With Travel and Transport this month's theme from Sepia Saturday, I take a look here at the fashions worn by my family when out in the car.
No fashion with my first photograph, but it is such a good image and story. This is my cousin's first ever car - a 1932 Morris Minor. It was the only car he ever had where he made a profit when he sold it, He bought it in 1958 for £20 and sold it a year later for £30! The photograph is taken near Inverary in the west of Scotland on the Rest and Be Thankful road, - notorious for landslips, snow and road closed warnings!
No fashion with my first photograph, but it is such a good image and story. This is my cousin's first ever car - a 1932 Morris Minor. It was the only car he ever had where he made a profit when he sold it, He bought it in 1958 for £20 and sold it a year later for £30! The photograph is taken near Inverary in the west of Scotland on the Rest and Be Thankful road, - notorious for landslips, snow and road closed warnings!
My Dad, John Weston (on the left) with his brother Charles. I was delighted to get this photograph from my cousin, as it is one of the few photographs I have of my father prior to his marriage in 1938 to my mother Kathleen Danson. John and Charles were close as brothers and often went on motoring trips together. Here looking very suave in a smart casual style of the day. c.1936 Can anyone name the make of car?
My cousin's little son, learning to drive at an early age! My brother had a very similar pedal car - but no photographs appear to have been taken. Boys clothes seldom change - T-short and shorts remain standard wear.
You can just make out the car here, behind my brother in a typical 1950's boy's outfit. But why on earth was he photographed amongst all that litter (not created by our picnic, I am sure) My father was a sales representative for the firm which manufactured the popular drink Lucozade and I think Chris was demonstrating it here for a mock advert.
Same car, same year and a happy photograph of my Dad.
Mum with her sister, my Aunt Edith - same car and in the background the faint image of Forth Rail Bridge (built 1882 and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site) and in the foreground the Forth Road Bridge. Even for a causal drive out, it was hat, court shoes, gloves and large handbag. My mother must have been around 60 years old at this time - what a contrast to casual wear today, even for 60 years old's plus
Sunday afternoon pften meant we drove out to see the building of the Forth Road Bridge. Before then, you had to join the queue at South Quensferry to cross the River Forth on a ferry, first established by Queen Margaret of Scotland in the 11th century to transport pilgrims to Dunfermline Abbey and St. Andrew's . The opening in 1964 by the Queen of the 1.6 mile Road Bridge - at the time the longest suspension bridge outside the USA - was a major event in Scottish transport linking Edinburgh with the north east of the country.
(I always like adding a bit of trivia history to a post!)
(I always like adding a bit of trivia history to a post!)
I have shown this photograph before on my blog, but it fits my theme of cars and fashion so well. This was my husband's first car -
a silver grey Ford Escort, bought just a few weeks before we first met
in 1970. He was always proud of his cars and looked after them well.
This brings back memories of our engagement. It must have been love,
that he actually suggested I sat on top of the car for this photograph -
not something he has allowed since! But note the thoughtful touch of the tartan rug. I am in fashion with my miniskirt, peter pan collar, and
1970's striped coat!
By 1972 we had graduated to a bronze Ford Cortina and this reminds me of the time when we were planning for the birth of our daughter - so a larger car was called for with room for the pram and all the baby paraphernalia etc. This photograph was taken near Smailholm Tower in the Scottish Borders. I am wearing a pinafore dress that was all the rage then.
I know - showing off in my mini skirt! c.1970. Those large dark framed specs are back in fashion now.
A great combination of photos of cars & fashions of the different eras. But you're right - how things have changed over the years . . . especially in the way we dress. So less formal. I'm not sure that's ALL good, but certainly more comfortable & practical.
ReplyDeleteOh this was fun! I'm realizing how few pictures we have of our past cars. And like you, when I look at the oldest photos with cars, I'm curious about the makes and models.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the fashion road trip - that was fabulous, fashion in clothes and car styles.
ReplyDeleteI love seeing the similarities in our lives, and the differences too! The history remarks are really helpful in that way. I wouldn't know much about Scotland otherwise! We did Sunday drives all through my early years (40s-50s) and yes, still wore our church clothes as well! Not as many pics of the clothes we wore though...but I think I will do a SS post about cars in my life also!
ReplyDeleteVery fun post and great photos, the cars and the fashions are so evocative of their times.
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ReplyDeleteYour family clearly like sitting on cars! I like the one of you perching there model-style and also the last one, showing off your legs. I might graduate from bikes to cars in my next post.
ReplyDeleteps. Sunday drives were a popular family activity when I was a child too. Not so popular with us children though - "Mum, Do we have to??"
DeleteThank you to everyone for their kind comments. It was a fun post to write. Like Barbara, I enjoy reading the similarities and differences in our lives. And, yes, Jo, I can't say my brother and I were always enthusiastic about yet another Sunday outing in the car, but looking back it was a change of scenery for my mother who didn't drive.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful theme this is. It reminds me of how many cars are in the photos I have of my ancestors and immediate family. You've given me food for thought for posts on my blog. Thank you. I really enjoyed this post.
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