1967, Car Spotting: Maastricht

First row (left, next to the man with the hat):

Unidentified car, probably Ford Cortina Mk II.

Second row, left to right: 

Citroën Ami 6, Škoda 1000 MB, Ford Taunus Transit (FK 1000/1250), NSU Prinz 4, Vauxhall FB (Victor) VX4/90, Volvo P130 Amazon, Mercedes-Benz W120/121 (Ponton), Triumph Vitesse convertible.

Third row, left to right: 

Ford Taunus P3 17M Turnier ("Badewannetaunus”), Fiat 1300/1500, Volkswagen Type 1 1200/1300 (Beetle), Ford Cortina Mk Ia, BMW 2000 Neue Klasse (Typ 120), Ford Cortina Mk Ib, Volkswagen T1 (Type 2), Volkswagen T1 (Type 2), Volkswagen T1 (Type 2).

Fourth row (street): 

Austin/Morris Mini (BMC Mini Mark I), Ford Taunus P4 12M, unidentified car probably Opel.

1967, Cars: Matra (Simca) M530

French car maker Matra introduced their new sports car, the Matra Sports M530A, on March 7, 1967 at the Geneva Motor Show. It was the first fully new car developed by Matra Sports. It's predecessor, the Matra Djet, had been designed by René Bonnet as the René Bonnet Djet. The new Matra, named after Matra's R530 missile, was designed by former Simca designer Philippe Guédon.

The M530 had a steel frame with polyester body and a mid-engine, resulting a 2+2 layout with a reasonable boot. Various engines were tested (Renault Cléon-Alu engine (R16), VW 1500 engine (Type 3), BMW M10 engine (Neue Klasse 1800), Simca 1500 engine,...) and finally Matra decided to use the 1699 cc Ford V4 engine with 51 kW from the Ford Taunus 15M/17M combined with the gearbox from the Ford Taunus 15M (P6). The M530 had a targa roof and pop-up headlights. The engine bay was accesible by removing the rear acrylic window.

Predecessor: Matra Djet

Matra M530a

In 1969 the M530 followed the same evolution as the Ford Taunus 15M TS, power was increased to 55 kW. In 1970 the M530 gets a minor redesign by Michelotti with a new front bumper and rear hatch made of glass opening with struts. The car was renamed as Matra Simca M530LX because Matra closed a deal with Chrysler Europe, to sell their cars through the Simca dealer network.

Matra Simca M530LX

Matra Simca 530SX

Matra Simca 530SX and Matra Simca 530LX

In 1971 a budget version is introduced as the Matra Simca 530SX. The M530SX has no targa roof and no pop-up headlights, instead there were four fixed headlights. The SX was only available in orange and white with black bumpers instead of chrome bumpers. In 1973 the M530 was replaced by the Matra-Simca Bagheera with Simca engine. A total of 9,609 M530's were produced: 2062 Matra Sports M530A, 4731 Matra Simca M530LX and 1146 Matra Simca 530SX.

BRT Autorama (1970): Matra Simca 530LX, song "Viva el amor" in English by Will Tura

Brochures:
Matra M530, France (1968)
Matra Simca M530lx, France (1972)

1967, Deaths: French Film Actress Martine Carol, Dead

6 February 1967, French actress Martine Carol died of a heart attack in Monte Carlo, she was 46. Carol was found dead in her room at the Hotel de Paris by her husband, British businessman Mike Eland. The actress was invited by producer Gino del Duca to attend the premiere of the film “Arrivederci Baby”, starring Tony Curtis and Zsa Zsa Gabor.

Born on 16 May 1920 as Marie-Louise Jeanne Nicolle Mourer in Saint-Mandé, Val-de-Marne, (France), she followed acting lessons by René Simon. In 1940 she made her stage début in "Phedre" as Maryse Arley and in 1941 she appeared, although uncredited, in her first film: "Le dernier des six". In 1943 she did attract attention in the film “La ferme aux loups” with her acting and photogenic beauty. As one of the most beautiful women in film, she was frequently cast as an elegant blonde seductress. During the late 1940s and early 1950s she was the female top actress of the French cinema. At the time she was considered as the French version of Marilyn Monroe.

