ON THE ROAD

Back to 2019 and the chance to test drive Joseph Gabrielli’s immaculate 1965 Ford Anglia 105E, which, having begun life as a police car, now lives a rather charmed life.

Take in the car’s styling from hooded headlights to tail fin – nothing looks quite like this. There’s almost a hint of Panhard about the car’s frontal aspects and I love the circular ‘five star’ badges on the rear quarter panels to hide the expanse of plain metal.

Open the driver’s door and flop into the driver’s seat, which is reasonably comfortable, and much lower than I remember. The dished twin-spoke steering wheel is quite high-mounted, too.

Before you on the painted dashboard are two silver panels – one, on this Deluxe model, a lockable glovebox, and the other containing the speedometer, mileometer and fuel/temperature gauge, which are mounted in a separate instrument panel, along with warning lights. I’ve never managed to find a name for the shape of these panels, which taper inwards – I always settle for ‘Anglia shape’.

The car feels surprisingly roomy as well as light and airy, with excellent visibility. You can see why Ford claimed that its sloping rear window increased rear headroom, and how nostalgic to admire this, and the rear wing tips, through the interior mirror.

Turn the key and there’s a brief squawk from the starter before the engine bursts into life.

Into first gear (synchromesh all-round on these cars, don’tcha know) and after a slight fight with the rather sharp new clutch, we’re off.

The famed ‘oversquare’ 997cc engine has a lot more torque than you’d think – in fact some owners say that they often set off in second gear. We move up the ‘box using the excellent, if rather spindly shift – apologising again to the clutch – and third gear is particularly flexible. I imagine it would give you the best possible chance of overtaking slower vehicles trundling along in front of you.

The brakes aren’t servo-assisted, but they’re not bad, pulling the car up smoothly and straight.

Steering is really good – light and precise – and there is no wander out on the road. The MacPherson strut and leaf spring system offers a better ride than you’d think it would have any right to, though it can be caught out on some of the UK’s poorly metalled roads.

Though there’s some understeer – and a slight feeling of lightness at the rear if pressed – handling is actually safe and predictable.

No wonder the 14-year-old me wanted to buy an Anglia again.