I was 9 years old then but still remember the number of cars you would see stopped at the roadside even in town, I suspect most of them were cars that had been stored and not properly refurbished before putting them back on the road. Later in my early wagon driving days there was a system whereby you could suspend registration and road tax and insurance and take a car off the road for the winter months. Easter seemed to be the time when such cars were re-taxed and insured and went back on the roads for a spin out in the countryside. I can remember in particular that old Sawley brow was a favourite place for them to give up the ghost, mainly with cooling problems. I've seen as many as five stopped at the roadside with bonnets open cooling down. The motoring magazines were full of advice about essential maintenance when they went back on the road but many ignored it, just filled up and set off.
Another custom then was the annual change from summer to winter tyres. You never see that these days.....