Martine Carol with Antonio Vilar in "Le désir et l'amour" (1951)

Martine Carol with Christian-Jaque ("Adorables créatures", 1952)

In 1947 she had an affair with Georges Marchal, her first great love. However Marchal prefered actress Dany Robin. The love affair ended disastrously as Carol attempted suicide on the 10the of April 1947 by throwing herself into the Seine River at the Alma bridge. She was saved by a taxi driver. In 1951 she married the American actor Stephen Crane, the previously Lana Turner's husband. The same year she scored her first huge success with the film "Caroline chérie", an adaption of the Cécil Saint-Laurent novels.

Martine Carol with Véra Norman in "Un caprice de Caroline chérie" (1953)

Martine Carol with Bernard Blier in "Secrets d'alcôve" (1954)

She continued with an array of costumed dramas such as "Adorables créatures" (1952), "Lucrèce Borgia" (1953), "Madame du Barry" (1954) and "Nana" (1955), all directed by her second husband French filmmaker Christian-Jacque, whom she married in 1954. She divorced him in 1959 due to professional conflicts and long separations.

Martine Carol with Raf Vallone in "La spiaggia" (1954)

Martine Carol with Anton Walbrook in "Lola Montès" (1955)

In 1955 she played the title role in Max Ophüls's "Lola Montès", portraying a circus performer. By the mid 50s, Brigitte Bardot had replaced Martine Carole on the goddess pedestal and her career went into decline. Depressed, Martine turned reclusive while her third marriage to French doctor Andre Rouveix also ended by 1962. She made her last film "Hell Is Empty" in 1963 but it was not released until 1967. Her last marriage to fourth husband Mike Eland, an English businessman, seemed hopeful, but on February 6, 1967, Martine died of cardiac arrest at age 46. Initially she was buried in the Père Lachaise Cemetery, Paris. But after the violation of her grave she was reburied in the Grand Jas Cemetery of Cannes. 

Martine Carol with Sean Connery in "Action of the Tiger" (1957)

Martine Carol with Jeff Chandler in "Ten Seconds to Hell" (1959)

Martine Carol with Jean Gabin in "Le cave se rebiffe" (1961)

1967, Cars: Aston Martin DBS

British car maker Aston Martin Lagonda introduced the new DBS at Blenheim Palace on September 25, 1967. Designed by William Towns, the new DBS was intended as a successor to the Aston Martin DB6, although the two ran concurrently for three years.

The new Aston Martin DBS retained the six-cylinder, 3,995 cc from the Aston Martin DB6. The standard L6 engine power output was 210 kW, but an extra engine option offered Italian made Weber carburetors, increasing the power output to 242 kW (DBS Vantage). The car was a larger more "modern" coupé than the DB6, with four full sized seats. Trademark Aston design features, such as a bonnet scoop, wire wheels, and side air vents with stainless steel brightwork were however retained.

Predecessor Aston Martin DB6

Aston Martin DBS (series 1, 1967 - 1969)

Aston Martin DBS (series 1, 1967 - 1969)

Aston Martin DBS (series 1, 1967 - 1969)

From 27 September, 1969 the car was also available with a 5.3 L V8 engine as the Aston Martin DBS V8. The power output was around 235 kW. The DBS V8 could hit 60 mph (97 km/h) in 5.9 seconds and had a top speed of nearly 257 km/h. Besides the engine differences, the DBS V8, used 15'' light weight alloy wheels with ventilated brake discs as opposed to the wire wheels on the DBS. With the introduction of the DBS V8, the DBS received some minor cosmetic changes, the vent in the C-pillar was removed, a deeper front air intake and bigger stainless sill covers.

Aston Martin DBS (series 2, 1969 - 1972)

Aston Martin DBS (series 2, 1969 - 1962)

The Aston Martin DBS and the DBS V8 were produced until May 1972. During the production run 1189 were built, 787 DBSs and 402 DBS V8s.

