Five for the Anglophile

Cars, songs, girls' names and cocktails. It's all here folks.

Too many bloated Americans on the list I hear you saying. New Zealand was always a diverse market and took a bit from everywhere even if many of the Yanks were Canadians in thin disguise. So while a mauve Pontiac Laurentian might have been everything a successful dairy farmer could want in the 1960s, his barrister might have wanted something from the following list...

1954 Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire Upper crust car purchasers had numerous choices in post-war England and her colonies, even if many of these manufacturers struggled to see out the decade. So it was with Armstrong Siddeley who branched out into aero engine manufacture just as Rolls Royce had done. Their cars were excellently engineered but not as modernist as a Rover or as gauche as a Jaguar. The 3.45 litre Sapphire was a sprightly performer although the late 1940s looks were becoming dated as the decade progressed. For: Deceptively quick and well made. Against: Pipe and slippers aesthetics.

1954 MG TF The T series was the last of the small MG sports car programme that dated from the 1930s. Americans were passionate about them as the light weight bodywork and open cockpit made for a lively drive even if the maximum speed was minimal. The TF tided the marque over prior to the barchetta-style MGA but it was a fairly thorough upgrade of the rather sorry TD. This three owner car is unrestored but original which counts for something these days. For: Get it and use it. Against: Antiquated.

1961 Daimler SP250 The homely looks of the Daimler sports car meant that many of its good points were overlooked, particularly when an E-type cost the same sort of money. History has corrected this and they now look characteristic of their period. The chassis was very similar to the period Triumph TR and consequently flexed and bounced around a bit. These deficiencies were fixed by Jaguar when they acquired the ailing Daimler business, mainly for the manufacturing capacity and Edward Turner's exquisite V8 engines. For: 28K is around half a big Healey so has to be good value. Against: She went to the ball but no-one asked her to dance.

1961 MG Magnette This is a real test for those who like their MGs to look like SPAD biplanes. The Farina designed Magnette was a poorer car than the one it replaced by many measures. The soft springing and inaccurate steering were a step back from the older car and the traditional instruments seemed anachronistic in the up to date styling. Still, a rare sight today and more fun than a Wolesley, if such a thing can be imagined. For: Quaint. Against: Wait for a Riley.

MG 6R4 Group B After they finished the dead parrot sketch they went on to write the engineering brief for the MG rally car. The absurd reality of something resembling a Putney pensioners shopping wagon capable of Formula 1 speeds was one of the great spectacles of the day and for 145K you too could frighten yourself to death. For: Hilarious. Against: Not for nervous drivers.