THE WAY WE WERE
We’re on a historic thoroughfare this week, with big sellers squeezing into every available parking space
It’s morning shopping in the Northamptonshire town, with a Morris Mini Traveller or Austin Mini Countryman – sans decorative woodwork – and a Triumph 1300 nearest the camera. The latter debuted in 1965 as Canley’s first FWD car. The following line includes a Mini saloon and a Thames 300E van, the light commercial version of Ford’s 100E Anglia/Prefect range.
One space along we see an early example of Reliant’s ground-breaking Regal 3/25 three-wheeler. A Singer Gazelle ‘Audax’, with a distinctive side flash, is in the next row.
Chance places two rivals in the following line. The Cortina MkII dates from 1967, when it defeated the BMC ADO16 to become the UK’s most popular new car with sales of 165,123 and 15 per cent of the market. To its right is an Arrow-series Singer Vogue, the Hillman Hunter’s upmarket stablemate. Both the Ford and the Rootes Group products made their debuts at the 1966 London Motor Show, promising the nation’s commuters a touch of ‘Swinging London’ at a reasonable price.
To the Cortina’s left is what seems to be a British Motor Corporation ‘Big Farina’ in Austin Westminster guise; and just visible behind the Singer is the then-ubiquitous BLMC ADO16. This example appears to be a MkII version in either Morris or Austin form; the 1962-67 MkI was only available as a four-door in the home market. However the 1100/1300 range had resumed its place as the nation’s favourite car by 1968.
Alongside the ADO16 is a Viva HA, which Vauxhall promoted on its 1963 debut as having a ‘big, square, deep boot for Man’s shopping’. However, the brochure also asked: ‘Did Woman have the first as well as the last word about the design of this spacious, vivacious Vauxhall?’ Finally, just behind the Viva, we see a 307E 5 cwt Van, the 300E’s successor, apparently making a delivery. Judging by the indicator/sidelight units this example pre-dates March 1965 when Ford GB dispensed with the ‘Thames’ badge on its commercial vehicles. Alternatively the 307E driver has just remembered to buy their Embassy Gold fags (3/10d for 20) at the Towcester Cafe.
To the rear of the 307E is a Fordson Thames ET belonging to Tom Butler of Rushden – ‘the country’s leading flower hire service’. Production ended in 1957 but such wagons remained fairly common sights in 1969. Further up the street appears to be a Singer Chamois (note the fake radiator grille); and a recently launched Ford Escort is heading towards the camera. Perhaps the driver is a commercial traveller off to celebrate a successful visit to The Plessey Co Ltd with lunch at the
