The Ensign - available as a saloon and estate - was a more austere version of the six-cylinder Vignale Vanguard, equipped with a de-tuned version of the versatile Triumph TR3 four-cylinder engine, which had also powered tractors. This actually made it one of the quickest saloons around at the price, so it wasn't quite as miserable as it first appeared. Mind you, having to pay extra for a heater and windscreen washers was pretty cheapskate, even by early '60s standards. The interior featured lots of painted metal, shapeless Vynide seats (which gave off a very particular smell in hot weather), minimal instrumentation and no glove compartment.
The Ensign, by the way, was one of the last cars to feature a starting handle. It was built to appeal to fleet buyers and tight-wad family men who wanted a big six-seater (the front seat was a three-abreast bench) but many ended up being bought by the RAF as staff cars.
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