The Way We Were 1962, Southwark Bridge, London
Traffic chaos south of the Thames, people arriving late for work and cars parked at random; it certainly was a Monday morning to forget…
‘The 103E’s lines are so pre-war that it’s hard to believe that production only ended in 1959’
What is the main topic of conversation between those two distinguishedlooking gentlemen? The decline in standards of behaviour? The pernicious influence of Trad Jazz on the nation’s youth? Most probably it is the impact of the one-day unofficial Tube strike on the capital and how those responsible should be obliged to undertake ten years of National Service. As can be seen here, the dispute certainly impacted on London’s roads as a Morris Minor, an Austin A55 Cambridge MkII and a Type A Bedford head over Southwark Bridge. Incredibly, many a rural garage used the last-named vehicle well into the Eighties.
The RT-series Number 95 en route to Streatham displays advertisements for one of the best films to star Peter Sellers, while the P4 was the epitome of taste, decency and, for chaps, raising one’s hat in public. Just visible behind the mighty Rover is a Ford Zephyr MkII, followed by a BMC ‘Big Farina’ and the second example of its fourcylinder stablemate, the A55 MkII.
To the rear of the Austin are two popular cars from the previous decade in the forms of an Austin A70 Hereford and a Ford Anglia 100E. Their looks and ethos pre-date the ‘Motorway Age’, but they still offered reliable transport and were easy to service by a home mechanic in his/ her lean-to shed.
As for the Ford Thames 400E and the early Bedford CA (note the split windscreen) towards the rear of the traffic stream, you can imagine their respective drivers uttering oaths in Fred Griffiths/Sam Kydd accents regarding their delivery schedules. Perhaps it is safer to retreat to the pavement and parked on the left is a Mini Van and the unmistakable profile of a Wolseley 1500.
On the opposite side of the road is a Ford with such pre-war lines that it is hard to believe that production only ceased in 1959. At least the owner of this Popular 103E has thrown caution to the wind and specified the optional second windscreen wiper.
The Volkswagen Beetle is a reminder that 1962 was a time when imported models would often receive a second glance as ‘one of those foreign cars’ while the Zephyr-Zodiac MkI hailed from the recent past of spivs dancing to Ken Mackintosh & His Orchestra playing The Creep at the Hammersmith Palais. Beyond the Zodiac is one of
Dagenham’s ‘Three Graces’ in what looks like Consul MkII ‘Lowline’ form and a Mini – sales of which would pass the half-million mark by December of that year.
Heading away from the camera, we encounter yet another BMC 1.5-litre Farina and a pair of
E- Series Vauxhalls with their rather attractive ’49 Chevy styling; the model in front has the silver bonnet flutes of the six-cylinder Velox.
After these two redoubtable Luton products is the majesty that is the Wolseley 6/99 and a more recent Luton product, the Victor F-type. As a further example of how Longbridge cars seem to be dominating this photo, there is another ‘Counties’ Austin – an A70 Hereford judging by its width.
Indeed, this entire scene is a virtual car show writ large, from the Riley RM, the Standard Vanguard, the BMC LD van and the Sunbeam Rapier coupé at the rear of the frame to the Mini’s very period accessory of a ‘Gnomist’ panel on the back window.
Perhaps the most telling detail is the BMW Isetta that may be glimpsed following the Bedford CA. The age of the bubble car, along with National Service and the Teddy Boy, was already on the verge of passing. Issigonis designs were now being adopted by the ‘smart set’ while a certain Liverpool beat combo was making concerted efforts at a record contract.
The 1960s were about to commence – we dread to think how that pair of stalwart gentlemen would react to this era.