50s and 60s commercial vehicle liveries

[Hal Nail]

I've been rooting around for photos from this period - there are surprisingly few in all my railway books and internet tends to bring up a lot of photos of restorations.

 

Am I right in assuming for vans, pale greys and tints of greens and blues were more common than white?

 

On both lorries and vans, the use of black mudguards extending to parts of the cab bodywork seems popular on models - eg Ford Thames ETC, Austin/BMC FG but was this actually a typical colour for that period? 

 

Also were logos common back then or is this a more recent thing and liveries were generally plain?

[fodenway]

Many vans and commercials were supplied in primer  at this period, or in a limited range of basic colours. Buyers would have them painted to their own requirements either by the supplying dealer, a commercial coachpainting firm or their own paint shop. Liveries were usually far more ornate and informative than the logos of today, being hand-painted by skilled signwriters or by the application of custom-printed transfers by companies such as Kaylee of Nottingham.

[Fat Controller]

A lot of black mudguards were actually rubber mouldings; the GPO took this a step further, and fitted 'rubber' wings.

 

[Wheatley]

This site is heavily biased towards Scotland so you will see more tartan liveries than you might elsewhere in the UK, but there are some 50s/60s colour photos in here if you rummage far enough. 

 

https://public.fotki.com/boballoa/

 

Logos tended to be used only by the larger firms if at all, signwriting was the order of the day.  

 

 

[shipbadger]

White is far more common today as it provides a base for the application of vinyl.  PSVs ordered by dealers on spec, or bought in a second hand would be painted in a colour known as dealer stock white once the vinyl revolution came along.  Deep green, blue and grey were common colours for Ford/Thames vehicles.  Along the road from me is a Morris Commrrcial in two tone brown.  Belonged to a nursery who gave it a fresh top coat every wi ter.

 

Tony Comber

[BernardTPM]

Here's a small compilation, mostly from the background of slides my Dad took, all dated 1964-65.

 

 

[Hal Nail]

Thanks for all the replies!

 

I'm quite keen on dark blue with red collar and cuffs having flicked through some of the photos linked above! 

 

 

[phil_sutters]

Although you only get glimpses of the vehicles as they drive past this short film gives a sense of the range of colours in use. 

 

[Hal Nail]

36 minutes ago, phil_sutters said:

Although you only get glimpses of the vehicles as they drive past this short film gives a sense of the range of colours in use. 

 

Thanks, like that. There were indeed 50 shades of grey!

[graeme02041645]

One that I have just about finished from our Road Transport Images range. Commer BF van.

[DavidB-AU]

There are some incidental shots of lorries and vans in these fascinating collections. 

 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/trainsandstuff/albums/72157705343154601

 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/trainsandstuff/albums/72157678194168946

https://www.flickr.com/photos/trainsandstuff/albums/72157678741986928

Cheers

David

[ianmacc]

On 23/11/2020 at 15:16, BernardTPM said:

Here's a small compilation, mostly from the background of slides my Dad took, all dated 1964-65.

 

 

That bottom right pic looks like a well executed model as it has that busy cluttered appearance! Is that a Wills market stall I see with a couple of Langley figures and an Airfix commercial?

[BernardTPM]

Nah, the lorry's a Dublo Dinky with a new back

 

It is a good scene, isn't it?