Jack Barclay the Year 1977

Remember 1977?

The UK celebrated the Queen’s Silver Jubilee. The US public elected Jimmy Carter as President.
Elvis played his last gig (ever) and the Sex Pistols brought punk to the airwaves.

In sport, the Toronto Blue Jays played their first-ever game of baseball against the Chicago White Sox.
Australia beat Great Britain 13–12 in the Rugby League World Cup.

So if you were a British Captain of Industry, Chairman of a Bank, Pop Star, Successful Entrepreneur or Landed Gentry what would you have been driving?

Well, if you had an appetite for a Rolls-Royce or Bentley there certainly was a well known place to go with a fine menu for you.

Say a 1977 budget of GBP 40,000 - that's the equivalent to GBP 225,000 today, roughly the price of a Bentley Mulsanne or Rolls-Royce Ghost would do nicely.

And the place?

How about 'the worlds largest Rolls-Royce & Bentley distributor' Jack Barclay Ltd. With period photo by David Irvine.



And the menu? Well this menu.

A specially selected range from Jack Barclay’s May/June 1977 stock list.



I do like the cover.

To the meat and potatoes with mashed peas on the side.

This is what was for sale in 1977. Click to enlarge.



Certainly some tasty goodies.

Let's peruse the menu in more detail.

At the top of the list, the Rolls-Royce Camargue.



Definitely a fancy a coupe. The mistletoe Camargue was probably too expensive for even our wealthy buyer.



Next, the Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow 4 door saloons.

Luxurious yet practical and with seven on the menu, there’s a choice of colours available too.



How about in Caribbean blue?



It does look nice, but have you considered a Corniche Convertible?



Fabulous for summer in Monaco. And it looks good in athenian blue. But winter in London? May be not…



Something larger? Need a lot more room?

How about the Rolls-Royce Phantom VI 7 passenger limousine.



Finished in coffee bean brown over willow gold. Interesting colour combination. Here it is today.



Probably a little to large to swallow, and too formal….

But hey, what is this last menu item hidden away at the bottom of the page.

Look it's a Bentley!



A Bentley T-series in Brewster Green.

Rare, sporting and my choice….



Now to the back of the menu.

It certainly is quite nice.



I'm quite sure that Jack Barclay no longer produces their stock list in this nice menu format. It is a little 1977.

So what do they do now?

Well, post the list online and make youtube videos with techno music of course!



You can find out what's currently on Jack Barclay's menu here.

PS - if you want to listen to how well Jack Barclay Sales Executive Paul Gardner handles himself with a prank caller - watch here.

(Posted by Andy/Bentleyspotting - Andy top work on finding current day photos of the 1977 stock list, and David - your period photos always come in handy!)