cars today
@paul austin No you need specialised equipment
today's cars are short lived electrical nightmares,today's mechanics most sadly are only fitters,replacing parts not repairing them,spoken from a fully qualified mechanic!
@@billsmith305 True
peter croft ...........Peter, an ex colleague used to work with Croall & Croall ( think I’m correct) in a Edinburgh servicing Rolls Royce. He said his boss would do the final inspection where he took a three penny bit from his pocket and stood it upright near the flying lady, if it toppled over he had to do it again...........too much vibration!!...............such standards!
When cars had character and didn’t all have the same rounded shape of today.
I love the cars from the 50s and 60s reminds me of my childhood, happy days 👍🏻
What happened to the A40 Somerset? My father owned the original duo coloured one from the 1953motor show
A great montage of our once proud and now largely extinct home-grown motor industry. I've ridden in or driven most of them at some stage.
good old days when cars were simple and didn't need electronics..
hehehe I stand corrected then, my 1972 datsun got some used civic electronic ignition in the 90s when I bought the car after that she never gave any major problems till we parted years later...maybe these curvy cars needed some good old japanese electronics. I cant disagree with you afterall ..
***** Maybe, but they could be easily fixed for pennies....Or a pair of tights when the fan belt broke !
manofweed1 Spot on !!
Cars are reliable today, but have loads of computing power to make them super efficient, and many sensors, that often give incorrect data which often means an expensive trip to the garage. However, the computing and sensors are not what make new cars reliable, it is the high quality standards of the mechanical parts and good design. It would be nice to see a cheap simple car like a Morris 1000 made today with modern reliability standards, but without the computers and sensors. Just a cheap basic car that is simple to operate, maintain and repair. I think it would sell. I have 2017 Vauxhall Astra, and I have never opened the bonnet, as I know it would be pointless to do so, and this is from someone who used to maintain his own cars (Triumph Spitfire etc).
@@fidelcatsro6948 The problems just startet halfway through 2000. Cars got bad then. And it started early 2000.
I remember just about all of those and owned several like them. Great nostalgia. For those so fond of these vehicles can I remind you that you'd probably service one before a 100 mile trip and carry a full tool set in the boot. There was a 50/50 chance that you'd need to use the tool set. Modern cars may be soulless but they use a lot less fuel and don't break down every other week. Just as well as you need a computer to figure out what busted most of the time.
My Grandad used to have a Ford Anglia (VMB 880E).
My Uncle George used to drive us home from Auntie Pat's with the shopping from the Kwik Save in the '70's.
RIP all three of them.
RIP Mum.
Former Proud owner of 2 Sunbeam Rapiers,1958 and 1970. Multiple Hillman Minx's and 4 Alpine's. Right now I'm restoring, a 1964 Spitfire.
I had an I had an A30 Zephyr Mk2 Hillman, and the best a 60 Cresta The Vauxhall was a great car
You lucky bloke.
A pity, isn't it. Such nice cars and almost no manufacturer survived.
I'm German, but I always loved British motorcycles, cars and, of course, British lorries.
l'am also German but missing a lot of the true British Classics like Bentley, Rolls Royce, ALVIS, Bristol, Jenssen, Singer,Hillman etc. And the Title must read" Cars in the UK" cause many here shown are made abroad !
@@knut-hinrichqwalter2463 I counted 9!
Cheers, Carl. the reverse is true, too.
@@knut-hinrichqwalter2463 but what you must remember is that the cars made abroad were built in the colonies of the british empire !
Passed my test in 1981 whilst serving my apprenticeship. At that time I restored a 1963 Humber sceptre. 889 EFR, what a fabulous car. Cross ply tyres, negative earth and a crank handle for starting.
Loveing the memories, thanks
Our Westminster MKII from 1965 to, 😅
Sadly this was the demise of mechanics, very few and far between nowadays, mind you we have dozens of fitters, cos when your car goes wrong, all they can do is fitter new part.
@Alexander Challis Yes, and what did his generation do about it? That's the trouble, init, "Generations" but it is difficult for a single individual to make much of a change....
Don't these bring back memories?
I passed my test in 1969 aged 18 and my first passion wagon was a fawn coloured 1953 Ford Prefect costing me £7/10s.
I was in the RAF training at Halton - all short back and sides when everyone else had hair past their shoulders, flower power and flares.
