Life on the UK’s roads in 1955 was also quite different to what we are used to today. Although traffic levels were similar to current conditions, 65 years ago there were no motorways to be found in Britain; the first section of dual carriageway ‘motorway’ not being opened in England until 1958 (the Preston Bypass in Lancashire, which now forms part of the M6 motorway). Britain's first full-length motorway, the M1, opened one year later in 1959.
Speed limits and drink-driving restrictions weren’t introduced to UK motorists for a further 12 years (in 1967), with seat belts not being fitted (as an extra cost option, and not obligatory to wear) until 1967 either.
The 3.3 million passenger cars on our roads in 1955 (33 million plus today) looked rather different 65 years ago too. There were no hatchbacks (the first not appearing for another four years, in the form of the innovative Pininfarina-designed Austin A4 Countryman), and no crossovers or SUVs (beyond the rustic Land Rover 4x4) existed. In addition, 1955 British motorists couldn’t enjoy the benefits of seatbelts, airbags, ABS, traction control, cupholders, alloy wheels and many other late 20th Century technical innovations.
Back in 1955, more than 95 per cent of the cars on our roads were made in the UK, as opposed to less than 20 per cent of all new cars now sold here being British-built. By 1955, five companies produced 90 per cent of the UK's motor vehicle output: Nuffield/BMC, Ford, Rootes, Standard-Triumph and Vauxhall, with three of these fully-British owned. Today, just Ford and Vauxhall have survived, both under overseas’ ownership.