Factoid Extra: Laurel resting could describe this 1962 ad & while it was ‘Britain’s most successful car’ in numbers built a 2nd million was never reached & there were several European cars that exceeded its performance… Neil Briscoe Stuart M Bird Darragh McKenna 🌐 Leo Nulty Steve Cropley

Factoid Extra: 1963, Fiat trio (the 500D is a personal highlight) & a reminder the firm was very much on a roll in the early ‘60s that would see them challenge VW as Europe’s biggest car firm by the end of the decade… Neil Briscoe Stuart M Bird Darragh McKenna 🌐 Leo Nulty Steve Cropley

Factoid Extra: Early ‘60’s car & typically early ‘60’s advertising & copy; the Simca 1000 was described in breathless terms though ‘cat-footed cornering’ is both a high point & open to Q… Neil Briscoe Stuart M Bird Darragh McKenna 🌐 Leo Nulty Steve Cropley

Factoid Extra: Tartan Red was the vibrant colour & here’s a v informative ad to let you & car buyers know all the new features on the Mk.II A40 Farina which ranged from suspension changes to self-cancelling indicators… Neil Briscoe Stuart M Bird Darragh McKenna 🌐 Leo Nulty Steve Cropley

Factoid Extra: This ad also shows the risks of how style can be also be good way to make a car obsolete overnight though Rootes did try to savage matters with the restyled Mark III in 1964… Neil Briscoe Stuart M Bird Darragh McKenna 🌐 Leo Nulty Steve Cropley

Factoid Extra: Best looking Japanese saloon of the ‘60s? Indeed, you’d might good further than that. It’s the 1st-gen Mazda 1500, & those sharp, handsome lines were penned by Giugiaro while at Bertone… Neil Briscoe Stuart M Bird Darragh McKenna 🌐 Leo Nulty Steve Cropley

Factoid Extra: Tempting though the 1st road test of the Hillman Hunter was, it played 2nd fiddle to that year’s Monte which saw the Mini Cooper S make it 3 for a final & rather satisfying victory… Neil Briscoe Stuart M Bird Darragh McKenna 🌐 Leo Nulty Steve Cropley

Factoid Extra: Interesting to note (well, to me) is the fact that Luce 1500 wasn’t the 1st Italian-designed Mazda as in 1963 the 1st Familia or 1000 appeared which was also penned by Giugiaro while at Bertone… Neil Briscoe Stuart M Bird Darragh McKenna 🌐 Leo Nulty Steve Cropley

Factoid Extra: You can always tell when a car ad is pitched to enthusiasts like this 1963 UK Alfa one which makes you want to ‘take a long, fast, simulating test drive’ or just savour the great, evocative copy… Neil Briscoe Stuart M Bird Darragh McKenna 🌐 Leo Nulty Steve Cropley

Factoid Extra: Amid all the interest in the latest Renault 5 based on the classic original, a reminder the R5’s replacement, the Superfive or Supercinq, as it was called at launch, was revealed 40yrs ago this wk. Neil Briscoe Stuart M Bird Darragh McKenna 🌐 Leo Nulty Steve Cropley

Factoid Extra: The Mk.II Sprite had introduced a body style that spawned the MG Midget (in Jun 1961) though it still had the Frogeye’s 948cc engine. In Oct 1962 they both got the larger 1,098cc unit & front disc brakes… Neil Briscoe Stuart M Bird Darragh McKenna 🌐 Leo Nulty Steve Cropley

Factoid Extra: And by 1967 it was the UK’s best selling small RWD family saloon. Indeed the HB Viva would enjoy popularity that for Vauxhall would only be exceeded by the Mk2 Cavalier in the ‘80s… Neil Briscoe Stuart M Bird Darragh McKenna 🌐 Leo Nulty Steve Cropley

Factoid Extra: As cars go, the Superfive faced a tough job replacing its illustrious predecessor not least in France where the R5 had been the long-time best seller taking at times up to 16% of the entire market… Neil Briscoe Stuart M Bird Darragh McKenna 🌐 Leo Nulty Steve Cropley

Factoid Extra: With the Mk1 Escort creating a new challenge for the HB Viva, Vauxhall introduced a 4dr version in time for the 1968 London Motor Show though the adv was brief as the 4dr Escort followed during 1969… Neil Briscoe Stuart M Bird Darragh McKenna 🌐 Leo Nulty Steve Cropley

Factoid Extra: Two new Zephyrs, one replacing the previous Consul, the Mk3 Zephyrs were the high point of the large British Fords & with the Zodiac stablemate they were the early ‘60s large car of choice for UK families… Neil Briscoe Stuart M Bird Darragh McKenna 🌐 Leo Nulty Steve Cropley

Factoid Extra: Datsun 1974, a full range of cars (including a FWD car) competing in myriad sectors & a reminder that following their sales doubling the previous yr (from 30 to 60k) they became the UK’s biggest importer… Neil Briscoe Stuart M Bird Darragh McKenna 🌐 Leo Nulty Steve Cropley

Factoid Extra: Turin ‘64 & while the 850 had been revealed earlier in May it didn’t stop Fiat giving it the kind of inventive display that made motor shows must-visit events for millions of people in countless cities… Neil Briscoe Stuart M Bird Darragh McKenna 🌐 Leo Nulty Steve Cropley