But, over the next three or four years I bought a number of these cars - yes, very fond memories from a much nicer time.
You and me both. Mine was a mid 50's Standard 8. I was growing my hair and moustache at the time
@@donsharpe5786 In 1969 my dad had a Triumph Vitesse 1600 and 16 year old me had my first motorcycle. It would be some years before I had any facial hair worth shaving let alone grow a moustache lol. Now 62 years later I shave with an old double edged razor like dad used back then. Sadly though these lovely old cars are a rare sight now. This video brings back fond memories.
@@bahoonies I gave up shaving and grew a beard and still have it.
@@donsharpe5786 I used to wear a beard but it made me look like a jihadi so I shaved it off.
Ran a 53 Ford Pop. Cost 25 quid. Two trips to Devon from Croydon over 2 years. Then sold it for: 25 quid! ( 1968)
I remember that my father has a Triumph Vitesse in the late sixties. This car was really rare here in Germany. I loved this car. The smell of the leather seats and the wonderful dashboard with wood and chrome. And I owned a Jag XJ6 about 25 years ago. A very smooth car. But the wiring and the electrical is straight from hell ;-)
alanrtment porter
Indeed ;-) I am well with Bosch. But Lucas was sent from hell.
Lucas were a lot better than Delco Remy used by Vauxhall
Oh the memories came flooding back. I learned to drive in an old sit up and beg Ford Popular, with rod brakes. My first purchased car was a Ford Zephyr Zodiac, then on to a mini van (997 engine), then on to a Ford Anglia Van. These were my single days cars. I had the Anglia when first married but bought a Simca van for work and my wife had a 850 mini, white with black roof. When I stopped working for myself I bought a Simca 1000 sedan and my wife still had the mini. 1982 left for Australia and gave up British cars, more is the pity. Did drive a beat up Ford Escort for a while but it was not mine.
That's when driving was a pleasure!!!
I have owned two British cars. Both gave me great joy and reliability. My first was a 1950 Austin Devon A-40 four door sedan. The second was a 1960 Austin Sprite. I sorely miss them. The Devon was equipped with a roof hatch, an exterior spare tire filler, a spot light/rear view mirror combination, leather seats and electric wind shield wipers....my first ever. The A-40 was exceptionally well designed and constructed.
The Sprite was simply fun. It was my daily work and pleasure vehicle. I drove it many times from my home in San Diego, California to San Francisco and Los Angeles My all time favorite drive was from Morro Bay north of Los Angeles, up route one...a two lane highway along the Pacific Ocean...up to the beautiful seaside community of Carmel. The combination Abarth muffler and double port exhaust pipe served me well as music to my ears. I am now eighty years of age...and I still dream of those two little steeds of the road.
Doug Vernon
San Diego, California
This was the time when your car was your pride and joy cleaned and polished at the weekend. Todays car have not got the same appeal they are more like of necessity or an appliance like a washing machine or fridge throw it away when it breaks down.
People treat cars as disposable nowadays
So true. I particularly agree about the cleaning, who would have had there car cleaned by another? This was a Sunday ritual, a chance to cherish the car, to talk to neighbours and just have the satisfaction of a job well done.
Bought my 1stcar, a Hillman Imp in 1969 £15.50p, everyone said it was overpriced. Then graduated to a Ford Cortina mk1, Then a Sunbeam Alpine,a real car. Loved them all, even my old VW Dormobile
"Time is Tight" Booker T and the MGs. This music was played by Johnnie Walker on his radio 1 countdown show on 247 metres medium wave every Tuesday lunchtime when the British Market Research Bureau released the new BBC Chart.
I think it's someone else doing another version of Time is Tight. Still very good though ..
UPDATE: 1:45 Mercedes 230S 1:50 Triumph Herald 1200 1:55 Wolseley 16/60 2:00 Sunbeam Rapier III 2:05 Hillman Minx IIIA Estate 2:10 Vauxhall Velox 2:15 Ford Mustang 260 Convertible 2:20 Ford Mustang 260 (Again!) 2:25 Ford Zephyr MkIII 2:30 Skoda Octavia Combi 2:35 BMW Isetta 300 2:40 Wolseley 16/60 2:45 Fiat 500 2:50 Vauxhall Cresta PA 2:55 Austin A110 Westminster MkII 3:00 Wolseley 1500 MkIII 3:05 Morris Mini Minor Traveller 3:10 Triumph Herald 3:15 Scottish Aviation Scamp 3:20 Bond Equipe GT 3:25 Lotus Elan Plus 2
Thx
My father owned a couple of those and I've had several since. Maybe they were underpowered and lacked power steering, but they had character. Great nostalgia!
