Half a century ago, but one of these vehicles survives
Tenterden, Kent, Spring 1971
These days, Austin-Healey ‘Frogeye’ Sprites are among the most cherished of all British classics, but back in 1971, they were just cheap and cheeky little secondhand sports cars, offering low budget fun. Fortunately though, despite the slightly down-at-heel appearance of the 11-year-old one here on Tenterden High Street – rusty body seams, tarnished chrome and a crooked overrider – somebody loved it enough to see it through its banger days. As, according to the DVLA database, 5038 NX is still on the road, hopefully looking better than it did half a century ago.
The same can’t be said of AKR 795B, the B-reg Bedford CA. Even for a van, it’s obviously had a hard seven years of life. The bodywork is battered, corrosion is blossoming, and it has lost one of its original back doors.
The older Lime Green Ford Zephyr 4 MkIII beyond it looks considerably better.
An Austin A40 Farina MkII is sandwiched between the Zephyr and another Ford, a comparatively new Capri. It’s sporting the R-Pack option of a matt black bonnet and spot/fog lamps. Behind it lurks a Mini.
Plying the High Street is a 1967 Ford Anglia 307E or 309E. It’s passing a Triumph 2000 MkI of the same year, with a Renault 16 flying the flag for France in the distance. On the far left, a Spruce Green 1966 Ford Cortina MkI estate is at rest, seemingly blocking an Austin 1800 ‘Landcrab’ MkI.
