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So many classics to choose from. I don't think I could resist a 59 cadillac though.
The Romford road from Seven Kings, through Ilford, Manor Park, Forest Gate all the way through to Statford - a distance of perhaps 4 or 5 miles was full of second hand cars dealers - some of the lots backed on to the main railway line and included derelict WW2 bomb flattened sites. In the 50's and 60's and perhaps a little later were the places that many chose to buy an old banger from some fairly dubious looking characters. Many of these 'dealers' ran American cars, the '59 and '60 Cadillac was a popular choice....in fact anything big, shiny and bedecked with chrome did the job for the dealers. Thing was that no one, absolutely wanted these cars. They didn't want the Bentleys, Rolls Royces, Aston Martins either. UK plc was broke for at least 20 years after WW2 and it just wasn't the 'done thing' to have a flashy, ostentatious car that perhaps only did 10 mpg. Interestingly all these cars could be bought for peanuts.........especially the '59 and '60 Caddi's. People actually hated them - too big, too flashy, too American and, even worse over here in the UK. They were pennies to buy. You would actually see a few of them on the Romford road semi-derelict. Dealers couldn't sell them, they didn't care - just left them where they stood (being worth nothing as such) I remember a gold '59 or '60 - must have had the optional air suspension just sitting on its bump stops virtually on the ground in a side road near Woodgrange station for years.