The Holden HQ SS came out in 1972 and was basically a Belmont in fancy garb, and even fancier colours – They had very seventies names like Infra Red, Ultra Violet and … Lettuce Alone for green. Lettuce Alone? Only the SS had these colours and they sold like hot cakes.
The Volkswagen Type 2 was introduced in 1950 by Volkswagen as its second model following Type 1, the Beetle. The Type 2 went on to become the best selling van in history.
Known officially and unofficially as the Transporter, the Kombi (or Combi), Microbus, Split screen (or the Splittie) the Bus (in the US), Camper (in the UK) and Pão de Forma (in Portugal, meaning ‘Loaf of Bread’).
It was eventually adopted by the 1960’s counter culture, seen as something rebellious, not the conventional sedan choice of the ‘Squares’, and became affectionately known as the Hippie van – well suited to surfie road trips, ‘no fixed address’ accomodation and groupies following the Grateful Dead on tour.
By the 1980’s the Kombi became the wheels of choice for thousands of Aussies and Kiwis on their Great (OE) European Tour.
The seventh generation Eldorado was radically redesigned in 1967, becoming the brand’s first entry to the era’s burgeoning personal luxury car market. Promoted as a ‘personal’ Cadillac, it shared the E-body with the Buick Riviera and Oldsmobile Toronado. The ride and handling were widely praised and this generation Eldorado helped take Cadillac to its best sales years ever.
Just a few of the great cars made in Britain – Ford Anglia, Prefect, Zephyr and Cortina, Morris, Austin, Riley and Vauxhall and the mighty Land Rover.
The Ford Thunderbird started production late 1954 for a 1955 launch. Ford executives and designers had been toying with a ‘European’ style model for the Ford line-up for some time. To a degree the Thunderbird was also a response to Chevrolet’s new Corvette, but Ford positioned the T bird, not as a sports car, but a personal luxury car (and in the process, created a new marketing segment). This meant a focus on luxury and comfort over speed and performance. The Thunderbird started life as a two seat convertible and got progressively bigger through the generations until the personal luxury car market collapsed in the late 1970s.
Between 1952 and 1972 Austin and Donald Healey Motors produced a series of sports cars, which have become highly collectible. After Donald Healey’s death in 1988 The Times observed: ‘The big Healey’s brutally firm ride, heavy steering and engine so close it would roast a driver’s feet never detracted from the superb, timeless styling and classic proportions.’ Don’t make ’em like that anymore.
In 1957 Vauxhall presented the all new Velox and Cresta models: to become known as the PA. They were highly desirable cars by the late 1970’s when we started buying up old cars as college kids, with our part-time jobs to finance it. The sought after cars back then were British and Australian, but the American influence didn’t go unnoticed with the wrap-around windscreen and small tail fins – just American enough, maybe. Vauxhall built these cars in our part of the world at plants throughout Australia, and the General Motors New Zealand plant in Petone, north of Wellington. Specially engineered versions of the Velox were built for use by the New Zealand Traffic Police, bless them.
Next one down is the Ford Prefect of the same era. These were assembled here in New Zealand as well and had a rare ‘factory fitted’ heater and plush carpet no less. Optional extras included windscreen washers, radio and leather upholstery to replace the standard PVC, such sophistication. In 1957 The Motor magazine tested a 100E and recorded a top speed of 71 mph (114 km/h) and acceleration from 0-60 mph (97 km/h) in 32.2 seconds.
Then down again to the Prefect’s cousin Anglia. A bit American as well with its sweeping nose line and fins at the back. Some have likened it to a mid-fifties Studebaker, in terms of styling influence anyway, or even the early Ford Thunderbird … hmmm. The Anglia sold quite well in Europe but Europe also had a variant called the Anglia Sportsman, which carried its spare tyre on the back, in the United States this was called the ‘continental kit’. Chrome bumper overriders, broad whitewall tyres, and optionally a side stripe kicking up at the end into the tail-lights/fin were also fitted. Those Europeans always were more stylish.
An HD Holden Special, stopping at the dairy for a Tip Top ice cream.
