MOTORING – 1955 STYLE
By Ellie Priestley |
13th May, 2020
As road traffic is now reduced to 1955 levels, here is a glimpse into a lost world. On 17th July, Stirling Moss won the British Grand Prix at Aintree - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEaKuvXOXAg - and by the end of the year, Christopher Cockerell patented his design for a new form of transport named the hovercraft. A home telephone was for just 14% of households. Long-distance calls required the assurance of the operator and London boasted a network of separate exchanges – ‘could I have WATerloo 7722 please?’. And making a call from a kiosk involved pressing “Button A”.
The average wage was £10 17s 5d per week, and your shopping basket might include the delights of Crosse & Blackwell “Beans in Tomato” at 10d per tin or Rich Tea biscuits at 11d for a small packet. Margarine was two shillings per pack, butter was 4s 1d per lb, and sugar 8d per pound. The latest food invention was from Birds Eye – fish fingers that were ‘easy to serve’ at just 2/8d. All these goods would probably have been ordered from the local grocery shop as supermarkets were still a novelty in most towns.
1955 was a time when an evening at the cinema might have included The Ladykillers supported by a Scotland Yard B-film, the newsreel and the travelogue. You might also have thrilled to The Quatermass X-Periment - arguably the first “Hammer Horror” film. Radio was still a more popular broadcast medium than TV. If you were fortunate to own a set, some of the best-known television programmes were Fabian of The Yard and Dixon of Dock Green. The BBC gave a former dance band musician (and milkman) from Southampton his first major TV show – The Benny Hill Show. ITV commenced broadcasting on 22nd September and viewers in London were able to experience Britain’s first-ever TV commercial – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucrqRsrNKW8.
Meanwhile, Teddy Boys roamed the streets, exuding menace, depravity and several gallons of Brylcreem - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0RabjGfG3Y. The first Wimpy Bar had opened in the previous year while roadside dining often involved the sort of café featured in Hell Drivers. For those considering a jaunt along the A32 petrol cost 4s 6d per gallon, served by a white-coated attendant. The MOT Test still lay five years in the future but if your car failed to proceed, AA and RAC members were at least guaranteed a salute.
As for those fortunate enough to afford a new model, a heater and windscreen washers were still optional extras on many popular cars. Starting handle brackets were still the exception rather than the rule, and radiator blinds were very popular aftermarket accessories for the winter months. Morris and Wolseley cars still favoured trafficators instead of those new-fangled flashing indicators, and the driving test included hand-signals. The Ford Popular 103E was Britain’s cheapest “full-size” car at £390; a second wiper and a boot floor (!) were optional extras. Seat belts would not be standard fitting on a British car until the 1960 Jensen 541S.
For the keen driver, the highlight of the year was the London Motor Show; the 1955 event played host to the latest MGA, Jaguar 2.4 saloon, Fiat 600, Standard Vanguard Phase III, Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud and Triumph TR3. Thousands of visitors to Earls Court also marvelled at a rather incredible new model from Citroën. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYCnb4qVbuk. And as for one of my favourite motoring moments of 1955; the promotion of the Ford Escort and Squire 100E. According to this thrilling short film, they were the ideal cars for all pipe-smokers – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmGpMqHfXik
Why choose Lancaster Insurance?
Here at Lancaster, we love classic cars as much as you do and we understand what it takes to protect them for future generations.
We have links with some of the top classic car clubs around the country and some of our policies even offer discounts of up to 25% for club members.
Other benefits of classic car insurance through Lancaster can include:
- Historic rally cover
- Static show cover
- Limit mileage discounts
- Choice of repairer
- 24-hour claims helpline
Give your classic the protection it deserves and get a quote for your classic today.
Share this story, choose your platform
