Netflix has been the numero uno OTT platform for a while now. The American production company has been churning out blockbuster films and series and the upward trend continued with its October 2020 release, The Haunting of Bly Manor. The gothic-drama - the second entry in Mike Flanagan's The Haunting anthology series - was well-received worldwide.
While binge-watchers fell in love with the mini-series for multiple reasons, we couldn't help but fall in love with some of the amazing cars on display throughout the series: most of them, classics from the golden era. The show features classic cars of all shapes and forms - the likes of Austin FX4, Ford Crown Victoria, 1999 Ford Mustang, Jaguar XJ40, 1991 Suzuki Carry, 1969 Rolls Royce Silver Shadow I, 1981 Volvo GL, and more. However, the ones that caught our attention right away are three different classic models from different decades: Rover 100 (1959), Citroen Ami 6 (1965), and Mercedes-Benz S-Klasse (1974).
Let's have a detailed look at these classics from The Haunting of Bly Manor.
1959 Rover 100
Amidst all the scary events, we spot a classic from the 1950s in episode 3 of The Haunting of Bly Manor. The classic beauty we're talking about is the 1959 Rover 100. Produced by the Rover Company, the Rover 100 was a part of the Rover P4 group of cars. The production for Rover P4 cars kicked off in 1949 and lasted for the next 15 years. They were immensely popular worldwide and a very prominent part of the British culture. The fact that these Rover classics were driven by the Royalty, including the likes of Grace Kelly is proof that these were no ordinary cars.
The 1959 Rover 100 was one of the most powerful models of the P4 family. It was powered by a brand new 2.6-liter (160 cu in) IOE straight-6 engine. A mid-size luxury car, this Rover classic boasted luxurious interiors, featuring wood and leather elements. With a top speed of 100 miles per hour, the Rover 100 was among one of the most efficient luxury cars back in the day. The vintage car was fitted with servo-assisted Girling disc brakes at the front, and drum brakes at the rear. With a fuel capacity of 23.9 miles per imperial gallon, the 1959 Rover 100 was reasonably reliable for longish rides. The Rover 100 model featured in The Haunting of Bly Manor is a stunning all-blue beauty that instantly grabs your attention.
1974 Mercedes-Benz S-Klasse
Next up is one of the most popular classic cars of all time. A Merc beaut: the 1974 Mercedes-Benz S-Klasse, also known as the Mercedes-Benz WW16. These full-size luxury range cars were the first Merc models to be officially called "S-Klasse" or "S-Class". The "S" in S-Klasse stands for Sonder (or Special).
This stunning Merc beast appears in episode 6 of this Netflix horror-drama. We weren't surprised to see the 1974 Merc W116 makes an appearance on the show. After all, it is among the most popular classic cars of all time. Such is the legacy of this Merc classic that it was selected as the European Car of The Year in 1974. This S-Klasse beauty was powered by a 6-cylinder-inline, four-stroke, front-mounted engine that generated 158 horsepower. A dry weight of 3770 lb and sheet steel, monocoque (unibody) construction made the 1974 S-Klasse a super comfy ride that could be relied upon for all occasions. Furthermore, it featured a padded dashboard, deformable switches, and controls, and a four-spoke steering wheel with an impact absorber and broad impact cushion aimed to reduce occupant injury during collisions. The interiors were top class, something one would expect from any high-end big brand automobile, especially when it's a model as expensive as the W116.
1965 Citroen Ami 6
Last but not least is a classic car that we spotted in the very first episode of the Mike Flanagan horror-drama. We see a strange and spooky figure with bright eyes, staring at the lead character, Dani, from the reflection in a passing car, that happens to be a Jaden Green model of the 1965 Citroen Ami 6. While Dani's encounter with the Citroen classic wasn't very friendly but in reality, the Ami 6 was among the most "friendly" cars back in the 1960s. That was in fact the whole idea behind naming this economy family car Ami (the French word for friend). It was a car that was super efficient and affordable. However, despite its impressive performance features, the Ami 6 was widely criticized for being "too ugly". The criticism was so harsh that at one point, Flaminio Bertoni, the chief stylist of the car, was quoted saying that the Citroen Ami 6 looked "as if it had already run over three pedestrians". However, the narrative around this classic's looks did not stop it from becoming a runaway success in France. It was a runaway hit, becoming France's best-selling car on eight occasions. Years have passed and the Citreon Ami 6 has aged like fine wine. It's hard to believe, what was once touted to be the world's ugliest car, is today one of the most popular classic cars in the world.