Figure 1.--The average English family was not able to afford a car until well after World War II. Wealthy families and some middleclass families had cars, but few working-class families. One development as families began buying cars after the War was the caravan (trailer) and caravan holiday (vacation) parks. They were especilly popular along the southern coast near beaches.

The average English family was not able to afford a car until well after World War II. Wealthy families and some middleclass families had cars, but few working-class families. One development as families began buying cars after the War was the caravan (trailer) and caravan holiday (vacation) parks. They were especilly popular along the southern coast near beaches.

Family Cars

The average English family was not able to afford a car until well after World War II. Wealthy families and some middleclass families had cars, but few working-class families. Conditions were very difficult after the War. Beitain was bankrupted by the effort. Rationing continued for several years. Only in the 1950s did the economy begin to recover, but not as fast as the German economy. One factor here was Britain's Labour (Socialist) government.

The Austin

What we have here is a light van from Austin, dating from the late 1940s or the early 1950s (figure 1). Austin, based at Longbridge, Birmingham, was one of the constituent companies which eventually became MG Rover, the concern which finally closed down in 2005. Ford, a trans-European subsidiary of the American giant of the same name, remains intact despite being in the process of disposing of some specialist subsidiaries. The van was based on the Austin Devon saloon, which was in production from 1947 to 1952 and which was a big export model when the UK was in serious need of foreign exchange. The front-end (bonnet) and the cab closely resemble the saloon car, although (as the photograph shows) there is no chrome grill of a horizontal-bar design and the trim is generally reduced to functional level. The Devon was replaced by the short-lived Somerset but that model was not the basis of any commercial vehicle. In 1964 it was still a very familiar sight. When the Somerset gave place to the first Austin Cambridge in 1954, the van was updated also. The Cambridge's typical 1950s front end lent itself to the van treatment very well and that version remained in production well into the 1970s, at one stage carrying a Morris badge as well. Meanwhile the Cambridge received a radical redesign from the mid-point to the tail and backwards after about 3 years. That version was replaced in 1959 by an Italian-styled model, common to all the badges of the British Motor Corporation of which Austin was now a part.

Caravans

One development as families began buying cars after the War was the caravan (trailer) and caravan holiday (vacation) parks. I have not noted American-style motor homes in Britain, but I have noted caravans and caravn parks. I think they were more popular in the 60s-70s than they are now, but am not aure about that. Oil prices are probably a factor. These caravan parks were especilly popular along the southern coast near beaches. A reader tells us, "Caravan Parks in the early 21st century are all over the place. They are often situated at or near good views or the coast. These days they are often static Caravans and people stay in them and return home by car. Some rent them for a few days but others buy them and visit each weekend throughout the seasons. Lots of people do own a caravan and go out every weekend to a park."

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Created: 2:16 PM 6/25/2007
Last updated: 2:16 PM 6/25/2007