Ford ‘EB’ Special
A tale of continuous development, trial, error and eventual satisfaction.
While home-built specials are nothing new, the post-war years in particular saw a boom in motor racing around which a small industry quickly began to grow. The weekend racer, or even those just keen to drive around in something that looked a little less austere, could get hold of a lightweight, streamlined replacement body shell that could be fitted onto the chassis of various models of the day. One such company was Edwards Brothers, who produced the special you see here – the EB ‘60’, one of over 2300 units that rolled out of their Stoke-on-Trent workshops from 1959 onwards, well into the 1960s. I begin by asking owner Philip Shingler what is lurking underneath the, shall we politely call it, ‘strongly patinated’ bodywork.
“The car started life as a 1953 Ford Prefect and is still running the torque tube rear axle, though I dropped the diff' ratio from 5.5:1 to 4.7:1 for better top end speed. The gearbox is from a ’53 Prefect, with the original gears swapped out for a close ratio set. Under the bonnet it’s now got a far from standard 100E engine, as opposed to the original Ford 10 engine.”
Were you looking specifically for an EB Special?
“I'd always had what I would describe as ‘easy’ classics. MGBs, first a four cylinder car and then two V8s. Minis, Moggie Minors, you name it. I thought it was time I tried something more challenging. I saw this on eBay in 2003, decided that it fitted the bill, and ended up buying it for £500.”
Talk me through returning the car to the road.
“The first job was to strip the underside and get all the rust off. A primary reason for choosing a fibreglass-bodied car was because I was sick of dealing with rust on Minis and MGs. I wire brushed it, then repaired and painted it all underneath. I bought an engine, did a quick rebuild, mated it to the gearbox I’d rebuilt, fitted an interior and took it for an MoT in 2006. It passed; the first one since 1973.”
That 100E engine looks to be far from standard, so what is it?
“It’s got a Willment Powermaster conversion. John Willment Automotive ran Cobras and GT40s at Le Mans, but started off back in the late 1950s with Ford specials and stuff. One of their conversions offered an overhead valve cylinder head conversion for the 100E block. These are as rare as hell and it took me about four years to find one. When they were bought new they weren’t cheap; you could buy one of these things off the shelf for £65, or you could go and buy a second hand Bugatti Type 35 for £200.”
The carb and manifold don’t seem to be too standard either?
The carbs are twin Choke Solex units, as used on the Lancia Fulvia and the Porsche 356. As no manifold exists, and it’s a tight squeeze, I made one out of wood to check clearances, then had it cast in aluminium, before drilling it
Date the restoration started?
“I bought it in 2003 and started work on it in 2005. In those two years in between I built a garage to work in.”
What condition was the car in when you got it?
“The chassis, suspension and steering had surface rust. There was no engine, gearbox or interior, but the body was pretty much as you see it now.”
In what condition is the car now?
“Rough and ready is a fair description, I’d say. I’m getting it to perform how I want, then I’ll think about the bodywork”
An estimated completion date?
“I don’t really know if it’ll ever be completed, as I’m sure I can always find another aspect of the car to improve. Also, I’m not a big fan of doing bodywork, so that may take a while.”