And there's a '58 Pontiac beyond the '55. Very interesting - 6 vehicles, 5 out of 6 were GM, and 3 out of 6 were Pontiacs! Sure was a different world back in 1960...
Yes indeed, it was known as a Standard Vanguard Phase 3 (1955-58). The Standard name was phased out in favor of Triumph in the 50s. Before it was absorbed into British Leyland the company was known as Standard Triumph Ltd.
It does look like a scaled down American car. My first thought was that it was a Hudson Jet.
The phase III Standard Vanguard is quite rare here now, and when one turns up at a car show it is usually the later version - it was updated in about 1958 to become the 'Vignale Vanguard'. Quite a lot of these earlier ones - including the estate car version - were used by our Armed Forces, particularly the RAF. They seemed to have loads of them around airbases - an old colleague of mine who had served with the RAF in the early sixties said they taught him to drive on one, they used them as staff cars everywhere, and he reckoned they still had some in use as late as 1972 when he left.
Looks like a 1963 Pontiac Tempest next to a black Renault Dauphine next to a 1960 Mercury with a mangled bumper and what appears to be a 1956 Pontiac through the station wagon's windows.
The station wagon might be a 1961 Rambler Ambassador. Near the wagon's front and looks like what might be a 1962 Chevrolet Impala convertible next to a 1955 Chevrolet.
The car in the foreground appears to be a 1961 Chevrolet Biscayne four door sedan
Nice job Lemko, but look again at the '62 Impala. The top is too smooth and shiny for a ragtop, in fact I think it's one of those faux convertible roofs that were popular on GM cars in the early sixties.
Here's one that you can see the fake top bows on>
The phoney ragtops came with or without vinyl covering and could be in contrasting or matching colors. They quickly eclipsed the popularity of the bubble tops when they were introduced in 1962. My Mom liked them because she liked the convertible look but would never dream of subjecting her hair style to actual wind as in a convertible.
The station wagon might be a 1961 Rambler Ambassador.
The Rambler wagon is a Classic. No I'm not joking, that's the model. The 1961 Ambassador had one of the weirdest front ends ever, and that's saying something considering the 1961 Plymouth.
2009 BMW 335i, 2003 Corvette cnv. (RIP 2001 Jaguar XK8 cnv and 1985 MB 380SE [the best of the lot])
Next door neighbour had a late Series 3 Standard Vanguard station wagon when I was small. Light blue and white two tone finish and looked quite nice. The earlier models were remarkably ugly; see if you can find a photo of a Series 1 which was referred to as Beetle Backed.
The image here is of the Series 3 before the design was refreshed by Michelott, probably a 1958.
So just how far can a manufacturer spread a model; this one is the Mini Paceman, which is a 2 door, 4wd variant of the Mini Countryman with lowered suspension, etc.
Pug ugly, to my eyes, with apparent turned down limps like a.., well a pug really
Nobody's going to buy that clunker, especially not at that price point. With your pencil and the option checklist at hand, you can run a MINI up to scary levels of MSRP.
The ones that haven't been picked off yet: from right, '52-'53 Cadillac, the Ford Tudor, '56 Buick, the 1960 Valiant, '56 Chevy 210, '54 Chevy, '53 Ford, and the '57 Chevy already mentioned (ps: the model is a 110).
Now that pix and those cars are really kind of ugly both in looks and colors, don't you think? I guess it's apropos though since the early 70's is when Detroit seem to start sinking.
Comments
Very interesting - 6 vehicles, 5 out of 6 were GM, and 3 out of 6 were Pontiacs! Sure was a different world back in 1960...
Because Hybrid buyers want everyone to know they are saving the world. Driving a normal looking vehicle doesn't allow the smug to show.
BTW, I'm all for hybrid powertrains.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee L Limited Velvet Red over Wicker Beige
2024 Audi Q5 Premium Plus Daytona Gray over Beige
2017 BMW X1 Jet Black over Mocha
2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee L Limited Velvet Red over Wicker Beige
2024 Audi Q5 Premium Plus Daytona Gray over Beige
2017 BMW X1 Jet Black over Mocha
2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee L Limited Velvet Red over Wicker Beige
2024 Audi Q5 Premium Plus Daytona Gray over Beige
2017 BMW X1 Jet Black over Mocha
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
..and here's some brochure art for the same car>
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
Yes indeed, it was known as a Standard Vanguard Phase 3 (1955-58). The Standard name was phased out in favor of Triumph in the 50s. Before it was absorbed into British Leyland the company was known as Standard Triumph Ltd.
It does look like a scaled down American car. My first thought was that it was a Hudson Jet.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
Predecessor to the Cressida .. I'm guessing that the long hood holds an inline 6-cylinder engine.
Quite a lot of these earlier ones - including the estate car version - were used by our Armed Forces, particularly the RAF. They seemed to have loads of them around airbases - an old colleague of mine who had served with the RAF in the early sixties said they taught him to drive on one, they used them as staff cars everywhere, and he reckoned they still had some in use as late as 1972 when he left.
Yup, a 1972.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
{inspiration for the roof line, anyway}
Looks like a 1963 Pontiac Tempest next to a black Renault Dauphine next to a 1960 Mercury with a mangled bumper and what appears to be a 1956 Pontiac through the station wagon's windows.
The station wagon might be a 1961 Rambler Ambassador. Near the wagon's front and looks like what might be a 1962 Chevrolet Impala convertible next to a 1955 Chevrolet.
The car in the foreground appears to be a 1961 Chevrolet Biscayne four door sedan
Yup, a 1972.
I figured it was a Toyota since the C-pillar area looked an awful lot like the '73 Corona my folks owned when I was a kid.
Was that same root-beer brown color, too.
Here's one that you can see the fake top bows on>
The phoney ragtops came with or without vinyl covering and could be in contrasting or matching colors. They quickly eclipsed the popularity of the bubble tops when they were introduced in 1962. My Mom liked them because she liked the convertible look but would never dream of subjecting her hair style to actual wind as in a convertible.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
The Rambler wagon is a Classic. No I'm not joking, that's the model. The 1961 Ambassador had one of the weirdest front ends ever, and that's saying something considering the 1961 Plymouth.
2009 BMW 335i, 2003 Corvette cnv. (RIP 2001 Jaguar XK8 cnv and 1985 MB 380SE [the best of the lot])
Next door neighbour had a late Series 3 Standard Vanguard station wagon when I was small. Light blue and white two tone finish and looked quite nice. The earlier models were remarkably ugly; see if you can find a photo of a Series 1 which was referred to as Beetle Backed.
The image here is of the Series 3 before the design was refreshed by Michelott, probably a 1958.
Cheers
Graham
As others have spotted, an early '70's Toyota Crown. The colour does nothing for it.
Actually quite a nice family car and remarkably long lived (typical Toyota). I still see some on the roads here. Nicest colour is probably white.
Cheers
Graham
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
{inspiration for the roof line, anyway}
I've always thought that, too. Ick.
To be fair, although I love Studebakers, I hate the rear-door shape of '53-60 four-door Studes too.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
So just how far can a manufacturer spread a model; this one is the Mini Paceman, which is a 2 door, 4wd variant of the Mini Countryman with lowered suspension, etc.
Pug ugly, to my eyes, with apparent turned down limps like a.., well a pug really
No thanks
Graham
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic / 2022 Icon I6L Golf Cart
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
(duh, I knew that!)
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93