Factoid: While the Herald saloon was dropped in Dec 1970, the convertible & estate lasted into 1971, with the final car, a convertible, built on May 21st.
This is a late one (from Apr 1971) though the Wedgwood Blue shade (a long time Triumph colour) makes it seem a lot older…
(📸: IG a/c jagalfa)
Factoid: The neatly designed wooden dashboard of the Triumph Herald 13/60 was a world away from the plastic affairs of some contemporaries as well as being a dramatic contrast from the fibreboard set-up of the original Herald from 1959…
(📸: IG a/c jagalfa)
Factoid: A Kadett GT/E is in there somewhere & D.O.T. (Dealer Team Opel) were rightly proud of its 100% record to take 1978’s Group One title of the British Open Rally Championship with the great Brian Culcheth.
The best ads are always the simplest - such as this 1979 one…
Old-school humour to sell modern car tyres (not that I’m complaining though the humour has lasted better than the car)…
Factoid: The Fiat 127, one of the great ‘70s superminis but we forget it was originally launched as a 2dr saloon in April 1971.
The better known 3dr version arrived in March 1972 a few months after that other great ‘70s supermini, the Renault 5, appeared…
Factoid: A casual glance might suggest a Fiat 124 but that comprehensive toolkit is your easy reminder it could only be a Lada…
(📸: Motor)
Factoid: The 131 had already replaced the 124 when this ad appeared, but frankly the car’s life was only just beginning as noted by the nod to Lada…
Factoid: An example of how the Strada’s classic ‘Handbuilt by Robots’ TV ad was translated into a press version & while both were examples of great creativity it didn’t necessarily translate into healthy UK sales…
Here’s another example of it & for a later version of the Fiesta Frascati though this time it was sold only in Wales & West Ford dealers (equating to the HTV Wales & West broadcast region)…(2)
youtu.be/L5FldRcQ9Ck?...
Factoid: We’re all familiar with Ford limited editions but this Mk3 Fiesta Frascati is noteworthy as it’s an example of a regional dealer special that were sold in the old ITV TV regions…(1)
(📸:IG a/c jasonawheel)
Factoid: The overriders tell you it’s a fancy MkV Cortina & the 2.3 GL badge confirms it though the overriders would be offered as std on all GL models from 1981 onwards…
(📸:IG a/c jagalfa)
Factoid: The Cinqucento Sporting was one of cheapest ways to attain motoring fun in the mid-late ‘90’s tks to its peppy 1.1-litre Fire engine from the Punto 55, some clever suspension tweaks & grippy Pirelli P700-Z tyres complemented with attractive alloys.
Brilliant ads played their part too…
Factoid: No prizes for guessing this car’s interior, but a reminder of one of the 504’s earlier steering wheels plus its column change that you couldn’t get in RHD cars but still appeared in this 1970 English language brochure…
(There’s also the ‘umbrella’ handbrake which Peugeot geeks will note)
Factoid: Did you know the Zodiac Mark III used ‘the largest single piece of brightened & anodised aluminium ever fitted to any European car’ up to that point?
Well, rest easy, now you do…
Factoid: The Fuego’s dramatic looks were rightly praised not least for its aerodynamic ability.
It made the Capri look particularly old though fans of that will quickly note the Fuego never got an injected 2.8 V6.
Factoid: Obscurity Corner time & it’s the federal version of the Vantage Volante.
Just 58 of these were built btwn 1987-89 & featured a 5.3-litre, electronic fuel injection engine plus these rather unflattering bumpers…
Factoid: The Mondeo might’ve been facelifted in Oct 1996, but the Verona reappeared in 1997 & became a semi-permanent part of the range.
Note ref to Ford’s UK market leadership anniversary though they became UK car market leaders in 1977 so this might mean overall UK sales figures (cars & vans)…
Me too, remember watching it back in 1993.
I also remember Classic Cars Magazine had a video as well the same year to mark their 20th anniversary though you had to send away for that.
www.pigeonhousebooks.com/products/the...
You can see it here & much more in this promo for the car presented by Jackie Stewart who played an important role in the car’s development.
Ralph Morton then editor of @whatcar.bsky.social is at the start as they gave a tape of the promo away with one of their issues…(2)
youtu.be/I4fIJgSqA0I?...
Factoid: Nobody needs reminding this is the interior of the Mk1 Ford Mondeo & frankly looks rather well for something dating from 33yrs ago but how many remember the pen holder located to the right of the handbrake for LHD cars or to the left of the handbrake on RHD cars? (1)
(📸: IG a/c plankhond)
Factoid: Did you know that in 2002 when MG Rover announced a long wheelbase version of the car (reviving the Vanden Plas name), MacNeillie were tasked with doing the converting.
It’s all here in this typically informative & fascinating story on AROnline…
share.google/k54UpbsaNOkP...
Factoid: A mate messaged me today with news of a car he now has…
Yes, that’s right, it’s a MacNeillie Regency.
Yes, it needs work (& a tyre pump up), but let’s face it, it looks pretty cool for a start…
One for @smithandsniff.bsky.social, I feel…
Factoid: Speedwell were famous as Mini tuners during the ‘60s, but they looked at other BMC cars like the Austin 1100 to create not only a hot version of that car, but the 1st Austin 1300 GT over 3yrs before BL did.
Football fandom is powerful & it makes you wonder if other such cars were created by enterprising dealers?
Here’s some info on that Beetle from the great website ‘SE Beetles’.
No idea on numbers, but you could get the car in 1200 & 1300 form. (2)
sebeetles.com/1974-magpie-...
Factoid: Liverpool might’ve beaten Newcastle U in the 1974 FA Cup final but in the match of the highway VW did as Whitley Bay dealer Colebrook & Burgess created the ‘Magpie Beetle’ & props to them for the idea…(1)
(📸: Motor)
Factoid: Fancy a Beetle in ‘JPS’ Black & Gold?
Well in Feb 1974 VW dealer Goodliffe Garages in South Croydon offered a limited edition in 1302 & 1303 versions with a factory sunroof & that mark of early ‘70s cool - Wolfrace mags…
(📸: Motor)
Factoid: The future 51 years ago…
Ok, perhaps something of an overstatement, but the CX in 1974 was a fair approximation of what cars would look like in the 21st century - outside AND inside (the latter showing controls modern car designers could learn from)…
(📸: IG a/c finecarbrochures)
There’s artistic license & then there’s this…
Factoid: Personally, I always preferred the saloon to the liftback but it’s a handy reminder not just of the superb Mk1 Primera but also the ‘90s trend of manufacturers having memorable advertising slogans…