09 Sep 08
September 2008 brings the new '58 numberplate, and a large number of newly-launched cars to choose from. But what was new in the motoring world in 1958, 50 years ago?
'In every way Britain tends to become overcrowded,' complains the leading editorial in the January 1 issue of Motor magazine. 'It is possible to deal with the housing situation by intelligent building and already we see a change in many an English skyline as massive new structures appear. Only the roads remain in a semi-antiquated state.'
Clearly some things never change. 'As more and more new vehicles pour onto our roads a premium will be placed on acceleration,' Motor agued, 'because unless the time occupied in overtaking is reduced substantially, the day will come when vehicles will crawl bonnet to tail at a speed dictated by the slowest movers'. Little did they know what was to come...
We choose 10 of our favourite new cars - good, bad and ugly - from 1958.
