Motoring in the early 1950s
VEHICLES OF THE 50’S
with David Brown
While the motor industry struggled to get going again post-WW2, it was the early 1950s when motoring was really re-established. Petrol rationing, introduced in September 1939, finished in 1950 – celebrated with long queues at petrol stations – but was back for a spell later in the decade when Nasser nationalised the Suez Canal. Road standards generally were improving and there was talk of motorways, but these took longer to be established. Many people drove second-hand pre-war cars such as Ford’s first Dagenham-designed model the Model Y, introduced in 1932. Before that Ford had built British versions of American vehicles at Trafford Park, Manchester. Other small family favourites included the Morris Eight Series E and Ten Series M, produced 1938-48, likewise the Standard Eights. There was a degree of making do with what was available, but there was room for improvement.
The Morris Minor Traveller estate car with structural wood framing – ideal for travelling salesmen but also great for going on picnics!
The Morris Minor
Car companies were not modest about their vehicles as with this advert from Morris for ‘The World’s Supreme Small Car’.
The original Minor MM Saloon and Tourer models were produced between 1948 and 1953, joined by the Series II 195256, then followed in 1953 by the Traveller, featuring its ash framework. The Series II vehicles had an 803cc engine and the Minor 1000 upgrade (1956-62), with a 948cc engine, was an improvement. The old-fashioned semaphore trafficator arms were replaced by flashing indicators from late 1961. The Morris Minor still has a strong following until this day with an enthusiastic owners’ group very active in the Peterborough area. Former ‘Jimmy Deeping’ resident Russ Smith ran a 1952 MM for a number of years. Russ, who now lives near Cambridge, subsequently sold this but recently fell for the charms of a 1954 saloon.
Austin A30 First shown to critical acclaim at the 1951 Earls Court Motor Show, Austin’s A30 was promoted as the ‘New Austin Seven’, replacing the old square styling of the long-in-the-tooth ‘7’ with stylish curves and a new combined body structure. Goodbye to the old Austin 7 – here’s the familyfriendly A30 saloon.
It was intended to take on the popularity of the Morris Minor and undercut the latter’s price. Introduced as a four-door model saloon, a twodoor saloon followed the next year, followed by a van and ‘Countryman’ estate in 1954. The A30 was replaced by the A35 in 1956 which had a bigger engine, larger rear windows and contemporary indicators replacing the original trafficators.
The home market for the Austin A30 is promoted in this period publicity shot.
Both the A30s and A35s continue to have a following among classic car enthusiasts, including a passion for souped-up versions for historic motor sport events.
Your writer’s first car in the late 1970s was a later 1950s model Minor 1000, with single-panel windscreen – sadly all that remains of this car is its original front registration plate displayed on the kitchen wall! continued >
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