[Lily]

Hi everyone!! 👋

I spotted this series on one of our social media channels and thought it would be great to bring it over here to the Community too.

It’s a little challenge: can you guess the decade this photo is from?

Do you recognise the cars or the bridge?

[Beelzebub]

I'd guess the 1960s. Last days of RAC bikes, and early days of the Forth Road Bridge.

[Nick]

I would have guessed 60s too! @Beelzebub - what made you think of the Forth Bridge in this picture - to my lazy / ignorant / untrained eye it could be one of any number of bridges around the country! lol

[Beelzebub]

Originally Posted by Nick

I would have guessed 60s too! @Beelzebub - what made you think of the Forth Bridge in this picture - to my lazy / ignorant / untrained eye it could be one of any number of bridges around the country! lol

OK, on a more considered look, I think I was wrong. The FRB (1964) has four lanes and a central barrier, as has the Severn Bridge (1966). My guess was a publicity photo from its opening.

So, no idea!

[Nick]

I searched using the image in Google Lens and it suggested the bridge was likely the Severn Bridge... I have no idea also!

[olduser]

The old Severn Bridge (opened I think 1966) had four lanes and footways/cycle paths out side the support cables. I am not sure what it has at the moment, since the second bridge was built. I think the old bridge had some load restrictions (max 7.5 tones) put upon it due to corrosion found after the new bridge was built but remedial work may/should have been carried out by now?
Anyway the picture is not the Severn Bridge, and I can't think of a suspension bridge with cable towers like that with only a normal (2 lane) road crossing? And it's annoying. 😐

[Drivingforfun]

Would it be the Dartford bridge, a previous one maybe?

Based on it looks like both of the lanes go the same way, and I can't see a 2nd bridge next to it for opposite traffic

[Drivingforfun]

I just looked and seems the bridge was built there in the late 80s

Sadly I believe they did have colour photos when my parents were teenagers 😅

[Beelzebub]

Originally Posted by Drivingforfun

Would it be the Dartford bridge, a previous one maybe?

Based on it looks like both of the lanes go the same way, and I can't see a 2nd bridge next to it for opposite traffic

There was no earlier Dartford Bridge - just a tunnel.

I'd assumed the bridge in the photo was two-way, and the white car* was overtaking. I suspect the RAC bike, and the RAC minivan behind, may have been going slow for a posed photo.

* = BMC 1100 or 1300?

[Rolebama]

The RAC bike and car I believe are from the 50s. I recognize the car on the left, but can't place it.

[Lily]

@Rolebama, @Nick, @Beelzebub, @Drivingforfun. Thanks for taking part! Now it’s time for the answers…

(Drumroll… 🥁)

The bridge: Since I live in Wales, this one was easy for me, but I can see how it might be trickier if you haven’t visited. Some of you were very close (and a few spot on)! It’s not the Prince of Wales Bridge (that opened in the 90s), but the older one, now known as the M48 Severn Bridge.

The decade: The photo is from the 1960s. Well done to those who nailed it! 🎉

The car: Most likely a Hillman Minx (Series V or VI, circa 1964–1967).

So… what do you think, shall we make this a regular series? Just one rule though: no cheating with Google Lens (sorry, boss — that makes it far too easy 😉).

[Beelzebub]

Originally Posted by Lily

The car: Most likely a Hillman Minx (Series V or VI, circa 1964–1967).

So… what do you think, shall we make this a regular series? Just one rule though: no cheating with Google Lens (sorry, boss — that makes it far too easy 😉).

I'll stick with my earlier answer - Austin 1100/1300. See this image for comparison.

[Lily]

@Beelzebub the car is the only bit I don't have an official answer for and you are right, the one in the pic looks an awful lot like the the Austin!

[NMNeil]

@Lily It is, I've owned plenty over the years and served my apprenticeship fixing them. 😁
It's not too clear but the car following may be an A35.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austin_A35

[Lily]

@NMNeil they are such beautiful cars! It must have been great to work on then. Thanks for letting us know so we can make it official.

OK, so the answers are an Austin 35, M38 Severn Bridge and the 60s.

[olduser]

Originally Posted by Beelzebub

There was no earlier Dartford Bridge - just a tunnel.

I'd assumed the bridge in the photo was two-way, and the white car* was overtaking. I suspect the RAC bike, and the RAC minivan behind, may have been going slow for a posed photo.

* = BMC 1100 or 1300?

Ah yes, Beelzebub I forgot about the 1300, how could I forget the 1275cc A series engine it went into the Mini Cooper S! I must be getting old.
I never owned an Austin 1100/1300 but I did sort one or two suspensions on them for neighbours, when the garage had screwed them up.

[olduser]

Originally Posted by Lily

@Rolebama, @Nick, @Beelzebub, @Drivingforfun. Thanks for taking part! Now it’s time for the answers…

(Drumroll… 🥁)

The bridge: Since I live in Wales, this one was easy for me, but I can see how it might be trickier if you haven’t visited. Some of you were very close (and a few spot on)! It’s not the Prince of Wales Bridge (that opened in the 90s), but the older one, now known as the M48 Severn Bridge.

The decade: The photo is from the 1960s. Well done to those who nailed it! 🎉

The car: Most likely a Hillman Minx (Series V or VI, circa 1964–1967).

So… what do you think, shall we make this a regular series? Just one rule though: no cheating with Google Lens (sorry, boss — that makes it far too easy 😉).

Sorry to be a pain but the original Severn bridge carried the M4 across the rivers Severn and Wye.

It had two lanes in each direction. (I used it often in the toll days, I lived in South Wales then)
The new bridge also has four lanes and the M4 was diverted to the new bridge.
The 'spare' bit of the M4 was renamed M48, and the old bridge became the M48 Severn Crossing.

I never did use the new crossing before I left, I think when we left Wales the tolls had just ended, and the new bridge had not opened but was near completion.
On both bridges the suspension cables are outside the roads, on the old bridge the footpaths are cantilevered outside the suspension points (hangers). The locals told me there had been restrictions on the old bridge from time to time due to corrosion in the cables but the problems were fixed, and the bridge was back to normal.

Since the new bridge came into service, the old bridge was found to have more corrosion troubles resulting in a weight limit of 7.5 tons or may be 7.5 tonnes until a fix was found.

The bridge in the picture has two visible lanes between the hangers so is not the M48 Severn bridge? Beyond saying it is a suspension bridge with two lanes I am stumped.

[NMNeil]

The 1100/1300 number plate ends in the number 8, so it was made pre 1963 which is when they first introduced suffix letters to signify the year.
The Severn Bridge was opened in 1966.
Looking at the distinctive shape of the support towers and the street lights I'm going to say; Severn bridge in 1966.

[NMNeil]

I forgot to add that the RAC used 500cc Norton bikes and sidecars untill 1963 when the RAC ordered 100 Austin and Morris vans to gradually phase out the bikes which took until the early 80's.

[Beelzebub]

Originally Posted by NMNeil

The 1100/1300 number plate ends in the number 8, so it was made pre 1963 which is when they first introduced suffix letters to signify the year.

Not necessarily definitive. Not all councils started using alpha suffixes immediately in 1963, particularly smaller ones.

I seem to remember that Caithness held out for 2-3 years. They had only reached CSKnnn on the old system, so there was clearly no risk of running out of numbers.

Also, it could have been an Irish reg, or even a vanity plate.

[olduser]

The plot thickens - in video note arrangement of suspension cables, note guard rails at base of tower, and four lanes;

https://youtu.be/JL0BG3ozVnU

Photo from the old severn bridge opening:

Shows cables again;

https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/b...dge2_lloyd.png