This colonial outpost has a goodly share of CCs from the mother country keeping on. Like this Vauxhall Victor F-series. Even back in the 70s, these weren’t a common sight for me. But I’ve seen this one a few times, it’s in solid but not precious condition.
Curbivore jim took this. Bentley S1 Continental with body by Mulliner gliding through the CBD. An adaptation, only slightly less lovely, of the legendary R-type.
That’s how you do fins.
An automotive photographer once told me dark green was the hardest colour to shoot on cars. This was back in the days of film, and I don’t think it’s so bad these days. However, my old phone camera had developed an extreme warm bias by the time I saw this S1 Silver Shadow, so its gorgeous darker emerald is muted.
Rover P5B sedan on Rostyles all business-like. The four-door coupe overshadows these, but David Bache’s shape succeeds even with the taller roofline.
This image was conveyed to me via cellphone by jim, who received it from Trav O. It’s a Humber Super Snipe one drizzly evening. The image seems to have degraded a lot in transmission, or else it’s a detail from a larger shot. Nevertheless, I love this photograph. The blur takes us to the very edge of recognising the car, and the whole thing feel like a National Geographic shot from 1966.
AVL caught this one in country New South Wales – a Daimler Majestic glowing in the afternoon.
Out of my comfort zone here, but I remember this having a bullnose Morris sort of radiator treatment. Nice deerstalker.
Ford special looking like a cross between the Bristol 404 and a noddy car.
Post-82 Rover SD1. Stuck in traffic. Owner is loving it.
Austin Healey 100. Stuck in traffic. Owner not so loving it. Didn’t want to talk. So I stood there and took pictures. hehehe
Another making an escape.
MG of A.
TR of 6.
FG of Austin. Unlike the Vauxhall, these were all over my Melbourne of the 1970s. This is a favourite childhood shape; it is so characterful and how good is that panoramic windscreen? Best of all are those lower windows for tight manoeuvring. It reminds me of a boxer with bandaging on his face.
1958 Commer. Got no idea what it landed on.
Morris Minor van looking brawny from a distance.
Best for last. A few minutes before I took this shot I was running errands in my mate’s Renault van. I went through a sleepy suburban intersection, on one corner of which was an old garage. With an orange Challenger parked there. After a double-take, I found a side-street and turned around to get some pics. Have not seen a Challenger since time immemorial.
I got out of the van and was just stretching my legs when I heard a ruckus up the road. Reflexively, I pulled my camera out.
Entering the intersection and tracing a sweeping right hander was this little ADO16 in Morris 1100 guise. This picture gives no idea how fast (fully legal, mind) this car was taking the corner while sustaining a poise that was billiard-table level. Hydrolastic!
Next week; Jags.
Excellent pictures! You have a good eye and excellent timing.
Sometimes I still wonder how the British vehicle industry could self-immoliate itself the way it did. There were so many manufacturers making varied and often sophisticated designs with attractive style, for a loyal and enthusiastic market.
I know people blame poor management and terrible labour relations. Doesn’t make the loss any easier, though.
There is nothing like the road presence of a Rolls Royce or Bentley (Pics 2-4). IMO, no other cars on the planet, generates an image of royal prestige and pedigree like they do. These cars never look dated “per say”. Their unique commanding shape, the iconic up right standing grill, and classic beautiful lines and headlights- have and will always stand the test of time. They reek of class, nobility and $$$. It shouts that the owners are the elites of the world (not sure if that’s a good thing or not).
Even on the super super rare occasion that I saw a Rolls-Royce as a youngster. Without knowing anything about the brand, the car itself, or how much they cost etc. In seconds I instantly knew it was a car I could never afford, that my family would never own, and that it was extremely rare and ultra foreign. As they glide through 1980’s econo boxy bland cars in traffic.
When a car can answer all the questions in ones young mind instantly. That car is in deed a special piece of artwork!
Porsche’s, M-Benz, BMW’s, Audi’s, Cadillac’s etc. Are all fine automobiles. However, they all lack the instant celebrity and “Cachet” of a Rolls-Royce/Bentley by yards. Even seeing a Phantom/Mulsanne today still brings that image and wow factor to the table. Impressive!
Holy cow! That Bentley is awesome, and it’s even more awesome that it’s out on the road. The black Healey in profile is also quite a machine. Then again, I do love Morris Minors, and that Rover looks fun… 🙂
I was thinking the same thing regarding the Bentley. When a car looks beautiful, even in a blurry, spontaneous photograph, that’s really quite extraordinary.
I like the Daimler, too. If not for the alien green whatever-it-is in the background, that picture could have been from 1955.
