Here at Farland Classic Restoration, we've been making a big push to document the history of the classic icons that move through. Recently we've had a few generations of British sports car come into the showroom. This gave us the opportunity to look back at what car design and manufacturing meant to the British during WW2 and the decades that followed.
We'll be looking around three of these vehicles, everything from just after the war all the way through the 1960's. To get started, we'll head all the way back to 1946.
We're starting out with the elder of these British icons, the 1946 Triumph 1800 Roadster. Following the end of WW2 there were still many elements of war that ran into everyday life. Manufacturers wanted to develop something completely new to get away from the war mindset. Triumph created the 1800 Roadster, an aluminum bodied car with an inline four cylinder. While it was forward thinking for the time, it retained many elements of pre-war cars.
Some of these numerous elements include trafficators, blitz lights, freestanding front fenders, the jump seat and of course the fold-down second windshield. While many of these elements would continue into the following decades, other elements would quickly fall away. For example this would be the last car ever produced with a jump seat. Of course, to see more on this car go check out Pat's recent video coverage of the British Invasion.
From the post-war classics we'll be jumping forward to 1959. Our middle of the bunch may be the most British, today this brand is considered a staple of British motoring.
The 1959 Morgan Plus 4 is unique to the bunch as it features a 'drophead' design. Unlike a convertible, this car can be driven in three distinct styles. The top goes up and down like any convertible, but the Morgan also offers the 'drophead' style allowing the owner to pull back the overhead canopy. This allows the A-pillars of the convertible top to still sit upright keeping the driver and passengers still somewhat shaded. You can see the drophead layout below.
The Morgan shows many design elements that had stayed into the 1950's including the emphasized front fenders, center-folding hood, fender mirrors, and wire wheels. While many of these elements were standard on British two seaters at the time, it exemplified the last cheer for pre-war stylings.
That brings us to the baby of the group.
While it is the youngest, it's also is a bit of a baby having only been driven around 6,000 miles since it was originally sold back in 1964. This is an incredibly original 1964 Austin-Healey 3000. It was the only British classic here in the showroom that was originally sold here in the U.S.A.
By this point, many of the British styling cues of past erashad been lost, but aspects like wire wheels, the two seater design, and inline four engine would remain in-vogue well into the 1960's.
That brings us to the end of the British two seaters hanging around the showroom. All three are currently available for sale! Be sure to check out Pat's recent video which highlights one more unique Brit hanging around the showroom...
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Have a classic or icon of your own that needs the Farland touch? Give our shop a call at 303-761-1245. You can also reach our showroom at 720-588-8427. Thanks!