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Common road vehicles in 1984 - cars and commercial


Norm81
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I have tried to research this, but I end up with loads of references to a book by a certain Mr Orwell. Buses and lorries seem to be well photographed etc but I'm struggling to find out which other road vehicles would be appropriate for the period.

 

So I'm wondering if I can call on people's memories from that time, I'm modelling 1984 but anything early 80's will do.

 

I'm not sure about those I currently have which are:

 

2 mk1 ford fiestas (red & green)

mini

triumph stag

rover p6

british leyland princess

volvo 240 estate

Morris marina

Lotus europa

British rail sherpa

Mk1 transit recovery

mk1 british gas transit.

 

I'd be grateful if anyone could let me know if there are any listed that aren't actually suitable for the period, or any very popular cars that are missing.

 

Thanks.

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I have tried to research this, but I end up with loads of references to a book by a certain Mr Orwell. Buses and lorries seem to be well photographed etc but I'm struggling to find out which other road vehicles would be appropriate for the period.

 

So I'm wondering if I can call on people's memories from that time, I'm modelling 1984 but anything early 80's will do.

 

I'm not sure about those I currently have which are:

 

2 mk1 ford fiestas (red & green)

mini

triumph stag

rover p6

british leyland princess

volvo 240 estate

Morris marina

Lotus europa

British rail sherpa

Mk1 transit recovery

mk1 british gas transit.

 

I'd be grateful if anyone could let me know if there are any listed that aren't actually suitable for the period, or any very popular cars that are missing.

 

Thanks.

 

Most of those were from the 1970's, although there would still be plenty around in 1984.  For new cars in 1984 you would be looking at Mk3 Ford Escorts, Mk1 Vauxhall Astras, and there would have been loads of Austin Metros by then too. Mk1 Sierra, and of course still plenty of Cortinas and Capris around, I think the last Capri rolled off the line in 1986.

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Don’t forget a few medium to big Fords and Vauxhall’s , like Granada’s, Carltons, Cavaliers and Cortinas.

Few boy racer Mk 1&2 Escorts if you want a cameo or there’s a good garage on the layout.

Also BL products were common, like land crabs, knackered princesses etc. You can include some exotic foreigners like the Renault Fuego, VW golf gti and Scirocco and the mighty Matra Rancho if there’s even a model of that.

Edited by devondynosoar118
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I seem to remember everything seemed to be either Fords, Vauxhalls, BL or "old bangers". Still plenty of old Morris/Austins about. Don't forget the old lady driver or home help with her Morris Minor.

 

Foreign cars were rare unless they were smaller cars like Fiats, Renaults, Citroens or VWs. Very few BMWs or Mercedes. I think that was about the time when Japanese cars started to appear in numbers.

 

There might be a few ideas here. Not exhaustive, but it might rule a few out.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_automobile_sales_by_model

 

 

 

Jason

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All your listed cars are fine, but there are too many missing types to give a whole list. Perhaps more useful to you is what has been made/that is currently available in 1:76*, omitting the less common 'exotics', those older cars that had become less common by then and those you already have, as follows:

 

Discontinued, but can/might be found

Corgi Trackside - Ford Escort Mk1 saloon & van, Mini    * Some of the Trackside models were 1:72 so I've omitted them

EFE - MGB;Triumph Vitesse Mk2

Hornby - Ford Sierra hatchback (but it's awful!)

Lima - Ford Capri Mk1 & Fiat 131 (though you'll bee darn lucky to find the Fiat!) - they will need a little work

 

Current

Classix - Morris Minor 1000s; Triumph Herald 13/60

Oxford Diecast - Austin 1300GT, Cambridge, Allegro Estate; Citroen 2CV; Ford Escort Mk3, Cortina Mk2, Cortina Mk3, Capri Mk3, Granada; Hillman Imp; MGB; Mini 1275GT; later Morris Minors; Rover SD1 Vitesse; Triumph 2500, TR6 & TR7; Vauxhall Viva HB (just), Cavalier Mk2, Astra Mk2; VW Beetle, Golf GTi Mk1, Bay Window & T25 Transporters; Volvo 245 & 760.

 

You could throw in some earlier cars too, but 1960s and '70s cars used to rust at alarming rates so even those models that had been quite common in 1968 would largely be off the road by 1985, so I've omitted even common ones discontinued before 1969. You can probably never have too many Ford Escorts or Cortinas, though for the 1980s the Mk2 Escort and Mk4 Cortina/Cortina'80 are glaring omissions. Same could be said of the Austin miniMetro which, thanks to BSM, was the most common driving school vehicle of the time.

Edited by BernardTPM
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This is sort of my era.  I worked in a BL dealer 1973 - 1985

 

For the early 80s you want mainly 1975 on cars, plenty of 70s cars died at 70 000 miles and 7 years old from worn mechanicals and from rust.  Few BL 1100s lasted for more than 7 years but there were loads of the damned things built so they still hung on.  The 50s and 60s Vauxhalls had gone as well as most 50s and 60s Fords but the odd Anglia remained in back gardens up on bricks mainly

 

Not sure what is available but would suggest.

 

MK3/4/5 Cortinas, Mk 2 Escorts, Zodiac Mk3/ Executive, Granada

 

Hillman Minx/Hunter,  Avenger,  Chrysler Sunbeam, Sunbeam Rapier.

 

Vauxhall Vivas/ Firenza, Victor, VX4/90  I don't remember Novas.