I had a Ford 105E Anglia in the 1960s. Great car, never let me down (though it did need a LOT of maintenance). I and three mates drove it all the way to Zagreb and back in 1965. Apart from a broken spring in Yugoslavia (few paved roads back then), the car ran faultlessly, including being hammered the entire length of the German Autobahn. Those were the days!
My grandmother drove a Sunbeam Rapier, my grandfather a Mark 9 (I think) Jag and my father a Ford Zephyr 6. Happy memories!
JACK STANSFIELD: I still believe the Zephyr 6 was a better car than all the Australian Falcons
When all cars were able to be identified as now we have to stand and guess "what make is that?" Happy days.
Totally true.
0:00 Ford Anglia. 0:08 Morris J2 Van. 0:11 Sunbeam Rapier. 0:15 Ford Consul Mk2. 0:20 Triumph Herald. 0:25 Hillman Husky. 0:30 Ford Zephyr Mk2 Farnham Estate. 0:35 1954 Buick Riviera Sedan (USA). 0:40 Austin Vanden Plas 3 litre. 0:46 Ford Consul MK2 0:51 Wolseley 15/50 1956 0:56 Singer Gazelle Estate 1:01 Triumph TR3 1:06 Morris Minor 1:10 Morris Minor Traveller 1:15 Ford Consul Classic 1:21 Hillman Minx Series III 1:25 Jaguar MkIX 1:30 Ford Consul MK2 1:35 Austin Healey 100 1:40 Morris Mini Van
Nippa DJ -Thank you!! I thought that car at 0:35 was a Buick! And a US model at that. British cars have their own "flavor" apart from the cars of other countries, including, and especially, American models. And this one just screamed "USA! USA!!" I grew up in, and have never left, the States, and have almost an inherent talent for identifying at least the make, if not the model, of most American cars from the late 50's through the 70's just by the design of the lights! I used to be able to tell just from the tail lights, even at night. Can't do that now - too many makes and models out there, and they started looking too much alike for the longest time - we really did lose our own exclusive "look" after a while.
paul austin - Yes, I believe it is! That one is just a little before my time as a full-fledged member of the motoring public, although I'd have to say Fairlane (or Galaxie - I'm thinking they both got tossed back and forth as trimlines for each other for a while, though!)
We had a 1969 Ford Galaxie when I graduated high school, in damn fine shape with the 390c.i. engine in it. It was a nice deep burgundy with black interior. My new (1975) fiance and I bought it from my mother, in early 1976, when she had put her eye on a much smaller 1964 Ford Falcon which suited her needs much better. A straight six and "three on the tree" was oh so much easier on rising fuel costs at the time than that big block V8! But, my soon-to-be husband and myself were relatively "fancy free," with no real serious expenses above and beyond the rent we would begin paying after the wedding, in July, 1976, so didn't mind so much keeping her fed! We spent a weekend doing a complete valve job on her though, with the assistance of the Auto Hobby Shop on the Air Force Base where my fiance was stationed, strictly for machinery for grinding valve seats (that was my job) and refacing the valves, etc., (that was his - he was a heavy equipment mechanic in the Air Force, and I had no qualms about getting my hands dirty, or breaking a fingernail or three! We started tearing it down Friday night after he and a mechanic-friend got off duty, and I drove it to work myself on Sunday afternoon! I was a Hostess in a nice restaurant, and nobody could tell I'd been happily up to my elbows in grease and sludge all weekend! 😎
I like only this - 2:40
A Ford Galaxie, I'd say - and what a beaut! There's a Bond Equipe in there, too. But why no E-Type, for heaven's sake!
A couple of Ford Mustangs too!
Great nostalgic viewing ! Anyone who was alive then would enjoy this trip down memory lane ! Cars then had character , individuality and appeal , but were usually unreliable ! Nowadays they are soulless machines but far more dependable !
