1963, Cars: Studebaker Wagonaire

The Wagonaire model was introduced by Studebaker in 1963 as part of the Lark model range. From 1964 on, the Lark name was dropped and the car was known as Studebaker Wagonaire. The car featured a retractable sliding rear roof section that allowed the vehicle to carry items that would otherwise be too tall for a conventional station wagon. The roof was designed by industrial designer Brooks Stevens.

A Wagonaire could seat six passengers but with an extra rear-facing third-row seat, which was available as an option through 1965, the number of passenger seats was eight. Two engines were available a L6 and a V8 (Daytona version). The 1964 models, which were built only in Canada after December 1963, were the last to carry Studebaker's own engines. Beginning with the 1965 models, General Motors supplied engines based on the Chevrolet L6 and V8. Production of all Studebakers ended in March, 1966, a total of 20,000 Wagonaires were build between 1963 and 1966.

Studebaker Lark Wagonaire 1963

Studebaker Wagonaire Daytona 1964

Studebaker Wagonaire 1966

Studebaker Wagonaire 1964 Advert

Studebaker Lark Wagonaire 1963 Advert

 
Studebaker Lark Daytona Wagonaire 1963 TV Ad

1962, Television: “The Saint”

The British spy thriller series, "The Saint" premiered on 4 October 1962. The television series was produced by ITC and aired in the UK on ITV between 1962 and 1969. Central character was Simon Templar created by writer Leslie Charteris. The main role was played by Roger Moore as a suave and sophisticated Robin Hood-like adventurer.

Simon Templar drove a white Volvo P1800 on the show with a license plate reading "ST-1". Roger Moore's portrayal of Templar was considered a training ground for his later work as James Bond. He was offered the role of 007 at least twice during the run of the series, but had to turn it down both times owing to his television commitments.

Roger Moore as Simon Templar aka The Saint

Roger Moore as Simon Templar with his Volvo P1800

The series was immensely popular and aired eventually in over 60 countries. With almost 120 episodes, the programme is exceeded only by "The Avengers" as the most productive show of its genre produced in the UK. The black-and-white episodes of "The Saint" were made in two production runs, the first, of 39 episodes, was split into two separate series on transmission, and the second, of 32 episodes, again split into two series on transmission. Series 5, the first to be produced in colour, consisted of a production run of 32 episodes. The second colour production run consisted of 15 episodes.

Roger Moore (Simon Templar) and Jayne Sofiano (Stella Longman)
in the episode "The Man Who Gambled with Life" (1969)

In 1978 a revival was made as "Return of the Saint" with Ian Ogilvy as Simon Templar.

 
"The Saint" Black and White Opening Titles (1962-1965)


"The Saint" Colour Opening Titles (1966-1968)


"The Saint" Season 6 Opening Titles (1969)

1961, Film: “Tintin et le mystère de la Toison d'or”

The French-Belgian film "Tintin et le mystère de la Toison d'or" (English title: "Tintin and the Golden Fleece") was released on 6 December 1961 in France. Directed by Jean-Jacques Vierne, it is the first live-action film featuring characters from "The Adventures of Tintin" comic book series written and drawn by the Belgian writer-artist Hergé. The main actors, Jean-Pierre Talbot as Tintin and Georges Wilson as Captain Haddock, were made-up to look like the characters. The film is not based on any of the books, it features an original storyline.

The film is set in Turkey and Greece with the main characters of Tintin and Captain Haddock searching for treasure after inheriting a ship called the Golden Fleece. The film was followed by a sequel in 1964, "Tintin et les oranges bleues" (English title: "Tintin and the Blue Oranges").

"Tintin et le mystère de la Toison d'or" cast

Jean-Pierre Talbot as Tintin

Synopsis

When his old friend Temistocle Paparanic dies, Captain Haddock (Georges Wilson) inherits Paparanic's ship, "La Toison d'or" ("The Golden Fleece"). Tintin (Jean-Pierre Talbot) and Haddock travel to Istanbul to collect it, only to find that its a worthless wreck. However an old friend of Paparanic, Anton Karabine (Demetrios Myrat) offers 30 million franks for the wreck. When Haddock refuses to sell, he is nearly killed...

Jean-Pierre Talbot as Tintin and Georges Wilson as Captain Haddock

Main Cast

• Jean-Pierre Talbot as Tintin
• Georges Wilson as Captain Haddock
• Georges Loriot as Professor Calculus
• Charles Vanel as Father Alexandre
• Darío Moreno as Midas Papos
• Dimos Starenios as Scoubidouvitch
• Ulvi Uraz as Malik
• Marcel Bozzuffi as Angorapoulos
• Demetrios Myrat as Karabine
• Henri Soya as Clodion
• Max Elloy as Nestor
• Serge Marquand as Farmer
• Michel Thomass as Yéfime
• Dora Stratou as Panegyrist

 
Sample Clip

1960, Cars: Opel Rekord P2

The Rekord P2 was introduced in the Summer of 1960 by the German car manufacturer Opel as a replacement for the Opel Rekord P1. It had the same wheelbase as the P1, but was nonetheless a little longer and wider.

In technical terms the car was almost identical to its predecessor, although some changes were made to improve the safety. The glove box still carried the name "Olympia", a reference to the fact that the predecessor model had been badged as the Opel Olympia Rekord till 1959, and a tribute to the original 1937 Opel Olympia.

Predecessor, Opel Olympia Rekord P1 (1959) 

In 1960 three body styles were available, a two or four door saloon, and a three door "CarAVan" station wagon. In August 1961 Opel started to build P2 coupés.

Opel Rekord P2 2-doors

Opel Rekord P2 4-doors

Opel Rekord P2 coupé

The basic engines was a 1,488 cc L4 water cooled engine (33 kW), basically the same engine since it had first been offered in the Opel Olympia back in 1937. The 1,680 cc L4 engine (40 kW), which had been introduced on the P1 in 1959, was also available. In the more comfortable "L" version of the P2, Opel offered from June 1962 a 44 kW "S" engine.

Opel Rekord P2 CarAVan

Opel Rekord P2 coupé

Successor, Opel Rekord A (1963)

In September 1963 the Opel Rekord P1 was replaced by the Opel Rekord A. A total of 786.411 P2 cars were produced.

Opel Rekord P2 Brochure (The Netherlands, 1960)

Opel Rekord P2 Coupé Brochure (The Netherlands, 1961)

Opel Rekord P2 CarAVan Brochure (The Netherlands, 1960)

1977, News: Fire at company "Ijsboerke"

On 18 July 1977 the ice cream factory "Ijsboerke" in Tielen (Belgium) was destroyed by a heavy fire. The cause was probably a short circuit in one of the refrigerated trucks. The production facility, the freezer rooms and several vehicles including the bicycle team bus went up in flames. After the disaster the German company Warncke helps to supply ice cream for the customers.

Fire at "Ijsboerke", Terloops VRT 30/07/1977