Motor Sport magazine : Birthday issue

[Asimo]

I was brought up on Motor Sport magazine. There were hundreds of back issues dating back to the '40s, mouldering in the back of various old heaps that Dad had given up on and I spent many happy hours there, inhaling dust and spores and cars.

The magazine has all of these issues fully scanned, adverts, letters, the lot, all on-line. Just change the month and year at the end of this link to get the issue you want.  

https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/issues/march-1957

My "birthday issue"

Includes an ad. for the delightful Berkeley.  A front-wheel drive two stroke. 

Some of the small ads are worth a look.

 

£345 for a Mercedes 500K!   Easily 200 times as much today.  I wonder who the famous comedian previous owner was?

[spike60]

There must've been a few of those Mercs about, presumably brought back at the war end. On the sofa next to me I have a 1953 Autosport with a 1938 Mercedes 540k  cab for £575 in the small ads. I imagine £575 was a lot of money in 1953 though.

[lesapandre]

Possibly George Formby who was a keen owner of interesting cars in the 30's.

[supermellowman]

Great find. I’ll play. 11 years later....

Ford present the 1600E. Seems so modern in this context.

[HMC]

41 minutes ago, Asimo said:

I was brought up on Motor Sport magazine. There were hundreds of back issues dating back to the '40s, mouldering in the back of various old heaps that Dad had given up on and I spent many happy hours there, inhaling dust and spores and cars.

The magazine has all of these issues fully scanned, adverts, letters, the lot, all on-line. Just change the month and year at the end of this link to get the issue you want.  

https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/issues/march-1957

My "birthday issue"

Includes an ad. for the delightful Berkeley.  A front-wheel drive two stroke. 

Some of the small ads are worth a look.

 

£345 for a Mercedes 500K!   Easily 200 times as much today.  I wonder who the famous comedian previous owner was?

Tony Hancock? He had a 50s 300sl gullwing so was a bit of a Merc fan.

[NorfolkNWeigh]

38 minutes ago, Asimo said:

I was brought up on Motor Sport magazine. There were hundreds of back issues dating back to the '40s, mouldering in the back of various old heaps that Dad had given up on and I spent many happy hours there, inhaling dust and spores and cars.

The magazine has all of these issues fully scanned, adverts, letters, the lot, all on-line. Just change the month and year at the end of this link to get the issue you want.  

https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/issues/march-1957

My "birthday issue"

Includes an ad. for the delightful Berkeley.  A front-wheel drive two stroke. 

Some of the small ads are worth a look.

 

£345 for a Mercedes 500K!   Easily 200 times as much today.  I wonder who the famous comedian previous owner was?

Am I right in thinking some Berkeley’s were kickstart, as in open the bonnet and put your foot in to start it?

Also it may be worth knocking on the door of 21 Drummond Drive , Stanmore. It might still be sitting in the garage.

[barrett]

Berkeleys all had a Siba Dynastart. Early Bond Minicars had a kick-start and, yes, you put your foot into the 'engine bay' and gave it a good kick! No room for that sort of nonsense under a Berkeley with all the fwd gubbins etc

The Berkeley is probably the most fun slow car I've ever driven. Really impeccible handling and it feels much faster than it actually is. You can almost feel your bum scraping the tarmac you're so low down. I bet the big-block ones are ridiculous.

 

[Vantman]

Now i feel really old,--

[Kringle]

Wow thank you so much for this! A quality magazine and I will now hope for a lengthy lockdown. 

[rmjbn1]

Great idea! I've always had a soft spot for Motor Sport magazine. Here's mine from December 1978 with glorious cover action shot featuring Bill Boddy on a 1901 Wolseley and delightful South London scenery, plus selected highlights:

Well, Vauxhall were just teasing us back then, weren't they?

And, er, cavalier... handling?

cavalier adjective /ˌkæv.əlˈɪər/ definition: 1. not considering other people's feelings or safety

Looks like exciting times ahead for Lancia UK in 1978! "The most Italian car." Nobody's going to argue with that.

Well, that's a relief.

Or there's a DB4 instead going for £3,400 (about £17K in today's money, apparently)

Hey everyone! What are you doing tonight? I need to know.

The ad. agency clearly knew they'd come up with an inspired campaign there, so why not just run with it?

 

[Asimo]

That very "Road Impressions" article began my unhealthy interest in Gammas. 

Which still surfaces from time to time.    

[NorfolkNWeigh]

February 1964, Dan Gurney overtaking John Surtees in South Africa.

Traditional sports cars still ruled the desires of young men, I know this because my Dad who was 17 then has always blamed my birth on him never having a TR4.

Last year he bought one, he paid £20,000 which is equivalent to £1000 in 64, which is about what they cost.

This along with the Mini Cooper were about to decimate  that traditional British sports car market, similar price then, just as well my Dad didn’t want one that’d be at least another £40,000 off my inheritance, today.

They may look cheap, but if you remember that £1000 then to £20,000 now, it makes you realise we’ve never had it so good!

This 4 speed auto conversion is interesting and something I’ve never heard of, wonder if any survive?