My first car was the first one in the video...an Anglia 105E.The gear box was good but I think the clock had been turned back as the engine was rubbish. I had a Gold Seal engine fitted and OK. I learned to drive in a Corsair. An ex school mate bought a Zephyr Zodiac on an American Express credit card. It cost £700 in the mid 60s. I couldn't believe he did that.
Did I spot an Austin Healey 3000? ...coz I got a lift in one...very nice.
My first car was a two-tone blue Sunbeam Rapier saloon, in 1966 when I was 26. It had Laycock De Normanville overdrive on third and fourth, effectively making it a six speed gearbox. Then I had a Ford Consul which was crap - any suggestion of damp weather and it wouldn't start, then I discovered WD40!
Next was a convertible Rapier in 1970, it was green but I got it sprayed a lovely metallic bronze. It was great driving around the English countryside in summer with the top down but I froze my arse off in winter with ice on the INSIDE of the windscreen until it warmed up!
+Dave Wright I had a rapier in NZ in 60s a couple of vanguards and a Oxford which was a nightmare
Wasn't the Laycock overdrive great? had it in my TR6, flick of the switch and the revs drop away to a purr.
Many years ago I owned a Triumph TR4A with wire wheels that was few years old when I purchased it ,but one of my greatest regrets ever was selling her but circumstances dictated that I had to ,and since then I’ve driven and owned many cars including an Audi TT and yes they have been faster of course they have but none have been a delight to drive like the old Triumph. Please I don’t mean to offend anyone that has a passion for foreign cars but before you pass judgment on any British car from all those years ago drive one and then make your mind up
Well, I certainly remember the 105e! If only for its shape, not for its reliability!
And the Lotus Cortina! Saloon car, sports performance!
the sunbeam rapier , with my brother in law driving we topped the ton , at just over 100 MPH, pity we do not have our own car industry nowadays, we had some very good designs and engineers.
I can't believe the beauty and variety of these cars.
MUSIC IS TIME IS TIGHT by Booker T and the MGS
An interesting tale - I can't testify it as fact, bit I heard it many years ago.
Lord Rootes (of Hillman fame) was dining with the CEO of Ford UK.
CEO Ford said they were designing a 4/5 seat family size saloon, & discussing a name for it.
Lord Rootes said they were considering re-branding their Minx with a new name, but had decided to stick with 'Minx'.
The name they had considered for their new model - rejected in favour of the original name 'Minx' - was 'Cortina'. (Car manufacturers always copyright loads of names & numbers, just in case).
CEO Ford said he liked that name, so he bought it from Lord Rootes for £1, receipt written on a beer mat.
The Ford Cortina was born.
Hillman Cortina just doesn't sound right, does it?
We owned quite a few of the cars on display. My father for a long time bought his cars from the same dealer starting with a Wolseley 1500 (second hand) followed by another new one. After that it was a 1660. I went to university around that time and my parents bought me an Austin Mini. Then I bought a lovely Sunbeam Alpine with a 1725cc engine....do I ever wish I still had it !!
John Mitchell .My first car after passing my test in 1972 was a Austin mini Cooper had it four years and spent a fortune on having a respray new wings sills and so on and swaped it for a motor bike I miss that car so much aswell regreted doing it even now nearly fifty later 😭😭
Magic stuff! I was born in Edinburgh in 1957 and my father had a small garage, selling new cars and doing repairs etc., so for me looking at these photos is like stepping back into my childhood....
At 1.49, you show Annandale Motors, I remember sitting outside there in Dad's car while he was discussing business inside (he used to buy and sell used cars from them).
I am writing this on a hot day in Hong Kong in 2010, but thanks to you I have gone back down memory lane!
Reminded me that I passed my driving test in a Ford Anglia then owned a Mk1 and Mk2 Ford Consul, Triumph 13/60 Herald, Hillman Imp, Hillman Minx, Austin A40, Ford Capri GT Mk1, Honda Jazz, Renault 25, Renault Safrane, Ford Fiesta, Austin Montego GTI, Mazda Xedos, Toyota Celica and now a Jaguar XF.
When cars had personalities.
Love old cars Tesla are horrible looking cars
Saw lots of these here in my youth growing up near New York city. Thanks for the presentation.
Cars then still had their own characters and styles not like the technically near perfect "Boxes" we see today.