GGM ●lawyers●? Didn’t Oz retain the UK’s solicitor/barrister distinction?
Americans love to complain about lawyers, but they must have plenty of clients too. No one remembers or heeds Lincoln’s advice:
“Discourage litigation. Persuade your neighbors to compromise whenever you can. Point out to them how the nominal winner is often a real loser — in fees, expenses, and waste of time. As a peacemaker the lawyer has a superior opportunity of being a good man. There will still be business enough.”
Yes, we separate barristers from solicitors here. Law firms such as this are usually populated by solicitors and para-legals. For the most part, barristers still operate out of chambers as individuals.
Love the Bentley and the delectable green Rolls-Royce – who wouldn’t? My favorite, though, is that Rover P5B in Admiralty Blue. Being 6’4″, I prefer the sedan to the four door coupe. Some folks don’t like Rostyle wheels, but they look fine on these big Rovers. Really, I don’t mind the whitewalls, either.
Yes that Rover is also nice, and unique. Love the amazing headlights, very modern for it’s time!
Had never heard or seen a picture of that Daimler. Thanks for the photo revue.
Other than the Bentley, easily the rarest car of the bunch!
Glad I clicked on this one Don. I know that Morris Minor, it is a daily-driven painter’s van.
Oh I say, jolly good show, old boy!
A baleful of Blighty’s best and no mistake, save for that Yank tank there, what an absolute shower…
I’ll take the Daimler, if I may, with a P5 chaser, if that’s all right, there’s a good chap. I’ll leave the Rollers and the drop-tops for those who feel they have something to prove.
Now that I’ve looked at it again, I’ll have a smidgen of Vauxhall as well if you don’t mind. One does not find a GM car with a stiff upper lip and a fuel gauge in Imperial gallons every day.
Toodle-pip, cheerio and keep it up in those dominions! Lovely things…
And very much looking forward to the Jags.
Terry-T87-Thomas
In the late ’50s, the Vauxhaul Victor made a brief appearance in the US, sold unsuccessfully through Pontiac dealers. The only one I’ve ever actually seen was sticking out of a hedge, next to a barn, on Maryland’s Eastern-Shore in the mid ’70s.
I like those big older Rover sedans. They were probably more durable than the troublesome 2000 and 3500 series that formed most of their sales in the US.
Ray Milland plays a wealthy murderer and drives one of those Bentley Mulliner coupes in an early ’70s TV episode of ‘Columbo’.
Having owned a couple Rootes vehicles (Super Minx convertible, Alpine roadster) I wish you had a better photo of that Super Snipe. In the past 40 years I’ve spotted 3 of those in the US, including one extra rare ‘Imperial’ edition.
Happy Motoring, Mark
Cheers Mark
I’ve always wanted a Bentley and I’ve looked at a few. The “plain” ones depreciate fast. Still I was afraid of the cost to maintain and my lifestyle isn’t really the Bentley type. Still lovely cars to drive.
I actually got to drive a Humber Super Snipe station wagon (Hawk in this pic). Must have been around 1970. It really was like a British Buick, but had wonderful wooden dash and nice leather seats. Must have sold very very few in the USA.
The number of survivors here is incredible, more Super Snipes than the smaller cheaper Humber 80s (Minx rebadge)it seems but really nice cars I’d have one in a heartbeat though at $10 per gallon the fuel bill wouldnt be welcome.
I was chased for five blocks by a Humber Hawk. I was driving a 1978 Corolla and I could barely get away. I guess the driver thought I’d been trespassing on his land, because I saw the Hawk fly out from behind a hedge and gain on me rapidly. It was very intimidating to be hunted by an angry man in a black Humber!
The Vauxhall Victor and Morris 1100 were familiar sights to me – as Matchbox cars, although Matchbox’s version of the 1100 was the MG. The Victor was pale yellow, while the MG 1100 was green – complete with a plastic dog enjoying the view out the rear side window.
The Commer truck also served as the basis for some models.
The MG 1100 survived into the Superfast era in a nice blue metallic, not as common as the regular wheel green though.
That colour is fantastic!
One of my model car collection still sitting at home. This is actually my wife’s. The silver paint degrading is quite a common problem. Never mind, lets go boating!
And regarding the Humber; the only part I recognise would be the bolt on sunshade above the front windscreen. Talk about sapping the MPG’s.
Great pictures and lots of them. The Bentley is beautiful but it always reminds me a Chevrolet fastback from the early fifties. Is this case of one car design influencing the other.
