friscopete Posted June 13, 2021 Share Posted June 13, 2021 In the 50's a pukkah US army jeep was in use as its driver was courting the stunning blonde who live in our street.it had all the stars and seriels .Never saw the guy in uniform. but he only came down weekends so probably a serving Yank.Anyone modelling Hainault station in about 1971 could accurately include an SS plated Kubelwagen,on trade plates , as I drove it round for a few hours as you do . 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Royal42 Posted June 13, 2021 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted June 13, 2021 12 minutes ago, PhilJ W said: Nearest is an Austin Atlantic, then what I think is a Wolsely, Austin 8 or 10, Riley Pathfinder?, Hillman Minx, Jag Mk. VII. Metropolitan, FordsonE83W van, unidentifiable, Ford Zephyr Mk. II, another Fordson E83W. Thanks Phil, that is great. I would like to place as many vehicles that match those in view on my diorama, when I get to the roadway stage of building. Your identification has helped a great deal. Mike 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
javlinfaw7 Posted June 13, 2021 Share Posted June 13, 2021 I think the unidentified car is a Singer Gazelle .https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Singer_Gazelle_3c_Reg_Jun_62_1592_cc.JPG 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium PhilJ W Posted June 13, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted June 13, 2021 9 minutes ago, javlinfaw7 said: I think the unidentified car is a Singer Gazelle .https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Singer_Gazelle_3c_Reg_Jun_62_1592_cc.JPG Its not a Singer Gazelle. Its taller than most of the other cars and has separate wings. Under blow up the pic gets a bit fuzzy but it could be a Triumph Renown with the 'razor' wings. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Royal42 Posted June 13, 2021 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted June 13, 2021 (edited) I think I can get a Jaguar Mk. VII in 1:148 scale from Osbornes so, again, thank you for the identifications. How about these? This image was taken opposite the junction of the first photograph and is looking east into Queens Drive. This is a view from the other end of the drive, looking west. Mike Edited June 13, 2021 by Royal42 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BernardTPM Posted June 13, 2021 Share Posted June 13, 2021 (edited) 5 hours ago, Royal42 said: Incidently, I would be grateful if anyone could tell me the make and version of those vehicles in view please. Mike 3 hours ago, PhilJ W said: Nearest is an Austin Atlantic, then what I think is a Wolsely, Austin 8 or 10, Riley Pathfinder?, Hillman Minx, Jag Mk. VII. Metropolitan, FordsonE83W van, unidentifiable, Ford Zephyr Mk. II, another Fordson E83W. 3 hours ago, Royal42 said: Thanks Phil, that is great. I would like to place as many vehicles that match those in view on my diorama, when I get to the roadway stage of building. Your identification has helped a great deal. The date can't be right as the Mk.2 Zephyr didn't come out until February 1956 and the 'Audax' Minx in May 1956. Edited June 13, 2021 by BernardTPM 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Royal42 Posted June 13, 2021 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted June 13, 2021 (edited) I don't have any worry about that date as my diorama is of a section of New Street Station before it was rebuilt. As such, anything before 1963 qualifies, although I would probably focus on 1958 as that was the time I used to go train spotting there. These images are the only ones that I can find that show the area before much of it was demolished, so beggers cannot be choosers. cheers, Mike Edit: the subject header has be amended to include any vehicles to be found on British roads mid to late 1950's Edited June 13, 2021 by Royal42 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fat Controller Posted June 13, 2021 Share Posted June 13, 2021 Post-War, they were built under licence by Hotchkiss in France, with 'new' vehicles being produced until 1978, using (initially) US surplus parts. Though most went to the French armed forces, quite a few went to the various fire brigades around the country, especially those in the South and South East. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BernardTPM Posted June 13, 2021 Share Posted June 13, 2021 Given it looks a similar width to the big Jaguar I wonder if that unidentified car might be a 1953 Studebaker Starlight coupe. That had a wrap round rear screen and, like the 1956 Minx, was a Loewy design. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BernardTPM Posted June 13, 2021 Share Posted June 13, 2021 7 minutes ago, Royal42 said: I don't have any worry about that date as my diorama is of a section of New Street Station before it was rebuilt. Maybe not, but it might mislead others into temporal errors. Not everyone has a Police box to explain them away... 