My Dad had a 6-cylinder Vauxhall Velox which took off like a scalded cat!
My Dad also had a Vauxhall Velox first time I did the ton i.e 100 mph
I had a 6 cylinder Vauxall Ventora not fast at all but it would have pulled a house down
Rieann, back in 1964 there was only 6 cars in our street. You had to go the main road to see this many. Today our street is also a main road and every house has a car. Cheers, Chris Perry.
Brought back a lot of great memories ---thank you (but a pity you couldn't have had captions to identify each car/model though):)
Beautiful Sunbeam Rapier. But to my eyes the outstanding beauty was the Series 1 (1956-1957), very nearly extinct, now. These had the pure lines of Raymond Loewy's original design.
There were still lots of 1950s and 1960s cars around in the 1970s. I remember them well! Especially being driven by older people who had kept them in good condition. So those cars must have lasted around 20 years. I think even as late as 1979 I still saw a few cars from the 1950s on the streets.
Very early 70s a bloke down our road had a Sunbeam Rapier…. Not with a paint finish but completely covered in brown Suede, kids would always draw with their fingers across the pile, even people just walking past would leave a trail, I remember he would wash it with fairy liquid and get it up into a real foam before hosing it down.
The good old days when cars didn't all look the same.
@paul austin Fool...
@paul austin Vauxhall isn't Yanks; Vauxhall is British & Opel its sister is Deustch.
Thank to M. Thatcher & her government. She sold actually everything.
British made items was dominant around the world for its quality. Now Britannia is doomed. Thanks to the Iron Lady.
No more Sand, salt, steels etcetera. Such a shame.
M Scott Oh, my God, are you crazy? It doesn’t matter what era it is, all cars always looked the same!
M Scott I don’t remember a whole load of variation between Austin Cambridge, Morris Oxford, Riley 4/72, and Wolseley models. Hill man Hunter, Singer Gazelle and Vogue ? It would make a good parlour game , how many versions of the mini can you name in 30 seconds. I would suggest there was more “ badge engineering “ in the 60’s and 70’s than exists today. After 3 years use they did all look similar - covered in rust! ;)
@@thesoultwins72 I assume you voted for comrade Corbyn. Unlucky.
Thanks. The first car you showed was my first car - Ford Anglia 105E. Lovely days.
One my Dad's earliest cars was the Sunbeam Rapier back in the 60's very fast car in it's day
One of my favourites, especially the convertible. I hear hardly any still exist.
Lots of lovely cars on this video, many thanks for posting it, they may be gone but they're not forgotten.
I had a new Hillman Minx each year, supplied by my employer. I remember driving on the first section of the M1 up to just south of Leicester, With my foot flat on the floor, the car would do 79 mph .
Born in ‘52 I love these nostalgia trips apart from the rose coloured spectacle views of those leaving comments. These vehicles are of their era and there is no comparison to modern day cars which are vastly superior in every way. Anyone who argues otherwise cannot remember the rust, unreliability, poor performance and dreadful fuel economy etc,etc. Let’s just appreciate them for what they are - examples of how and why Britain lost its car and motorcycle industries.
@Professor McClaine there is no better example of the British disease than our former motor industry. I’ve been taking a realistic view of the cars they produced way before the internet was born.
Many times i drove my fathers Westminster mk2 1965 made, lovely car
i had a Hillman Super Minx,great little car.i drove it from NY to Minnesota in 1967 when i went to college.great to bop around in but when the temps went down to minus 20F in the winter it sat under a tarp in the dorm parking lot.
even with a bit of cardboard in front of the radiator it never warmed up and when i could get it going i drove around in a snowmoble suit!
Love this - as a small child, our family owned the Morris Minor, the Morris Minor 'Woodie' Estate, the Mini and the Ford Cortina Mk I & Mk II Estates.
Wonderful childhood memories ... :)
Hmmm, "woodie" is an American term: next you'll be calling these cars automobiles!
xetalg : my Mum had a Morris 1000 good little car I was in the Back with my.22 It went off, the bullet going through the side of Hat and through the roof of the Car. She never let me go shooting again AHHH good days
My Dad had many cars back then but the best one I remember was his Singer Vogue lovley car, 4 door, walnut dashoard, and front bench seat. He was atraveeling salesman and had a Morris 1000 which did thousands of miles in all weathers. Built to last, economical and reliable...which is what everyone wants today..right? Not much has changed, except the style of car
The triumph herald was so underated ,a great sporty car very fast around town too ,my old man had one loved it shame he didn't keep it.
