Here are three fun images from Westgrove Rambler-Hillman in Toronto. There’s much on the dealer’s display, with all Ramblers in the “New” area seeming to be ’61 models, which pretty much dates the images.
Meanwhile, there’s a good deal of traffic action too. From the passing Dodge above, the Beetle below, and a few more British and other models in the last image.
2-tone Vauxhall or Envoy wagon crossing the intersection and a white Morris Minor driving away form the camera
Plus even rarer maybe 1959 2dr Ford full size wagon behind the Minor
The ’59 Ford is one of my least favorite designs , but I must say without all the chrome as seen in this picture it looks a lot better.
There’s another one on the left, a black one. Two in one shot; impressive.
61 Vauxhall Victor same age as the Hillmans for sale the blue car looks to be a 3AorB 60 61 models
There is a digital display above the Rambler sign. On first impression, I thought it read 103 degrees thinking Arizona or New Mexico.
Upon reading the reference to Toronto, I would image it displays the local time. Looks like the final digit is missing. Therefore, its approximately 10:30 AM when the pictures were taken.
Here’s an earlier picture of that building when it was occupied by Dick Jupp Dodge/DeSoto. Westgrove Rambler opened in 1959, but didn’t last long under that name since the business was sold in 1962 and renamed McDowell Rambler.
That’s an awesome roof-mounted sign, but I suspect it was removed when the dealership was sold not long after these photos were taken.
British cars were popular already there then. A Morris Oxford and two Minors in this picture. And is that a Sunbeam-Talbot 90 saloon further in the row? Probably not, picture is too vague to be certain.
I think you’re right, it might be a S-T. Given the Rambler connection perhaps it’s appropriate that the model of Morris Oxford shown was the one that was later built in India as the Ambassador.
Great pictures!
Hillman Minx sedan, convertible and a rare wagon. Two Sunbeam Rapiers and two Alpines. Plus what looks like an Austin A50 in the last pic.
and what looks like a Rover P4 right at the back in picture 3
Is that beige one, next to the “Ramblers”, one of the “Rapier’s”? Looks like a smaller “Stude Hawk”.
The convert, with the top down is a looker.
Interesting to see that a Hillman dealer is also clearly selling Sunbeams – plenty of Alpine and Rapiers to choose from. And why would Rootes sell Canadians a convertible Rapier and a convertible Hillman Minx? Scratches head…..
Hillman dealer in my [UK] home town sold all the Rootes group products.
Hillman dealers here sold Hillmans only rebadged Hillmans sold at their own franchises even though it was the same damn car, shades of the GM T cars we got
I grew up in Toronto around this time and one of our neighbours had a Rapier convertible. They certainly were not common and I don’t remember ever seeing a Hillman convertible version. Morris Minors were relatively common and my best friend’s mother drove one. It is the first English car I remember riding in. It is still a favourite of mine.
Minx Gazelle and Rapier all came in drophead coupe form at different price points.
Canadians do buy or did buy convertibles despite the climate. Fun photos. Thanks. After he got rid of the Hillman line, did he take on The Ex Calibur?
Nice, I love looking at all the vehicles and remembering .
-Nate
This website
https://vintagetorontodealers.blogspot.com/p/chrylser-dealerships.html
says that Dick Jupp Dodge was at 3300 Bloor St. W., which today is on the northeast corner of Bloor and Islington.
I anticipate that the buildings the Rambler dealer and Dick Jupp occupied had to be expropriated when the TTC subway was being extended to Islington Ave., then to Kipling Ave.
I frequented this area in my youth, picking up the bus to go to college, and picking up my Dad at work, across the street at Brewers’ Retail.
Thanks for posting these.
Now that’s an interesting connection. Dad had a Hillman Husky for a few years when I was very little – I barely remember rolling around in the back (only two seats up front). I’m fuzzy on the order of his cars, but it may well have been succeeded by his Rambler American.
I had a Commer Cob identical to the van in the post but it had a rear seat fitted like a Husky the Cob was the commercial version, same dark green wish I still had it but a fleet downsize and move meant it and a 51 flathead Humber ten/Minx had to go
Dad’s Husky did not have a rear seat at all (I may have been unclear in stating ‘two seats up front’).
The cars in traffic and the used cars on the lot are wearing black license plates with white digits. Ontario plates in this era alternated between a black background in odd-numbered years and a white background in even-numbered years. With the new ’61 Ramblers on the lot (they have fins, so they’re not ’62s), these photos can reliably be dated to 1961.
The Hillmans Minx and Husky pictured are 60 or 61 models the side trim changed on Minxs in 62.