Aston Martin DBS V8 (1967 - 1969)

Successor Aston Martin V8

Two green DBSs (FBH 207G and GKX 8G) were used as James Bonds car in the 1969 film "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" with George Lazenby and Diana Rigg. One DBS (FBH 207G) is now in the Bond museum, Lake District, England, the other (GKX 8G) is privately owned in Australia. Unlike Bond's previous car no gadgets were seen in this car. In the final scenes of the film, Bond's wife, Tracy (Diana Rigg), is shot and killed while sitting in the car.

Green James Bond Aston Martin DBS (1969)

Green James Bond Aston Martin DBS (1969)

In 1971 a "Bahama yellow" Aston Martin DBS, with a personalised license plate "BS 1" (original UK registration number was PPP 6H), was used in the TV series "The Persuaders!" as Lord Brett Sinclairs (played by Roger Moore) car. The car was a 6-cylinder DBS that had been made to look like the DBS V8 model. It was restored to a very high standard in recent years by the Aston Martin factory. Both main stars from "The Persuaders!", Roger Moore and Tony Curtis, have signed the underside of the rear luggage compartment.

Roger Moore (Lord Brett Sinclair) on the hood of
his Aston Martin DBS with original registration number (PPP 6H)

Restored Aston Martin DBS from "The Persuaders!"

Roger Moore (Lord Brett Sinclair) with
his Aston Martin DBS (BS 1)

Tony Curtis and Roger Moore signature in the rear boot of the Aston Martin DBS

Brochure Aston Martin DBS (English, 1967)
Brochure Aston Martin DBS (English, 1969)
Brochure Aston Martin DBS (English, 1970)

1967, Television: “At Last the 1948 Show”

"At Last the 1948 Show" premieres on 15 February 1967 on Britain's ITV network. The satirical TV show was made by David Frost in association with Rediffusion London. The show directed by Ian Fordyce, stars Tim Brooke-Taylor, Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Marty Feldman and Aimi MacDonald. It is generally considered as the forerunner of the iconic "Monty Python's Flying Circus".

Between the sketches unrelated sequences featuring 'the lovely' Aimi Macdonald were used, an idea later recycled in Monty Python's "And now for something completely different" links. Almost half a century after the show had its only run on television, the catchphrase "I'm the lovely Aimi MacDonald" was still used occasionally.

Top to bottom: Aimi MacDonald, Marty Feldman, Graham Chapman,
John Cleese and Tim Brooke-Taylor

Left to right: Tim Brooke-Taylor, John Cleese, Aimi MacDonald,
Graham Chapman and Marty Feldman

There was no relation with the year 1948, the title referred to television executives tendency to take time over making commissioning decisions. Two series were produced with a total of 13 25-minute episodes.

Annoying train passenger sketch (Marty Feldman and John Cleese)

I love the lovely Aimi MacDonald (Aimi MacDonald)

1967, Deaths: British actress Vivien Leigh dies at 53

Vivien Leigh, the greatest beauty of her time, died on 8 July 1967 at her home in Eaton Square, Belgravia, London at the age of 53. The actress was under treatment for a recurrence of tuberculosis which she had incurred in 1944.

Vivien Leigh was born Vivian Mary Hartley at Darjeeling in the then Bengal Presidency of British India in 1913. At the age of six she went to the Convent of the Sacred Heart in southwest London. She was removed from the school by her father, who took her travelling through Europe and she was educated in schools in the areas they travelled. In 1931 she returned to Britain and was enrolled at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. In the same year she meets Herbert Leigh Holman, a barrister 13 years her senior and they wed on 20 December 1932. On 12 October 1933 in London, she gave birth to a daughter, Suzanne.