The Morris 1100 and Ford Anglia owned back then both had serious rust problems from lack of rust protection in the metal at the point of manufacture, The 1968 Ford Anglia was one of the last in production with a special Blue Mink metallic paint job that just peeled off the car which had a paint undercoat problem that caused the top coat to virtually come off over a short period. Too cut a long story short they cost my wife and I a lot grief and money lost back then , We are now in our mid 70s and love our modern reliable cars of today unlike the mythical better cars of yesterday. No 3 year paint and body guarantee like you get today . As you can tell from my rant it still hurts today ha ha
Mustang, Fiat and Mercedes seem to have slipped in to the list of UK cars!!
Perhaps simply "Cars in the UK" . . ?
I started driving in the 60s and I owned many of the same cars. I started working as an apprentice mechanic in 1963 and worked on most English cars and vans. I loved being a mechanic then. Most vehicles were easy to repair then, not like the sophisticated computer filled cars of today. My first car was a 1947 Ford Prefect. Side valve engine, three gears, no heater. vacuum wipers that didn't work when you went up hill. Basic but I loved it and it gave me more pleasure than I get now with my new Nissan. Happy Days!
+Sloopy .Dog My first car was a 1965 Vauxhall Viva SL in two-tone blue. It caught the rust bug and although it was running perfectly I had to scrap it when it failed the MOT. I still love that car. After that I had a 1970 Sunbeam Stiletto in red with a black vinyl roof, another super car.
+David M I had a Vauxhall Viva SL. Over the years I have had a lot of Vauxhall's. I've had 7 HA vans and a Vauxhall Velox, which I loved. In the 60 and 70s I changed my cars like some people change their shirts. I miss those days, motoring was cheap, cars were cheap, no MOT when I started driving. You could get 4 gallons of petrol for under a pound. I know wages then were low but money seemed to go a lot further. We now live in a rip off society. They were good days!
+Sloopy .Dog MOT test came in early 50's..... Every 2 years at first.
+freeganjustin You are probably right, I may be getting confused with the seat belt law. My memory is not what it was, which is a pity because at my age all I've got is memories. I once had a Wolseley 6/80 in the 70s. It had belonged to Lanchester police in Durham. It was a beast of a car. The front of the car looked like a Rolls and the back was shaped like a Morris. I've had some weird and wonderful motors over the years, all with their own personality. Happy days!
+freeganjustin A bit of information you may like: The MOT test was first introduced in 1960 under the direction of the Minister of Transport, Ernest Marples[8] under powers in the Road Traffic Act 1956. The test was originally a basic test including brakes, lights and steering check which was to be carried out after the vehicle was ten years old and every year thereafter. This became known as the "ten year test", or alternatively the "Ministry of Transport Test". The high failure rate resulted in the age that vehicles became due for testing being reduced to seven years on 31 December 1961. In 1962, the first commercial vehicle exam was created and a valid certificate was required in order to receive a tax disc, and in April 1967 the testable age for an MOT was reduced to three years. On 1 January 1983 the testable age for ambulances, taxis and vehicles with more than eight passenger seats, excluding the driver's, was reduced to one year.
The list of items tested has been continually expanded over the years, including in 1968 - a tyre check; 1977 - checks of windscreen wipers and washers, direction indicators, brakelights, horns, exhaust system and condition of the body structure and chassis; 1991 - checks of the emissions test for petrol engine vehicles, together with checks on the anti-lock braking system, rear wheel bearings, rear wheel steering (where appropriate) and rear seat belts; 1992 - a stricter tyre tread depth requirement for most vehicles; 1994 - a check of emissions for diesel engine vehicles; 2005 - introduction of a computerised administration system for issuing non-secure test certificates. Also rolled out in 2005 was the creation of the 'Automated Test Bay' this differs from traditional testing by adding additional equipment to the bay to negate the use of an assistant during the test; 2012 - checks of secondary restraint systems, battery and wiring, ESC, speedometers and steering locks. I looked it up on Google.
For all those asking the music is by Booker T. & the MG's-Time Is Tight. Cheers, loved the cars btw.
