The Way We Were Autumn 1985, Coventry

MARKET ROOF CAR PARK, COVENTRY

We go back in time to when lucky people could do their entire weekly ‘ big shop’ at this unique venue

Coventry’s Circular Market opened in 1958, making the proud, if rather niche claim to be Europe’s first circular indoor market. It’s 84 metres in diameter and has 160 stalls laid out in concentric rings. One thrillingly modern touch was the heated ramp to the car park designed to prevent icing. The Market became Grade II listed in 2009.

With so many cars present we’re going to restrict ourselves to the outer ring, nearest the camera. Let’s start with that white Marina on the left heading for the exit ramp, and move right from there.

We think that’s a Ford Orion, then a Mazda 323, a Honda Accord, an Austin Ambassador, a Vauxhall Cavalier MkII, a Ford Cortina MkIV or MkV, a Mini Metro, another square Cortina ( but this time an estate), an Escort MkI, another Mini Metro (this time with a Sundymtype roof ), a Fiesta MkI (wacky tartan seats – a Supersport maybe?), another Metro and then a Capri MkI, followed by a Talbot Solara.

To the right of the Solara is a Hillman Imp, a Morris Marina Coupé parked next to a Marina Estate (is that a painted roof or a large bit of vinyl?), a Talbot Samba, a Triumph Dolomite, then a Cortina MkV that, unlike all the other cars so far has opted to reverse park rather than drive into the space nose first.

Next to the Cortina is a Marina van, badged as either the Morris 440 or 575. It arrived in 1972 to replace the over-ripe Austin A60 and Minor commercials. With the Ital facelift it was still on sale in 1985 when this picture was taken. Death was imminent, though – the Maestro van soon took over.

There’s then another five-door Cavalier, a Lada 1300/1500, an Astra MkI, an exciting Austin 3-litre and we’ll finish on the white coupé, a Datsun Sunny B310 Fastback.

Ever wondered why car park spaces are barely large enough to fit an average car? When they were built, they could fit the largest executive saloons. Nowadays, even a midmarket family MPV is that size.

Similarly, if we take an overall view of the cars parked at Coventry’s Circular Market, there’s the odd older Mini and Volkswagen Beetle, a Reliant Scimitar or two and the inevitable MGB GT, of course, but otherwise not much that’s more than ten years old.

Then, as now, the majority of cars didn’t seem to live long lives.

RICH GRANNY We’re intrigued by this two-tone Granada MkI Coupé. It’s probably a 3.0 Ghia, but even so we haven’t seen another with paint quite like it. CLOSE BUT NO CIGAR This Marina is at least seven years old, with the model bowing out in 1978. Although it failed to live up to expectations of being a Cortina-beater, plenty of families loved how easy they were to live with.

LONG-LIVED MINI The Mini celebrated its 25th anniversary with a special edition based on the Mayfair the year before this photo was taken. A resurgence in interest in the 1990s would culminate in the Mini 40 of 1999. MISSED OPPORTUNITY With a better selection of engines (beyond the fourpot OHV 1.3- and 1.6-litres) the Solara might have been a hit with the UK fleet market. New owner Peugeot wasn’t interested, though…