Cars & Classics: Fit for a King

Several automobiles introduced for the 1953 coronation of King George VI are now featured on the premier online classic and specialist vehicle site Car & Classic as highly sought-after examples of classic British design.

In 1953, little under 600,000 automobiles were produced, and more than half of these were slated for export. Their numbers have more than doubled over the past seventy years, and the automotive industry has become one of the most vital and successful in any economy thanks to massive advances in engineering, production, and promotion. The novelty and desirability of 1953's hottest products will remain strong in 2023.

“At the time of King Charles III’s Coronation, Car & Classic’s online platform hosts famous brands and models which have lost none of the charm and sparkle but keep stimulating the attention of punters, not just in the UK but across Europe and beyond,” says Car & Classic’s Editor Dale Vinten.

The Austin-derived overhead valve A-series engine found in the postwar, mass-produced Morris Minor Series II was a significant upgrade over the preceding prewar side-valve unit and a product of the newly established British Motor Corporation. Elizabeth II's coronation would have taken place a year after the purchase of this late Series II 1954 Morris Minor saloon. It went for £5,000 in August 2022 and is clearly still going strong.

1954 Triumph TR2

The original buyer of this 1954 Triumph TR2, the flagship of the Standard Motor Company's lineup, must have thought it was a steal at £800 (it was the cheapest sportscar to exceed 100mph in the early '50s, according to The Motor magazine), because it is currently up for auction with Car & Classic and has already received bids of up to £16k with five days left to go.

Fit for a King: this 346 1954 Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire was the first of the marque's range when it was launched in 1952 - and it still looks regal now: it sold two months ago for £9,000; the company produced luxury cars from the '30s, and in fact, one was used by the Prince of Wales (who would later become King Edward VIII) during his 1930 Uganda tour.

Many stars coveted by postwar petrolheads were on display at the 1952 Earls Court Motor Show, which showcased all the latest models being driven at the time of the previous Coronation, but few had as much success as the brand new Healey 100 sportscar, manufacture of which began seventy years ago. A right-hand-drive 1953 Austin Healey 100/4 was sold for £40,000 in 2022. It was the first year of production for this model. 

1953 Land Rover Series 1

1953 Aston Martin DB2

This Land Rover Series 1 was one of more than 340,000 British-made vehicles exported that year, and it served as a farm vehicle for the next 64 years. The newly crowned Queen had a few Land Rovers, which were particularly useful on the Balmoral Estate and, say, Australian farms. It was shipped back to the UK in 2017 and sold for £20,250 just last month.

The current King is known to drive his DB6 "fueled by white wine and cheese," making Aston Martin a must-have on any list of classic cars worthy of the Coronation. The DB2 was introduced in 1950, and the DB2/4 was introduced in 1953.

This 1953 Aston Martin DB2, currently stationed in France, is evidence of Car & Classic's global reach. With five days left in the auction, the current high offer is £50,000 (it was registered when Charles III was almost five years old). 

Discover more: Cars & Classics