Green Onions and Time is tight, two of the greatest numbers ever written, still play them on my 200 Watts OP Amp. Bliss. Terry Offord
Just sold my restored 100e but now restoring an Austin a40 farina 61 great photos
That was the CARS with character lovely looking back thank you.
Born in 1960 I recognize about 98 per cent of these especially the Corsair and Vauxhall 101. My dad owned one of each. The Corsair in 64 and the 101 in 67. his last car which he passed
12 seconds, c.1959 Sunbeam Rapier. Twin carbs, full instrumentation, 4 on the floor. Had 2 of them. And a 1967 Rapier, too. A bunch of Hillman Minx, one convertible,
My first car was a Sunbeam Rapier 111A when I was 19. Metallic gunmetal grey with a tan interior, lovely car. Sold it a year later and bought a mk2 Jag. Sold that a year later and emigrated to Oz.
what happened to Austin A35. A55 ,started my driving career with both, those were the years , screaming down the A3/A217 to Brighton at the blistering speed of 55mph for the weekend,the only dirty weekend probably was fixing a problem with the engine to get home again,normally contact breaker points closed up again,oh what fun,but at least we could mend them by the roadside ,not like now
when its call out the AA/Rac and get recovered to a garage
Back in the early 1060’s I worked for a company a subsidiary of which was a Rootes Group dealership which meant I could obtain a small hard to come by discount of 5% plus importantly interest free high purchase over two years. This meant in1962 I bought a new Hillman Minx 111c 1600cc in green and cream. My pride and joy. A quite smooth car to drive with a bit of nice diff whine. Very good traction in the snow unlike current cars and when going fast into bends the near side front used to lift but all very predictable but with drum brakes fade was possible. In 1965 it was a mark 5 with front disk brakes no fade and no front corner lift unfortunately rust appeared after two years I believe due to Rootes selling out to Chrysler, by 1971 a Hillman Hunter which eventually just rusted away.
It would have been great if the cars were labeled.
Those of us that were there, know what they are!
n n
I agree. I get the Morris Oxford mixed up with the Austin Cambridge. My brother (RIP) and me used to lay on our stomach on the living room linoleum, with the newspaper that had a double page spread of car ads in the early 1960s. We’d say “oh I’m going to get that one when I’m big.” My favourite was the Sunbeam Alpine. I remember my auntie’s Ford Anglia and my uncle’s Ford Consul.
An absolute requirement I'd say. I stopped watching after 22 seconds.
n n wolseley had a central radiator badge that lit up with lights on
Nick Staffer
I must be older than you Nick, I knew them all. The very first picture was my first car, a 1961 Ford Anglia that was six months old, I paid 650 Aussie quid for it in 1962, the first of over 70 vehicles I’ve owned since.
I had a 66 Holbey tuned Sunbeam Rapier in 1980! Wish I had it now man! JAO 667D ! My second ever car man! Overdrive on third and forth! One of my best cars of all time! I can still smell the real leather man!
That '007' Aston really is a gorgeous looking motor car
3:55 - Lotus Cortina. Have one mouldering in my garage. Sweet, but noisy, highway dasher. Factory tube headers. Midnight trip to Arkansas, 1978, 200 miles in two hours on 10 gallons of leaded premium, and my ears rang all the next day.
All equipped with electricals by Lucas, the lord of darkness.
I lolled!!
funny
Have a '63 BSA C15 SS80. Lucas is a curse. LOL
Oh Yes
All equipped with Lucas ? Dream on, have you never heard of Delco Remy as used by Vauxhall, whose manufacturing tolerance's were at least double that of Lucas which is probably why you never see any Transcontinentals still running ! 😆
I'm 66 now and remember we couldn't afford a car or a telephone so my dad used to hire a car to go to the seaside once a year.
Wow Crewe Toll service station and Musselburgh harbour. Also many of the cars that I owned or drove from the sixties onwards. Brilliant. Thanks for posting this gem. :-)
These old British care brings back kids memories .My father owned a hillman minx & a Wolseley. Great British Cars.
Very nice cars. Bring back old memories.
My first car was the Austin A105/6 Westminster. It had the lot and lacked for nothing. Four speed column change with overdrive and did 23 MPG in those days. Seeing all these great motor vehices brought back many fond memories of a bygone era.