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam88 Posted June 13, 2021 Share Posted June 13, 2021 Here's a bit of a digression. A late friend of mine wrote of his experiences during the war including serving with REME in India and Burma. These extracts cover the use of Jeeps as ambulances and maintenance, converting them to run on rails and using them with multiple unbraked trailers. Fascinating insights for which I am very grateful. "We were put to work as soon as we arrived first of all designing and then modifying some jeeps for use as ambulances. They were made to carry two stretcher cases and four walking wounded. Jeeps were the only vehicles which could use the tracks through the forests and over the hilly terrain. Many of the wounded had to be carried pick-a-back as vehicles could not get too them. Much of the work done by the jeeps was in 4 wheel drive and in the low gear box, this meant that the engines soon required replacing or lots of maintenance. To get the job done as quickly as possible we ran two 12 hour shifts with no days off. Whilst we were working in Dimapur the fighting troops of the division were in combat in the area of Kohima about 25 miles further up the road. I can’t remember whether if I ever felt in danger, I suppose we were so busy and tired that we hadn’t time to worry. It was whilst we were working a night shift that there was a radio broadcast by the Commander of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, to which we now belonged having been split from RAOC some time before, exhorting members of REME to work hard etc. The broadcast was transmitted at a time in the middle of the night when our spirits are at their lowest ebb, the suggestions made by some of the men were unprintable suggesting that instead of him talking on the wireless he should get his coat off and give us a hand." ... "The railways had been badly damaged by the RAF whilst in the occupation of the Japanese, particularly the engines. There were plenty of wagons which were able to move but nothing to move them. We were given some apparatus, which had been developed by the Americans, to fix to the underside of a jeep which would enable the jeep to run on the rails. I helped to fix these circular discs to the vehicle and then went to a length of railway track where we tried the thing out. It was very successful, the tyres gave enough grip and the plates kept the tyres on the rails. We reported the successful test to the CO and next day we told to demonstrate the vehicle. As usual there were a large number of top brass came to see the demo. And they all seemed satisfied that the modified jeep could be used to move equipment, until someone suggested that we pulled some trucks. A small train of about five trucks was assembled and connected to the jeep which had no difficulty in pulling the trucks. The trouble began when the driver tried to stop. The trucks were far too heavy for jeep and pushed the jeep along tearing the plates from under the vehicle and pushing it off the track. The problem was overcome, after more trials, by having another jeep at the back of the train to act as a brake truck. We modified a number of jeeps but I can’t remember ever seeing a jeep train in use after they left our shops." ... "Our transport was mainly Jeep based with trailers for our equipment and whilst it may have been suitable for the workshop side of our lives it was a disaster for us and our personal equipment. The answer so far as the powers that be was concerned was to issue us with more trailers. When the time came for us to leave Kanchrapara and move into Calcutta, to prepare the Brigade transport for the invasion of Burma from the sea, the convoy was organised and it was found that the last three Jeeps were trying to pull four trailers each. The Jeep was strong enough to pull the trailers but when the brakes were applied the trailers tried to whiplash and the last trailer tried to overtake the towing vehicle. The drivers of these vehicles were rather unhappy at this state of affairs and made their complaints known in no uncertain terms. By the time things were sorted out and remedied it was too late to move that day and so the move into Calcutta was held over until the following day. That meant the trailers being unpacked to get what was needed for the night’s stay and then repacked the following morning. I think the experiment was a failure and we gradually got rid of most of the Jeeps by exchanging them for more suitable trucks." 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KeithHC Posted June 13, 2021 Share Posted June 13, 2021 One was used on a farm in Anglesey by two brothers. When one said to the other what will you do when you need to get another one . He said I hope I can get one but then we could make one ah a Rover for the Land and a legend was born out of a willys…….. Keith 1 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cctransuk Posted June 13, 2021 Share Posted June 13, 2021 (edited) 1 hour ago, Adam88 said: "The railways had been badly damaged by the RAF whilst in the occupation of the Japanese, particularly the engines. There were plenty of wagons which were able to move but nothing to move them. We were given some apparatus, which had been developed by the Americans, to fix to the underside of a jeep which would enable the jeep to run on the rails. I helped to fix these circular discs to the vehicle and then went to a length of railway track where we tried the thing out. It was very successful, the tyres gave enough grip and the plates kept the tyres on the rails. We reported the successful test to the CO and next day we told to demonstrate the vehicle. As usual there were a large number of top brass came to see the demo. And they all seemed satisfied that the modified jeep could be used to move equipment, until someone suggested that we pulled some trucks. A small train of about five trucks was assembled and connected to the jeep which