 

BL Metros from 1980, Maxis, Austin Morris 1100/1300, minor 1000,  Allegros, Mini, Triumph Dolomite, Triumph 2000/ 2.5PI,  Rover SD1.   Stags were not common 2 door Range Rovers, Mk 3 Landrovers with lights in the wings,and old ones with inset lights. MGBGTs, were everyday cars, Jag XJ6s and Rolls Royces were less common.

 

Fiat 127s and VW Golf Mk1s and of course Beetles etc were about the limit of foreign rubbish though Volvos and the Lada and Polski Fiat were around for people who liked to crash into things

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This video must be just about spot on. B suffix started in August 1984

 

 

"Like" isnt really the correct term, but that was a good clip!

 

I think it depends on where you are, both in the country and more locally.

In 84 where I lived was mainly populated by reps, technicians/tradesman and a lot of Young Professionals particularly school teachers with a few Medical/Hospital people and academics.

 

So without being too clichéd (which are normally true anyway)

think along the lines of

  • Golf
  • 2cv
  • Diverse Ford Escorts
  • Astra MkII
  • quite lot of vans for all the trades 
  • Cavalier  (really think Cavalier!)
  • Cortina (nearly same as Cavalier)
  • and quite a few Land Rovers for the farmers nearby

Plenty of early mid 70s cars in good condition too - It seems a given that a lot of chaps buy a brand new car on retirement and keep it till it drops to bits!!

( I have actually made a bit of a pub car-park study of this for a laugh and its  just so true!)

Edited by LBRJ
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Great video , can really see how foreign manufacturers were taking the market . Cover page below shows French , Italian, German and Japanese vehicles and at one point there are five commercials filling screen , French, German and Japanese !

Bedford CF vans seem to outnumber the Transits 5 to 1 which is not how I remember it , maybe a strong dealer in St.Albans !

 

This video must be just about spot on. B suffix started in August 1984

 

Edited by jcb 3c
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It’s surprising how many really common vehicles from the rail blue era are not available as models!

Yes, & where they are, it is not the common models which are made.

I have not noticed Mk3 Escorts mentioned as being available. I have a couple of Oxfords, but like the model is of an XR3, not a 5 door hatch. Similarly, the only Golf I have seen is a GTi, which is not the most common model.

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 Same could be said of the Austin miniMetro which, thanks to BSM, was the most common driving school vehicle of the time.

 

You have just given me an idea, I have an AHB which I would like to automate. It would be nice to have a queue of traffic waiting for the barriers to open, but of course once they are open a line of stationary cars would not look right. Perhaps to solve this conundrum a Metro with L plates at the head of the queue might work?

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St Albans was pretty close to the Bedford plant at Dunstable, which might explain why there are so many CFs. Outside the South of England, proportions of older vehicles were greater; indeed, new cars seemed to be reserved for those such as reps or middle-managers, who got company cars, and retireés . You'd see the latter's cars for sale a few years later ( 'Low Mileage- fourth gear unused') in the local paper.

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Yes, & where they are, it is not the common models which are made.

I have not noticed Mk3 Escorts mentioned as being available. I have a couple of Oxfords, but like the model is of an XR3, not a 5 door hatch. Similarly, the only Golf I have seen is a GTi, which is not the most common model.

I thought he'd already got one, but on rechecking he hadn't so list duly amended! You're right about them often doing the sportier version.

 

You have just given me an idea, I have an AHB which I would like to automate. It would be nice to have a queue of traffic waiting for the barriers to open, but of course once they are open a line of stationary cars would not look right. Perhaps to solve this conundrum a Metro with L plates at the head of the queue might work?

Perhaps animated with a solenoid so it makes a little stall jump?

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I thought he'd already got one, but on rechecking he hadn't so list duly amended! You're right about them often doing the sportier version.

 

Perhaps animated with a solenoid so it makes a little stall jump?

 

A little stall jump, followed by a slow roll back to its starting position.  :jester:

Edited by SRman
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Perhaps animated with a solenoid so it makes a little stall jump?

 

I was thinking cars behind beeping and flashing their lights when the barrier was raised. In fact if I am going to do sounds a little jump, followed by the sound of a starter motor?

Edited by Titan
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Try this video filmed in my home town in983 for the common or garden. My own Fiat 126 from that era sadly doesn't appear.

Superb film Jonathan, thanks for sharing. Brought back memories

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That film was ace, good selection of vehicles! Saw an old friend in the R12, my dad loved his Renaults, he had a R4 van and a couple of Renault 12’s.

Where’s the Fiat Stradas, Talbot Sunbeams/Horizons and Vauxhall ‘Shove its” in the vehicle manufactures releases? Good to see the Mk1 Fiesta available tho. Likewise Granada and later Cortinas, both of which were common and in run down form could be seen well after the reps had finished with them.

Currently the steam era cars are short a ton of common models, little Roootes group stuff available and even Fords seem to be a bit limited, no 100E’s .

Edited by devondynosoar118
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  • RMweb Gold

Try this video filmed in my home town in 1983 for the common or garden. My own Fiat 126 from that era sadly doesn't appear.

 

Can't believe Blacketts was so close to the road, so open there now especially since Esco went, then there's the market cross as a roundabout rather than the lights... 

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Can't believe Blacketts was so close to the road, so open there now especially since Esco went, then there's the market cross as a roundabout rather than the lights...

 

If it was warm you could look into the open doors of that building and see metal being poured!

At that time there was also internal railways of standard and two foot gauge

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