A Visit to the 1955 London Motor Show

The year is 1955, it is the 19th of October, and the place is Earls Court. The 40th London Motor Show looks set to be the greatest since the first post-war event in 1948 and certainly worth investing 2/6d in the show guide. There are 187 British cars from 31 British marques and 100 overseas models on display. The first port of call must be Stand 114 to gasp in sheer amazement at the red Mercedes-Benz 300SL ‘Gullwing’ show car – yours for £4,392 15s 10d.

Alas, as the average weekly wage is £10 17s 5d, so even the 190SL for £2,692 15s 10d is out of reach, while the latest Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud on Stand 168 costs £4, 796 10s 1d. Alternatively, Stand 126 has a pair of Bentley S saloons, one in duotone green and the other in “Sand and Sable”. By contrast, Stand 124 has a somewhat more affordable foreign vehicle in the form of the 600, Fiat’s first rear-engine car and priced at a very reasonable £585 10s.

On Stand 137, the Ford Escort and Squire, estate versions of the Anglia and Prefect 100E, have the advantages of being mechanically straightforward and costing only £587 12s 6d and £631 10s respectively. The Sunbeam Rapier, the latest Rootes Group car, on Stand 159, certainly catches the eye, not least because it faintly resembles the Studebaker Starliner. At £985 14s 2d, those mid-Atlantic looks are very temping.

Meanwhile, another new car on Stand 142 seems rather more sensible. The £849 14s 2d Standard Vanguard Phase III has completely new unitary bodywork, but the same redoubtable ‘Big Four’ engine and looks as dependable as a pair of army boots. The Triumph TR3 on Stand 123 has a more potent version of the Vanguard engine and is probably worth every penny of £ 921 19s 2d in terms of driving enjoyment.

But then Stand 153 features the new MGA; an Abingdon sports car where the grille is the only external connection with its T-series predecessor. Gone are the exposed

headlamps and running boards, in favour of some of the most exquisite streamline coachwork of the decade. All for only £844 10d - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYCnb4qVbuk

There is an equally exciting vehicle on Stand 154 as Jaguar is displaying their new 2.4 saloon – the marque’s first unitary-bodied saloon and the first ever monocoque car to top 100 mph. The ‘Special Equipment’ version at £1,298 15s 10d is obviously the most desirable model – the £1,269 10d ‘Standard’ lacked a heater, reversing, fog and spot lamps, windscreen washers, a clock, a tachometer, a cigar lighter, folding armrests and the ‘Leaping Cat’ bonnet mascot.

The Jaguar 2.4 SE also has the advantage of being cheaper than its Armstrong Siddeley 234 and 236 on Stand 141. However, devotees of A-S would probably argue that £1,510 and £1,565 were comparatively modest sums for cars of such distinction. Autocar reports the 1955 London Show marks the first appearance of the “Lotus sports-racing car” on Stand 61.

The eight-seater Morris Isis Traveller on Stand 157 is slightly more practical than the Lotus and costs £957 7s 6d. The sales brochure claims “ample room for arms and legs” although the drawings show eight suspiciously Charlie Drake-sized occupants. Still, it is a handsome machine and Morris promises the Isis Traveller will be “valuable in your business, and provide endless pleasure for your wife, the children and their friends”.

The Singer Hunter 75 is the main attraction of Stand 144 and its DOHC engine and equipment list make it an appealing sports saloon for £1,150 10d. The Hunter S costs far less at £895 10d, but it lacks a clock, a heater, auxiliary lamps, and even a spare wheel!

Of the foreign marques, Peugeot is showcasing its splendid new 403 on Stand 129. Alas, import duties means it costs £1,129. Skoda on Stand 156 is the sole Eastern

European marque at the London Motor Show and the 1200 is priced at a fairly steep £893 12s 6d. A.F.N. Ltd are displaying the Porsche Carrera on Stand 151 but at £2,643 4s 2d, it is slightly out of reach. The Spyder costs even more unattainable £3,847 7s 6d.

But Motor Sport said, “at all events, until you have visited Stand 155 you haven’t seen this year’s Motor Show!” so it is s time to marvel at a car so far removed from everyday life as to appeal utterly surreal. Autocar reported: “One of the Show's sensations is the new 2-litre model DS 19 Citroën, which had been the subject of wild rumours for a long time”. Citroën UK call their black and cream show model the “2-Litre Six-Seater saloon”, but the world knows it as the DS19.

Citroën promises “All The Joys Of Restful Motoring Are Yours”, but even if you could raise £1,403 12s 6d, DS19 ownership is not to be lightly considered. It may technically be a local product (Citroën plan to assemble UK-market versions in their Slough plant), but your neighbours still might think you had taken delivery of a spaceship.

And on Stand 167 is a car that makes 1955 almost appear as a remote as the 19th century. Daimler made the One-O-Four ‘Ladies Model’ “to appeal to the woman who has very definite ideas about the car she wants her husband to buy”. £2,983 4s 2d gained the proud owner sheepskin and wool rugs, and in the boot were an ice box, a shooting stick, and four suitcases. There was also a picnic case with yellow & white china cups, a grey umbrella, a torch, a gold cigarette case, notebook and pencil, an ‘Auto-Maptic’ navigational aid and a pair of Polaroid sunglasses.

The ‘Ladies Model’ even came with a vanity case containing Max Factor cosmetics. Autocar further noted: “A good salesman must have designed the Daimler stand display, for the trimmings to the Lady’s model are illustrated amongst a profusion of flowers. Women are always attracted by pretty floral decorations”.

It was indeed another world. With thanks to Jamie Piggott of https://www.dsworkshop.co.uk/ for his time.

With thanks to Jamie Piggott for the permission to use the images in this blog.