had no difficulty in pulling the trucks. The trouble began when the driver tried to stop. The trucks were far too heavy for jeep and pushed the jeep along tearing the plates from under the vehicle and pushing it off the track. The problem was overcome, after more trials, by having another jeep at the back of the train to act as a brake truck. We modified a number of jeeps but I can’t remember ever seeing a jeep train in use after they left our shops." At the end of WW2, my (recently deceased) father was a Captain in the RE, in command of a detachment of Gurkhas. Their task was to replace railway bridges in Burma that had been destroyed by the retreating Japanese. Dad was provided with a rail-adapted Jeep for use when inspecting the various construction sites. He did recall reports being received of tanks advancing on his command post - which it transpired were actually an unanticipated delivery of bulldozers!! John Isherwood. PS., He also recalled seeing the first of the Burmese Beyer-Garratt locomotives being moved up-river on barges as he was going down-river for demob. Edited June 13, 2021 by cctransuk 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
javlinfaw7 Posted June 13, 2021 Share Posted June 13, 2021 If you are looking for the mid fifties , maybe this picture from the birmingham mail of old square in 1955 would give a better idea and most vehicles are clearer 6 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium PhilJ W Posted June 13, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted June 13, 2021 2 hours ago, BernardTPM said: The date can't be right as the Mk.2 Zephyr didn't come out until February 1956 and the 'Audax' Minx in May 1956. 2 hours ago, BernardTPM said: Given it looks a similar width to the big Jaguar I wonder if that unidentified car might be a 1953 Studebaker Starlight coupe. That had a wrap round rear screen and, like the 1956 Minx, was a Loewy design. Looking at it again it could be an F type Vauxhall Victor not a Zephyr. IIRC the F type Victor was introduced in 1955. I agree it could be a Studebaker. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium PhilJ W Posted June 13, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted June 13, 2021 3 minutes ago, javlinfaw7 said: If you are looking for the mid fifties , maybe this picture from the birmingham mail of old square in 1955 would give a better idea and most vehicles are clearer Some interesting vehicles there. Including at least two pre-war cars that were quite common until about 1960 when the MoT test decimated their ranks. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BernardTPM Posted June 13, 2021 Share Posted June 13, 2021 14 minutes ago, PhilJ W said: Looking at it again it could be an F type Vauxhall Victor not a Zephyr. IIRC the F type Victor was introduced in 1955. February 1957. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KeithHC Posted June 13, 2021 Share Posted June 13, 2021 (edited) 24 minutes ago, javlinfaw7 said: If you are looking for the mid fifties , maybe this picture from the birmingham mail of old square in 1955 would give a better idea and most vehicles are clearer Also the number of phone boxes. Is that a BR artic on the left as well possibly a Karrier Bantam. Keith Edited June 13, 2021 by KeithHC Addition 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BernardTPM Posted June 13, 2021 Share Posted June 13, 2021 4 minutes ago, KeithHC said: Is that a BR artic on the left as well. That's the small Commer or Karrier. Surprisingly they were built well into the 1970s. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnofwessex Posted June 13, 2021 Share Posted June 13, 2021 The Jeep in the IWM had been issued to a lady working for the Red Cross in Italy in 1944. She finally handed it back in the 80's I seem to remember, possibly the longest TWOC in history 1 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium PhilJ W Posted June 13, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted June 13, 2021 1 hour ago, BernardTPM said: That's the small Commer or Karrier. Surprisingly they were built well into the 1970s. It would be a Karrier fitted with a Scammel mechanical horse fifth wheel. By the looks of it would be brand new. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianusa Posted June 13, 2021 Share Posted June 13, 2021 Dinky Toys had a civilian Jeep in its range, usually in bright colours. The spare was moved to the rear side and had a one piece windscreen. Brian. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium PhilJ W Posted June 13, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted June 13, 2021 That would be the post war version. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merfyn Jones Posted June 13, 2021 Share Posted June 13, 2021 5 hours ago, KeithHC said: Also the number of phone boxes. Is that a BR artic on the left as well possibly a Karrier Bantam. Keith Yes the Karrier Bantam, British Railways had a huge number still buying them well into the 60s. 1 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KeithHC Posted June 14, 2021 Share Posted June 14, 2021 11 hours ago, brianusa said: Dinky Toys had a civilian Jeep in its range, usually in bright colours. The spare was moved to the rear side and had a one piece windscreen. Brian. That would have been a later version I think they where CJ3. Keith 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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