Friends' Gallery Picture of the Month - November 2024

[Ian Wegg]

It would narrow the date if you can make out what's showing at The Ritz!

[Steve kay]

An anorak writes, the cinema which had opened as the New Victoria in 1928, was renamed as the Odeon in 1963. The irredeemably vulgar F series Vauxhall was launched in 1957.

[Ivor Hawkins]

Steady on, I have a soft spot for an F series Vauxhall!

[Steve kay]

Soft spots under an F series. Job to know what to say, other than comment that the flattened tin from Luton did not benefit from the support of chassis rails richly marinaded with engine oil.

[Reckless Rat]

As an impressionable youth in the 1950s I thought the exhaust pipe coming out of a hole in the F's back bumper was really cool! That, and the valve radio in my Dad's Mk2 Consul...

[andrew34ruby]

As an impressionable youth in the 1950s I thought the exhaust pipe coming out of a hole in the F's back bumper was really cool! That, and the valve radio in my Dad's Mk2 Consul...

To me the exhaust coming out from the hole in the F's back bumper was impressive. Did we say 'cool' in the fifties?

But it's sad to see the modern photo of the street with white painted walls, garish red splattered about, and more of the highway given over to cars and narrower pavements.

[David Stepney]

I remember the Vauxhall F series Victor. You could hear them rotting in them garage. My grandfather had one from new. Always garaged and serviced by the agents Elt Brothers, both front wings began to bubble and the drivers side A post fell to bits. It had done about 35k miles from new! It rather put me off Vauxhalls for life.

[Ivor Hawkins]

I have to admit they did rot at a frightening rate and what’s more I was always banging my knee on the windscreen pillar getting in…I thinks it’s easier getting into a Ruby!

[A G Wood]

I have to admit they did rot at a frightening rate and what’s more I was always banging my knee on the windscreen pillar getting in…I thinks it’s easier getting into a Ruby!

You can thank 'Detroit' for that little stylistic touch, Ivor. '55 Chevs have the same dogleg A pillar and take a similar toll of unwary  knees. My real-world experience indicates the same feature on the PA series caused significantly more pain, especially to an non-GM mechanic who would just try to slide across the seat to get behind the wheel like it was a MK2/3 Zephyr he was getting into.

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As an impressionable youth in the 1950s I thought the exhaust pipe coming out of a hole in the F's back bumper was really cool! That, and the valve radio in my Dad's Mk2 Consul...

To me the exhaust coming out from the hole in the F's back bumper was impressive. Did we say 'cool' in the fifties?

But it's sad to see the modern photo of the street with white painted walls, garish red splattered about, and more of the highway given over to cars and narrower pavements.

Also what I presume is a burial ground on the right hand side of the original (behind the crenellated gate posts and the wrought iron gates) seems to have been turned into a green space?
Judging by difference in ground level, relative to the footpath, the remains have been exhumed. Nice touch though that  the original stone wall has been reduced in height to match, and the original capping stones have been retained and refitted to the now-reduced wall.

I do like the Hillman convertible (?cabriolet) in the bottom of the frame, just in front of what looks to be a Thames 300 van

[Ray White]

I think it is impossible for anyone who did not witness it to fully appreciate how, when the F Series Victor first appeared on our streets, it was something of a revelation; that and the even more sensational PA Cresta were much admired. At a time when just about every car on the road was black or grey the new Vauxhalls were sporting some exciting colours and the American styling was a far cry from the majority of British cars which could perhaps be best described as homely.

My Dad bought a new Victor Series 1 and at first was thoroughly delighted with it. The appearance in our street of the new Vauxhall Victor 'Super' in light blue with two colour interior and lots of chrome, was much commented upon. It was, however, with a tinge of sadness that we said good by to our trusty Morris 8 Series E.

The Victor lasted just three years by which time it was nothing more than a pile of rust.