I was sitting here, reading the 1959 London Motor Show edition of "The Motor" (price two shilings and six pence), as you do, when I thought, why not punch 1959 Motor Show into Google. This is what i got and it is delightful. I was born in 1942 and around the year of this show saw the start of my driving career. I can tell you that, in those days, the roads were still awash with pre-war cars, soon to be swept of the roads by, the then "10 Year Test", later to become the MOT. Golden days.
It may be three years later but I couldn't help but pick up on your comment. I have been something of a Herald enthusiast. I have owned several, as "classic" cars, not when new. One in particular was reshaped a few times, by my kids when learning to drive. I have always had 1200 0r 1360 versions, never the early 895, or whatever it was. However, coming to the point, 50mph in 1961? Where on earth is that coming from? Pretty good for the advanced small cars we have today. But then?
I had always thought that the coupe version of the Herald was introduced later to follow the design of the Mustang fastback, but it actually preceded it - similar to the HP Firenza looking ahead of its time compared with the 1979 Pontiac Trans Am
I was sitting here, reading the 1959 London Motor Show edition of "The Motor" (price two shilings and six pence), as you do, when I thought, why not punch 1959 Motor Show into Google. This is what i got and it is delightful. I was born in 1942 and around the year of this show saw the start of my driving career. I can tell you that, in those days, the roads were still awash with pre-war cars, soon to be swept of the roads by, the then "10 Year Test", later to become the MOT. Golden days.
Nojnotpu 3 months ago
God I was born at the back end of 59 and I didnt feel old until I saw this.
I do now...
tim74660 2 years ago
Great to see the original MINI from 1959.
It is great to compare it to the current BMW MINI.
The "East-West" engine layout of the original Mini is now copied by most car-markers in at least one of their models.
I didn't realise that the Chev Corvair was available in Britain.
The MINI and the CORVAIR were two quite different innovative car designs released at the same time. The MINI lives on the CORVAIR does not.
The cars in this film are now headed towards their half centuries (2009)
OzzInter 3 years ago 2
50mpg from a herald! must have been going down a very long hill hehee
harleysmurf666 3 years ago
Those are Imperial Gallons.
fascaso 2 years ago
he says at cruising speed... which would probably be 50mph, in those times.
gentil79 1 year ago
It may be three years later but I couldn't help but pick up on your comment. I have been something of a Herald enthusiast. I have owned several, as "classic" cars, not when new. One in particular was reshaped a few times, by my kids when learning to drive. I have always had 1200 0r 1360 versions, never the early 895, or whatever it was. However, coming to the point, 50mph in 1961? Where on earth is that coming from? Pretty good for the advanced small cars we have today. But then?
Nojnotpu 3 months ago
Very nice! I'll take that one (Mini), that one (Corvair), that one (Herald, but make mine a ragtop)....
nlpnt 4 years ago
I had always thought that the coupe version of the Herald was introduced later to follow the design of the Mustang fastback, but it actually preceded it - similar to the HP Firenza looking ahead of its time compared with the 1979 Pontiac Trans Am
rexroyale 5 years ago