FORD ANGLIA 105E

Plenty of Brits have started their motoring careers in an Anglia – including our very own Nick Larkin. He drives an ex-police example to rediscover what made it such a class act

The Ford Anglia 105E was hardly launched at the best time for a new British small car; the BMC Mini and Triumph Herald also starred at the 1959 Motor Show. The three cars were very different in character – and indeed the Mini was positively revolutionary – but the little Ford (‘The world’s most exciting light car!’ screamed the maker’s advertising, not without some justification) was the car that many people took to their hearts right from the beginning.

The scaled-down American styling, complete with reverse-raked rear window, looked like nothing else and echoed the optimism of the time.

The Anglia also drove extremely well, featuring a new and extremely tuneable engine, it was light and airy inside with excellent visibility, and gave great fuel economy and easy spares availability.

In other words, it was a great first car for the young, upwardly mobile 1959 couple who hated Adam Faith records, saw hire purchase as a gift from heaven and were beginning to experiment with such exotic foreign foods as vol-au-vents. Or a young blade of a salesman hoping that he wouldn’t be given the basic Anglia with its lack of chrome and non-opening side windows.

Thankfully, most buyers were happy to shell out the £21 extra needed for the £610 Deluxe, though there was still another £14 to find if you were wimpish enough to need a heater or demister.

Though pretty, the Anglia was rugged and, with more than a million built, many survived for future generations of first-time buyers looking to begin their motoring careers, from impoverished students to classic enthusiasts.