It’s a bit of a story, but yes.
http://www.curbsideclassic.com/automotive-histories/automotive-history-who-actually-styled-the-1952-bentley-continental/
Terrific shots, each and every one. Given the cold winter we’re having, by the time I can even think of extricating my phone, the car’s long gone. Missed two just the other day…
I’m just back from 4 weeks in South Australia, and it was a real CC-spotting fest. One short trip from Adelaide to Victor Harbour area saw a rich mix of 80s japanese, Holdens, brits and US muscle. Capped off with a Jensen Interceptor in the most glorious shade of brown puking it’s coolant at the lights.
Agreed. I lived in Adelaide for 12 years and saw a classic scene in some ways superior to Melbourne’s, despite its population being only a quarter the size.
Other than the Commer and the FG Austin that looks like regular Napier traffic, theres so many old British, American & European cars still in regular use around here you could wear a Camera out in a week even those old Victors that rusted out in the brochures can still be seen mobile, The early cabover Commer appears to be on a later proper truck chassis rather that just dumped on a toy truck F series or Chev frame, I’d like to know more about that one.
Some more images of the 58 here, but no info.
http://eastcoastracecars.com/gallery/tom-youngs-1958-commer-truck/
Great pictures! The tail end of that Bentley really is beautiful. And I am liking that Rover P5B sedan a lot.
The Challenger – Here in the US, any time more than 5 classic cars gather, there is sure to be a Challenger (or Cuda) in the mix. As big of a Mopar guy as I am, I am rather sick of them. It is cool to contemplate how I would react if they were as obscure as they once were.
My first Challenger was the Matchbox one, spoiled somewhat by the hood treatment.
Here in Aus they sit behind Chargers and Barracudas in historic import desirability. Which overcomes the fatigue factor on such a great looking car.
The S1 Continental is simply breathtaking, and the P5 has always been one of my favorites. Rostyles suit it perfectly.
That FG is something else too–what a panoramic windscreen indeed. I’d never seen one before so I had to look it up, and it took me a moment to discover where the doors were! Very interesting shape all around.
The doors were designed so they opened within the width of the body so the driver didn’t have to step directly out into traffic. That and the kerb view windows made them well suited to urban delivery.
Just WOW ! Those Victors all rusted away in blighty 40 years ago. That black Healey has to be an early Healey 100 , as it has the folding screen. The Daimler isn’t a Conquest – it’s a later one, maybe a Majestic Major. Wonderful pictures.
Uncle, you mellow my mind with your knowledge. Amendments made. Cheers
Morris grille on that 1100 not that it makes any difference they do handle and ride well though a contemporary advertisement showing one bounding over paddocks sitting nice and level reputedly wrecked seven during filming, Fruitpicking friends of mine drove an identical car for five years all over Aussie, I found and fitted another engine/gbox for them in 85 the car was rust free and comfortable to ride in.
The 1100 as sold in Australia was always a Morris, like all 1800s were Austins here – from the early sixties BMC didn’t go in for the ‘every badge on every car’ business here like they did in the UK. The 1100 shown is wearing later 1500 vented wheels, so we could suspect a few mods under the hood. I have fond memories of that flat cornering as well.
A great assortment which brings back quite a few memories. Love the Ford special.
Gentlemen, thank you for the correction. Amended
Having grown up in NZ in the 60’s and 70’s British cars were everywhere – mostly gone now of course. My family had quite a variety (some of which are shown above) Mk1 Zephyr 6, Humber Hawk (like the one attached to Oldcarguy’s post), Morris 1100, Austin 1800, Mk2 Cortina (several) Mk3 Cortina, Morris Oxford (the Pininfarina shape with low fins and four-on-the-floor), Austin A40 Farina, Mini Cooper (998) – all I can remember for now.
Great shots. Those Vauxhalls were also very common in Canada in the late 50’s & early 60’s, but seemed to disappear (disintegrate?) quickly.
Love the Rover P5B, one of my all time favourite designs. Is it possible this is the first one to be captured on CC? Such a solid, elegant looking car. These were used as official cars by British PM’s in the 1960’s & 70’s. Even the Queen owned one. I doubt she had a Vauxhall.
You sure about that last statement?
OMG. I stand (very humbly) corrected.
I’m sorry your Maj! But at least it’s a Cresta. 🙂
Owning one of these would fulfill a long standing dream of mine; especially the Mk 1’s with the three piece rear windscreen. Still, my model is a nice stand-in.
A few years ago, I found that bullnose Morris in an underground car park and couldn’t resist the urge to honk the brass horn.
hehehehehe
GREAT pictures ! .
.
I’ll take the Vauxhall please .
.
-Nate