The Way We Were
May 1976, Edinburgh
‘The A10 Carina may have been one of the first Japanese saloons to be seen by many’
Avery pleasant spring vista, and one dominated by Leyland Atlanteans and PD3s with Alexander coachwork of Lothian Region Transport. Aside from those fine double-decker buses, the first vehicle to attract your attention is the yellow van signalling a right turn. The Commer PB was once almost as familiar as a Ford Transit or Bedford CF. Its basic design dated back to 1960, but the GPO was such a major user of the Commer that production lasted until 1982. The Golden Yellow paint finish on this example makes us wonder if it was an ex-Post Office vehicle. 1976 was the last year that the Commer name would feature on a new vehicle as Chrysler was to then brand its light commercials as ‘Dodge’.
To the right, we have a firstgeneration Fiat 127, which was initially available as a two-door from 1971, followed by the hatchback variant the following year. This particular Fiat would have cost £918.69 when it was new in 1973 – a very reasonable sum for Car of the Year 1972, and for anyone considering trading up from their Mini 1000. This one might be one of the De Luxe models, with decadent reclining front seats as standard.
Nearest the kerb is an equally desirable 1970 Sunbeam Stiletto, which was possibly the zenith of the Imp range. The combination of the 875cc OHC aluminium engine with twin Stromberg 125CD carburettors, fastback styling, twin headlamps (‘to bring a little light in your life’ according to the adverts) made for a veritable Cooper rival. The Stiletto had been out of production for three years when this photo was taken, but we are still willing to bet that its driver was determined to be first away from the lights.
The Commer PB’s bulk obscures some of the cars to its rear, although the bronze saloon certainly looks like a Chrysler 2-Litre, the Coventry-styled and Spanish-built prestige saloon that largely failed to appeal to Ford Granada owners, despite its automatic transmission and vinyl roof. The white van towards the rear of the frame is instantly recognisable as another form of Commer; the Walk-Thru. This extremely versatile machine could be seen delivering bread, parcels, laundry and – especially in rural areas – serving as a mobile shop from its launch in 1961 to well into the 1980s.
The Fiat 127 is in front of what appears to be a Ford Escort 1300E MkI, with a floor, to quote the dealers’ training film, that was ‘covered in rich cut-pile carpet’. Then we have a Morris Marina, a car with remarkable staying power for what was originally a stop-gap offering. BL’s plan was that the Morris that represented ‘Beauty with brains behind it’ would be succeeded by a new model by the mid-1970s, but the concept would endure until 1984. We cannot see the bonnet of the Leyland van, but it looks more like a post-1974 Sherpa than the earlier J4 – note that the wipers are not mounted above the windscreen. Trailing into the distance is a Cortina MkII, while a white VW Beetle cuts across the path of a camper van. Meanwhile, an Atlantean is pulling away from the kerb, narrowly missing a Rover P6 2000 in the process.
Someone is learning to drive in an orange Marina estate on the opposite side of the road. On the face of it, this seems an unusual choice of L-car, but it did have very predictable road manners to assist the novice motorist. The saloon with the distinctive tail lights in front is an A10-series Toyota Carina, which may well have been one of the first Japanese saloons to be seen by many Edinburgh residents in this picture.
There is still time to mention two key cars before we take our leave of this bustling scene. Following the bus advertising Tennent’s Lager is a Hillman Hunter and, to its left, a two-tone Hillman Imp. The last example left the factory in Linwood in March 1976 and Chrysler UK would discontinue the Hillman name six months later.
This shot may capture a seemingly placid late spring afternoon, but it was a time of seismic change within the British motor industry.