Damn... I was going to feign outrage at the relative lack of Rootes Group stuff (actually, both of these ads were made after Rootes had been bought out and turned into Chrysler Europe) but YouTube searches have brought up very little from my favorite British car company. Oh well. Here's a newsreel of the '59 Earls Court Motor Show, with the brand-new Mini and the sleek new 100-mph Sunbeam Alpine:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKX5h0QNh1E&feature=channel_page
And here's a newsreel clip of the '63 show, where Rootes introduced Murilee's favorite, the delightful Hillman Imp:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SdnardvyOQ&feature=channel_page
The audio on the first one reminded me of why everybody wanted one of these--and launches a Sunday of introspective life review. Maybe I will go whittle one and make it smaller than an old shilling.
With all of that Leyland awesomeness, I'm saddened that I've only owned 2 of the cars shown, and the XJ-S only had a brief cameo in the 1977 BL ad. Fortunately, the Spitfire was featured prominently in more than one ad.
It is imperative that I add a Mini, and a TR-6 to my list of previously owned.
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@JoeHardrock: Actually, it's the second-sexiest. Here's the winner:
07/19/09
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKX5h0QNh1E&feature=channel_page
And here's a newsreel clip of the '63 show, where Rootes introduced Murilee's favorite, the delightful Hillman Imp:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SdnardvyOQ&feature=channel_page
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1959:
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It is imperative that I add a Mini, and a TR-6 to my list of previously owned.
07/19/09
07/19/09