Vivien Leigh, age two, with her mother Gertrude Mary France in 1915

Vivien Leigh age three, first stage performance

Herbert Leigh Holman and Vivien Leigh at their wedding in 1932

Vivien Leigh with her daughter Suzanne in 1935

Her film debut was in "Things are Looking Up" (1935). She took Vivien Leigh (her husbands middle name) as her professional name and made her first West End appearance in Ashley Dukes's "Mask of Virtue" (1935). she was an overnight success and was quickly signed up by Alexander Korda for the film "Fire Over England" in which she played opposite Laurence Olivier. They appeared together again in 1937 in the Old Vic production of "Hamlet" at Elsinore, Denmark.

Vivien Leigh and Laurence Olivier in "Fire Over England" (1937)

Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh in Elsinore, Denmark (1937)

Vivien Leigh in "Fire Over England" (1937)

In 1938 she was introduced to producer David O. Selznick for the role of Scarlett O'Hara in the planned film version of Margaret Mitchell's novel "Gone with the Wind". Other candidates for the role were Paulette Goddard, Jean Arthur and Joan Bennett. The film appeared a year later, in December 1939, and won her an Academy Award. On 31 August 1940, after her divorce with Leigh Holman, she married Laurence Olivier in Santa Barbara, California, in a ceremony attended only by their witnesses, Katharine Hepburn and Garson Kanin.

Vivien Leigh signing her "Gone with the Wind" contract (1938)

Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh in "Gone with the Wind" (1939)

Vivien Leigh as Scarlett O'Hara in "Gone with the Wind" (1939)

An international career was open to her, but after a two more Hollywood films with her husband, the Oliviers returned to wartime Britain. During her tour, performing for troops, through North Africa in 1943 she became ill with a persistent cough and fevers. In 1944 she was diagnosed as having tuberculosis in her left lung. While filming "Caesar and Cleopatra" (1945) she discovered she was pregnant, but she suffered a miscarriage. She fell into depression and several breakdowns related to bipolar disorder. Her husband Laurence Olivier came to recognise the symptoms of an impending episode as several days of hyperactivity followed by a period of depression and an explosive breakdown, after which she would have no memory of the event.

Vivien Leigh in "That Hamilton Woman" (1941)

Vivien Leigh in "Caesar and Cleopatra" (1945)

Vivien Leigh in "Anna Karenina"(1948)

In 1948 she joined her husband in the Old Vic Theatre, and they embarked on a six-month tour of Australia and New Zealand. The success of the tour encouraged the Oliviers to make their first West End appearance together. After that Leigh was cast in the role of Blanche DuBois in the West End stage production of Tennessee Williams's "A Streetcar Named Desire". After the stage production she was engaged for the film version with Marlon Brando in 1951 which won her a second Academy Award for Best Actress, a British Academy of Film and Television Arts Award for Best British Actress, and a New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress.

Marlon Brando and Vivien Leigh in "A Streetcar Named Desire" (1951)

Vivien Leigh and Jack Merivale in the play "Lady of the Camellias" (1961)

Vivien Leigh and Lee Marvin in "Ship of Fools" (1966)

In 1958 Leigh began a relationship with the actor Jack Merivale. Merivale knew Leigh's medical condition and assured Olivier he would care for her. In 1960 Vivien Leigh and Laurence Olivier divorced. Since then, most of her appearances had been abroad. Her last film was "Ship of Fools" (1966).

Vivien Leigh (right) with her mother (left), her daughter Suzanne (middle) and her grandson

Vivien Leigh, final studio portret (1967)

In May 1967 she suffered a recurrence of tuberculosis, following several weeks of rest, she seemed to recover. On the evening of 7 July 1967, Merivale went away to perform in a play when he returned home around midnight he found her asleep. After thirty minutes he returned to the bedroom and discovered her body on the floor. In an attempt to walk to the bathroom her lungs had filled with liquid and she collapsed. Vivien Leigh was cremated at the Golders Green Crematorium and her ashes were scattered on the lake at her home, Tickerage Mill, near Blackboys, East Sussex, England. A memorial service was held at St Martin-in-the-Fields, with a final tribute read by John Gielgud.

Vivien Leigh

Vivien Leigh