Most of those photos were taken in Edinburgh, i can recognise many familiar places.
Two Scottish cars among them; the Hillman Imp and the SA Scamp.
And most of these cars were pretty ugly, real export nonsellers!
Me too, I have commented in the same vein.
Rover lover and British Engineering Romeo entered: couldn't see Rovers in here, i am in love with Rover P6..
I am also love in British Engineering gems like Commor TS3, 1940 Scammell pioneer, Foden engines and so...last glimpse of true British Engineering was happened when jack Brabham launched ""BT 46 aka Fancar"" but jealous rivals made it shutdown.
Well Leyland motor corps brought many gems between us!!
Well welcome to plastic, fabricated and Lambo era!!
My dad had a Hillman Imp back in the 60s. It was a rubbish car which made me hesitant when a family member offered to sell me theirs in the 1980s. I took it though and was thrilled to bits with it. Great little car that got me around from A to B.
That is as long as "A" wasn't too far away from "B" :)
Alan Murphy Agreed, although I did make a journey in it of 160 miles (there and back) all in one day! :)
Now I think about it we did once travel from London to Devon in my dad's Imp.
I bought a new exhaust for my 1970 Hillman Imp and it cost about a tenna. Most others started at 50 quid. Well pleased.
I was born in 1950 I have owned ...worked on .......washed !!.... many of the cars shown here..
A lot of happy memories. Thank for posting. bob R.
A lot of these photos (almost all I think) were taken in & around Edinburgh.
Each car had it's own unique style and character. Uncomplicated and easy to work on. With none of the computerised nonsense you have today.
I do remember all those British Fords and other brands. They were very good engines plus the interior with green and beige and comfort sits. Consul, Zodiac, and brands as Vauxhall were long lasting machines.
Luckily enough Morris marinas all came with a complimentary bus timetable,,,
I'm pretty sure my dad had most of these, at some point in my childhood!
I can remember Singer Vogue, MkII Jags, Hillman Hunters, Zephyrs & Zodiacs, Humber Snipes, Austin Cambridges, & even a few Yank imports, including a Rambler Ambassador Station-Wagon, & a ridiculously over the top Pontiac Grand Prix!!
很经典的造型和设计，每辆车都有一双又圆又亮的大眼睛！谢谢分享。
Well finally made me realise my age, could name almost every single car, frightening!
Some of these I've ridden in or driven. Ford Anglia, Consul, Zephyr, Wolseley 4/44 and 24/80, 50s Jaguar, Hillman Husky, Morris Minor utility, Minor sedan, 64 Chevrolet, various Austin A40s, Minis and a Bedford 1 ton truck with a crash gearbox.
Wow! - So many lovely UK cars!
Amongst all them pictures my favorites were the Mercedes, the Mustang, the Cinquecento and - most of all - the Isetta.
They are bringing the Isetta back
All of those you mentioned are NOT British cars.
My dad had a ford anglia with the sloping inward back window (see heartbeat) he took it to a new car wash and the brush got caught in the back. Dad and the operator were both panicking while ten year old me thought it was the funniest thing I had ever seen
I had a Saturday job, "helping" at a car wash.
The brushes made two passes, but didn't change the direction of spin . . .
If drivers of early BMC 1100s, or VW Beetles didn't seek my assistance (a notice warned them, specifically) the top brush could rip off the boot lid of 1100s, or dent the engine cover of the Beetle, by catching in the lighting mount, above the number plate !
Believe it or not but my Dad and I still drive a Triumph Herald Estate that he bought brand new in 1965 and it is still going strong. Would'nt part with it for the world.
My first car was a 1962 Ford Prefect 107E I have wonderful memories of it, but it would never start in winter mornings, and also had wipers that stopped going uphill. However it had four gears as it had the new Anglia engine, but still retained the Prefect shape. Great days !
From 1960 I served my apprenticeship servicing nearly all these cars. Amongst all the monocoques the Triumph Herald was unique. For fast repair and thus cheaper insurance it had a proper chassis with only 7 quickly detachable body parts.
Thanks so much. Studying the backgrounds of these pics was equally rewarding.
My first Boyfriend had a Hillman Minx, paid £50 for it, best thing ever was that it had a bench seat especially made for late night fun ❤️❤️
🤩🤩 you had fun.