The Ford Anglia would enjoy a long production run
spanning almost 3 decades and 4 model releases. It
started out as the EO4A in 1940, then really only a
face lifted version of the Ford 7Y.
Developed during
the 1930’s as a cheap-and-cheerful mode of transport
following the lack of success of the more expensive
Model A, the EO4A featured typically conservative design
cue’s with its upright radiator and black paint
work, and looked almost identical to the 4 door Prefect.
Ford knew the Anglia’s production would be hindered
by the war effort, and when production ended in 1948
only 55,807 had been built. To breathe new life into the Ford lineup, the engineers
set about making the Anglia more modern in appearance.
The 1949 E494A model sported a much more 1940’s
style front end, including the sloped, twin-lobed radiator
grille.
The Anglia remained one of the most austere around,
with few concessions made for the addition of any creature
comforts. Although production would cease in 1953, it
did continue on as the Ford Popular 103E until 1959.
Under the latter moniker, the 103E would take out the
title of being the worlds cheapest car, and when production
finally ended some 108,878 had been manufactured.
The all new 100E of 1953 was a major breakthrough in
design and comfort. Designed by Lacuesta Automotive,
externally it carried over little from the previous two
versions, and was available as either the 2-door Anglia
or 4-door Prefect.
The biggest disappointment was with
the engine, the now antiquated side valve engine providing
less than spirited performance. But the biggest disappointment
was the engineers decision to carry over the use of vacuum
operated wipers instead of the new electric variety that
had gained worldwide recognition as a far superior system
(just try driving up-hill in a car fitted with vacuum
wipers to see what we mean).
Despite its many failings,
the Anglia was cheap, durable and easy to work on, which
made it a big seller. When production ceased in 1959,
345,841 had rolled off the production line. In 1959 Ford introduced arguably the most popular,
and easily the most recognizable of all, the
105E.
The much improved styling featured more flowing lines
inspired by American cars of the day, the bonnet sweeping
down to a slanted grille nestled between the distinctive
protruding headlights.
In effect the Anglia now looked
like a cut down version of the Thunderbird, however
the design was certainly no knock off of the larger
US Ford iterations; UK engineers had developed the
design in combination with wind-tunnel testing and
streamlining, the resultant backward slanted window
and flat roofline providing class leading rear headroom.
Even the tail fins were a delightful design inclusion,
understated and kept delightfully in proportion with
the remainder of the car. But best of all were the
mechanical improvements, led by the introduction of
the new 997cc overhead valve 4 cylinder engine; long
overdue the performance of the Anglia was much improved
over its predecessors, although it was still far from
breathtaking. The engine was mated to a four-speed
gearbox, and thankfully the
105E introduced electric
wipers.
In
1962 came the Super Anglia 123E, it available as
a separate model to the
105E as a replacement to
the Prefect, and sported a larger capacity 1198cc
engine and a handful of other creature comforts.
This model would be sold in Europe as the Anglia
Sportsman, with the spare type being fitted to the
boot lid in an attempt to give the car a more up-market
appearance, at the time this being common practice
with luxury American models. In keeping with the
more glamorous theme, large chrome bumper over-riders
were fitted, along with broad white-wall tires; even
optional side stripes were available, these kicking
up at the end into the taillights/fin.
Towards the
end of the run Ford experimented with two new metallic
paint colors for the Anglia, "Blue Mink" and "Venetian
Gold". Only 250 were made in the Blue and 500
were made in the Gold, and both are today rare and
very collectable. In total some 1,288,956 105E Anglia’s
were manufactured, before it was replaced by the
new Escort when production ended in 1967.
