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Classic cars at the seaside
© Martin Charles Hatch – ShutterstockOh, we do like to be beside the seaside. For many Brits, a trip to the coast conjures up images of fish and chips, ‘kiss me quick’ hats and arcade machines, plus the smell of suncream and seaweed. Apropos of nothing, here’s a selection of British classic cars basking in the sun by the beach – starting with this Vauxhall Chevette and a retro caravan. All photos are by Martin Charles Hatch.
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Triumph Herald
© Martin Charles Hatch – ShutterstockTriumph called the Herald Convertible ‘a suntrap on wheels’, with a press advert picturing the car alongside a topless model sunbathing on the beach. Very racy and quite risque for the 1960s. Or indeed the 2020s. What would the people who have the Advertising Standards Agency (ASA) on speed-dial say?
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Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow
© Martin Charles Hatch – ShutterstockThe Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow became a firm favourite of ‘end-of-the-pier’ entertainers, lending it a kind of faded seaside glamour. Those days are gone – turn up in one of these and folk will think you own the bingo hall.
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Lotus Elan Plus 2
© Martin Charles Hatch – ShutterstockThe first Lotus not to be sold in kit form arrived in 1969, with the Elan+2 designed to be ‘capable of transporting two adults and two children for 1,000 miles in comfort with their luggage’. This one has made it to the beach.
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Nash Metropolitan
© Martin Charles Hatch – ShutterstockThe Nash Metropolitan was a little slice of Americana, built in Longbridge. There’s an almost toy-like quality to its styling and it must have lifted the mood in post-war America and the UK.
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Triumph TR7
© Martin Charles Hatch – Shutterstock‘It only has two seats. It confirms her mother’s worst fears. And if you ever drove it flat out they’d probably lock you up.’ Triumph’s press ad from 1979 is yet another example of copywriting from a different era.
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Mini Cooper
© Martin Charles Hatch – ShutterstockThis Rover Mini Cooper might date from the 1990s, but the CB aerial and nodding dog on the parcel shelf are straight out of the 1970s. Timeless fun.
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Morris Minor Traveller
© Martin Charles Hatch – ShutterstockA beautiful example of a Morris Minor Traveller, complete with optional dog bowl. Dog not pictured, sadly.
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Austin-Healey Sprite
© Martin Charles Hatch – ShutterstockThe famous headlights earned the Austin-Healey Sprite the nickname ‘Frogeye’, but the original plan was for the car to feature pop-ups. When these were ruled out on the grounds of cost, the familiar ‘bug eyes’ were added to the bonnet.
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Jaguar E-type
© Martin Charles Hatch – ShutterstockThe Jaguar E-type: second only to the Nissan Sunny ZX Coupe on the list of the most beautiful two-seaters ever made.
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Triumph TR6
© Martin Charles Hatch – ShutterstockUp until its demise in 2009, Karmann was the largest independent car manufacturer in Germany. Although it’s most famous for the Karmann Ghia, the German coachbuilder was also responsible for the styling of the Triumph TR6. So now you know.
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Triumph 2000 or 2500
© Martin Charles Hatch – ShutterstockHere’s another British car to benefit from European input, with the last big Triumph styled by the Italian, Giovanni Michelotti. He also designed the Leyland National bus.
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Triumph TR4
© Martin Charles Hatch – ShutterstockAlthough the TR4 looked very different to the Triumph TR3/TR3A, it was based on the same chassis. Unlike its predecessor, the TR4 featured side windows and air vents, which prompted some Triumph purists to accuse the car of going soft.
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Ford Escort GT
© Martin Charles Hatch – ShutterstockThe Escort arrived in 1968, with Ford marketing it as ‘the small car that isn’t’. Four models were available: De Luxe, Super, Super 1300cc and GT.
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Jensen C-V8
© Martin Charles Hatch – ShutterstockThis Jensen C-V8 is powered by a massive 6.3-litre Chrysler V8 engine, giving it a top speed of 140mph. It was a fine Grand Tourer, but it’s not the Jensen everyone remembers.
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Morris Oxford MO
© Martin Charles Hatch – ShutterstockBelieve it or not, this Morris Oxford MO was dumped on Landguard Common in Felixstowe in the mid 1960s. After life as a makeshift children’s playground, it found its way to the port where it spent years under a tarpaulin. The transformation is incredible.
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Humber Sceptre
© Martin Charles Hatch – ShutterstockToo often overlooked, the Humber Sceptre was a posh, plush and almost flamboyant British family car. The Humber name disappeared in 1976.
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Standard Vanguard
© Martin Charles Hatch – ShutterstockThe Standard name died earlier, in 1963, but the company had an illustrious past. It developed a strong reputation in the 1930s, before buying Triumph after the Second World War.
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Ford Popular
© Martin Charles Hatch – ShutterstockToday’s Ford Focus can trace its roots back to the Popular via the Escort and Anglia. We love the two-tone paint on this one.
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Austin A40
© Martin Charles Hatch – ShutterstockHaving enjoyed watching historic racing, this looks ripe for some kind of motorsport conversion. Andrew Jordan has got a lot to answer for.
Happy holidays: 20 classic British cars by the seaside
Enjoy these nostalgic photos of classic cars at the Great British seaside, from a Ford Popular to a Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow.
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