Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.
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Ellis
Joined: 07 Mar 2011 Posts: 1382 Location: Betws y Coed, North Wales
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Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2011 7:05 pm Post subject: 1960s Vauxhalls |
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I thought you may be interested in photos of the two Vauxhalls which my late father owned in the 1960s .
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This photo was taken in June 1962 when the car was brand new. It was a FB Victor Delux in two tone blue - light blue roof and darker blue body - registration number LCC 372. It had a four speed floor gearchange and individual front seats and had been bought from Chester Engineering in Colwyn Bay. Chester engineering was owned by Braid Brothers which is still in existence today but now called Lookers.
The angelic looking child holding a Dandy comic is yours truly. Looks are deceiving, believe me.
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This view shows the same car twelve months later on a beach somewhere in North Wales. I did not remember until I rediscovered the photo that the number plate was mounted above the front bumper. Have a close look at the rear window and you will see one of the then "clear window" oval stick on accessories you could the buy to maintain a clear, unfogged area.
Before you move on to the next photo, can any of you identify any of the vehicles on the background beach despite the rather poor depth of field,
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The above two pictures show the Victor's replacement, a later 1962 Vauxhall Velox LCC 648. IIRC my father bought it in July 1963 when it only had a tiny mileage, under 4k. This was the same main colour blue as the Victor and was of the last derivatives of the PA Cresta/Velox with the smaller rear lights and less chrome. This one had a three speed column change and even had a Vauxhall push button radio.
I recall it was far more comfortable than the Victor and the three colour strip speedo used to fascinate me - green to orange then red after 60mph.
In March 1965 my father decided to change the Velox and I remember going to Chester Engineering to have a look at the PB version which was the latest model from late 1963. I was not impressed with the "new" model even then nor were my parents and the Velox's replacement was a new Volvo 121 4 door in a dark blue colour.
The Velox was the last Vauxhall my family owned in the 1960s but had I have had my way it would not have been. I tried and tried to interest my father in a new Vauxhall Ventora in 1968 but, no, he had set his sights on a Rover 2000......... _________________ Starting Handle Expert
1964 Jaguar Mark 2 3.4 litre
1962 Land Rover Series 2a 88"
2002 BMW M3 E46 Cabriolet
Last edited by Ellis on Thu Aug 25, 2011 7:24 pm; edited 3 times in total |
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Rick Site Admin
Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22477 Location: UK
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peter scott
Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 7126 Location: Edinburgh
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Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2011 8:00 pm Post subject: Re: 1960s Vauxhalls |
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EWG wrote: |
Before you move on to the next photo, can any of you identify any of the vehicles on the background beach despite the rather poor depth of field,
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Nice old photos EWG.
Not sure about the cars in the background but for the three in the front row to the left my guess would be:
Standard 10, Austin Somerset, Farina Cambridge
On the right a Bedford Dormobile with sun visor
Can you remember?
Or do you know?
Peter _________________ http://www.nostalgiatech.co.uk
1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon |
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Ellis
Joined: 07 Mar 2011 Posts: 1382 Location: Betws y Coed, North Wales
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Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2011 9:08 pm Post subject: Re: 1960s Vauxhalls |
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peter scott wrote: |
Can you remember?
Or do you know?
Peter |
I am sorry Peter but I have no recollection of the day at all. I showed the photo to my mother earlier today and she remembers the location as being Black Rock Sands near Porthmadog. There is one further photo of the occasion which shows a glimpse of a two tone PA Cresta to the right of the Victor.
Ellis _________________ Starting Handle Expert
1964 Jaguar Mark 2 3.4 litre
1962 Land Rover Series 2a 88"
2002 BMW M3 E46 Cabriolet |
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peter scott
Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 7126 Location: Edinburgh
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Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2011 8:10 am Post subject: |
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Hi Ellis,
Now that you mention it that could be a PA Cresta between what I think is a Dormobile and your Victor.
Peter _________________ http://www.nostalgiatech.co.uk
1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon |
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Ellis
Joined: 07 Mar 2011 Posts: 1382 Location: Betws y Coed, North Wales
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Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2011 10:39 am Post subject: |
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I had another look at these photos this morning and one thing has just occurred to me - the registration number letters and figures appear to me to be 3 1/2 inches tall rather than 3 1/4 that they should be for 1962.
Both Vauxhalls were sold from the same dealership. _________________ Starting Handle Expert
1964 Jaguar Mark 2 3.4 litre
1962 Land Rover Series 2a 88"
2002 BMW M3 E46 Cabriolet |
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Penman
Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 4766 Location: Swindon, Wilts.
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Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2011 4:15 pm Post subject: |
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Hi
Surely the smaller font only came in for the year digit plates.
I know the DSA kept both reading distances as standards for the driving test long after the first A regs in '63 the whole country didn't switch until '65 C reg.
Oddly enough with the last change to the AB 01 XYZ format they now don't actually know whic distance to use because a replacement A123XYZ plate would be done in the newer smaller font, so they currently only use the distance appropriate to the latest standard; though there is a proposal to reduce even this distance in order to bring our already poor eyesight standard down to that of the rest of the EU _________________ Bristols should always come in pairs.
Any 2 from:-
Straight 6
V8 V10 |
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Ellis
Joined: 07 Mar 2011 Posts: 1382 Location: Betws y Coed, North Wales
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Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2011 9:14 pm Post subject: |
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Penman wrote: | Hi
Surely the smaller font only came in for the year digit plates.
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Could well be but I have the original number plates for my Jaguar Mark 2 - OJC 431 - which was registered in January 1964 and the letters and numbers are 3 1/4 inch high.
The original plates from my September 1962 Series 2a Land Rover was 4225 UN before this mark was transferred off by the previous owner and the figures were also 3 1/4 inch.
All plates until the end of the 1950s had 3 1/2 inch figures and letters I believe. _________________ Starting Handle Expert
1964 Jaguar Mark 2 3.4 litre
1962 Land Rover Series 2a 88"
2002 BMW M3 E46 Cabriolet |
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