SPEEDEX advertising etc from the ‘50s & ‘60s

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SPEEDEX advertised in many of the motoring magazines and club publications of the late 1950’s and early 1960’s. These adverts and other articles are an insight into the development of the company and its products. Some of items advertised have no current survivors (has anybody a 750 or Silverstone hardtop? Were any actually made or sold?). These presented here are a typical sample of the adverts and other information.

Interesting features copied elsewhere on this site both have the same title ‘Stupendous Seven from Speedex’. The first is a review of Jem Marsh’s car that appeared in the November 1959 edition of Cars Illustrated after his championship winning racing season in the car. The second is about a 750 discovered in the early 80’s and appears in the ‘82B edition of the magazine of the Austin Seven Clubs Association, the identical title of these is intended to draw comparisons between the two cars. Both articles are reprinted on this site, use the hyperlink buttons to the left or bottom of each page.

 

But first, whilst not really an advert is this lovely cutaway drawing of a 750. It probably made very effective advertising when it was published in the July 1960 750 MC Bulletin.

Finally as a post script here is a copy of the Cambridge advert from the May 1962 750MC Bulletin. Note that alloy  wheels and the Silverstone body are now available from them, after the SPEEDEX company was wound up. The traditionally styled Cambridge body considered ‘old fashioned’ at that time, now favourable in vintage circles, was very competitively priced at £27.10.0 against the ‘modern’ Silverstone at £55, the 750 was priced at £49 by Speedex.

Early adverts are interesting as they show the range of equipment available like this one from the July 1958 750 Bulletin. However, I’ve only seen one twin Zenith manifold and that one had never been drilled, nobodies seen a SPEEDEX twin choke Stromberg manifold. Dante did make both of these, there’s a fair few Stromberg ones about, perhaps they were advertised to see if any orders (not many presumably) were made. Note how, apart from the radiator and rev counter, all the parts are aluminium castings.

A new casting was advertised in the August 1958 750 Bulletin advert—the SPEEDEX wheel and the new body shell was the 750—no picture of a built car yet though.

Also typical of the early Company adverts; without any illustrations is from the May 1959 750 Bulletin, the advertised body shell at £49 is the 750. The first pictures of a built up car appeared in January 1959 as below, the factory demonstrator had been built and it is used with Jem on board in an advert, note how taller buyers are not discouraged by referring to Jem being 6’ 3”.

The next one from the December 1959 Motor Sport shows the SPEEDEX Spree Kart and the options available. Note how the seat is the same as that sold for cars, perhaps a clue as to where to get seats now if you haven’t got any—modern Go Karts? SPEEDEX had moved from Jubilee St to Windsor St. by this time.

This January 1960 advert from Car Mechanics shows both 750 and the Silverstone models. Silverstone adverts usually featured a picture of a Team Sigma prototype rather than a ‘production’ shell, note how the number plate has been blanked out in the picture, does it have any headlights? Production Silverstone’s had recessed lights with moulded Perspex covers.

Next up is an advert from the February 1961 Motor Sport with a line drawing of the Sirocco. It suggests that many orders were taken when the prototype was shown at the New Year motor show, the numbers sold suggest otherwise. The June ‘61 750 Bulletin advert shows progress had been made with a photo of a completed Sirocco.