We’re traveling back to England in 1984. The first two pictures were taken in front of the Camden Road and the Blackhorse Road stations, while the third image was captured in a town called Crewkern.
What car(s) can you identify in the pictures below? What one would you most like to have in your garage?
Given the choice, we’d almost certainly pick the Fiat 500 that’s neatly parked in front of the Crewkern station.
mgb gt would be my pick.
Good pic, though I’m slightly surprised you didn’t go with the 500 as well given your interest in rear-engined cars.
it was my second choice, followed by the fiesta, R12 and 1204.
The R12 – I can’t remember the last time I saw one driving around (i.e. not at a car show or a junkyard). What a rare sight those have become.
Is that a gold Granada or a Cortina in front of the underground? Despite my Dad having a string of Granadas in the 70’s/80’s I still can’t tell those boxy shaped ones apart from the Cortinas of the same era.
I can’t believe how things have changed even since 1984. In fact I was quite shocked to see these pictures as it makes me feel really old now and to think that my wifes 30 year old Land Rover was only just rolling off the production line as a new car at the end of 1984.
It is odd how time distorts the memory because back in 1984 I was 16 years old, it was a glorious hot summer and I was taking my O levels. I remember a fantastic summer of wine making, model making (Tamiya 1/35th military stuff), water fights, adventure (first holdiay without parents) and dreaming about having my own car. I don’t remember the cars being that old fashioned though. Maybe I lived in a wealthy area but my memories of the mid 80’s was of mostly brand new cars including lots of sporty versions; my mum got a brand new MG montego in Arum white that year I believe. The cars in the pictures above seem almost from the 70’s. Maybe my mind is playing tricks on me!
Mud – it is a Granada at Blackhorse Road, without a doubt, and it would be one of my choices, given a 2.3 or 2.8 ltr. engine. I’d pick the FIAT 500 at Crewkerne, along with the mk2 Cortina next to it – I never came across a bad one, and they were great to drive. My other favourites are the Simca 1100 at Camden Road and the Commer van in front of it – a futuristic 1950s design that soldiered on into the early 80s, I believe. Rootes products of the time had a solid, quality feel to them, and this was no exception. I liked the big Humber engine which could wind this baby and its minibus-load of students up to 78mph, the handbrake lever on the right, set into the wheelarch, and the windscreen wipers emerging from the sun visor.