FORD ANGLIA
FAMILY FAVOURITE
For style-starved Britain of the 1950s, the Ford Anglia was a breath of fresh air and the basis of Ford’s competition heritage. The new Anglia introduced a freerevving 997cc engine, delightfully easy-to-use gearbox, and nimble handling. It seated four adults and their luggage with ease. The Anglia’s sales success meant Ford broke production records with it at levels not achieved again until the arrival of the Cortina.
The standard Anglia was available in 12 new colours, and customers opting for the higher spec Super could choose a different-coloured side stripe. Ford’s ‘Z’ back window gave the car a distinctive look, and it’s interesting to compare it with the Michelotti-styled Ford Anglia Torino built in Turin by Officine Stampaggi Industriali (OSI) for Ford Italy using mostly Ford 105E running gear.
It was no surprise that tuning shops sprang up almost overnight as owners modified their cars and the little Fords battled with the new Mini on the racetrack.
Ford advertised the Anglia as a sporty car and further modifications were easily achieved. These included full synchromesh on the four-speed gearbox, brake upgrades, and uprated suspension. The 1962 Anglia Super was fitted with the Cortina’s 1198cc engine, adding to the flavour.
During its lifetime, the Anglia underwent a number of improvements, but it was on the racetrack that the little car underwent some amazing changes. From V8 and either 1600cc four-cylinder pushrod or Lotus twin-cam engine conversions to wild Ferrari-like bread-van fastback body styling, there was no mistaking the iconic ‘Anglebox’. Many still compete on racetracks in New Zealand, especially in Pre-’65s series and increasingly in Central Muscle Cars (CMC) categories.
A work in progress
In recent weeks, we have had the pleasure of meeting two Southland classic car enthusiasts who are enjoying Ford Anglia ownership. Both own New Zealand–assembled cars: one an early example and the second one of the very last. The latter’s owner, John Tait, thinks that it may possibly have been assembled
The Anglia’s sales success meant Ford broke production records with it at levels not achieved again until the arrival of the Cortina
alongside the new Ford Escort introduced in 1968. Both cars are well looked after and, unusually, in near unmodified condition.
Winston Saxton’s ’64 Ford Anglia Deluxe is a car he and his wife Linda enjoy driving. He happily describes it as “a work in progress” following a steady list of improvements not only to preserve the car but also to improve its safety.
“We think we are the fourth owners of the car. The guy I bought it off was Stewart Littlejohn of Bluff. His sister-in-law had owned it for something like 30 years. It’s one of those ‘a lady goes to church on Sundays and gives it a wash down before putting it away for the next week’ sort of cars,” Winston explains.
Well looked after, it was during that lady’s ownership that the little car was transformed with a change of colour.
“It was originally white and she didn’t like white. She thought sea air and white cars don’t go that well together so she had it painted green,” states its current owner.
Despite using Ford tractors on the family farm at Thornbury, west of Invercargill, Winston and Linda were unable to buy a new Ford Anglia. The search for a suitable car in good condition continued for some time until the pair eventually gave up. Then, many years later, an engineering friend in Invercargill put Winston on to a possible car for sale.
“Gordon Hoffman told me Stewart Littleton in Bluff had one and it was for sale,” he says.
A phone call and subsequent offer over the phone proved to be unsuccessful. Winston
explained he was genuinely interested in the car and an arrangement was made to inspect it.
“He suggested a price; it looked all right to me, and the deal was done. We also became very good friends,” Winston tells us.
That was in September 1998. The Anglia had a bump or two but was otherwise in great shape. It needed a little TLC, but they kept the Ford green it had been repainted in with a slightly lighter Ford green on the roof.
“It was registered and warranted. We had it repainted just before the international rally in Invercargill. The grille wasn’t right, so we got a proper grille for it and tidied it up,” Winston says.
The Anglia’s actual mileage is something of a mystery, as the original speedometer has been replaced at some time, but the car is still running its completely stock 997cc engine.
“It goes well and doesn’t burn any oil. The only modification I’ve done is because, like a lot of Fords, it has poor brakes. I’ve fitted a PBR brake booster and that’s certainly given it brakes. It ticks along very well at 55–60mph [89–97kph]. It’s got all the power you really need for a car of that type, and for miles per gallon it’s excellent,” says Winston.
Like the rest of the car, the interior is in great
condition; it has been carefully tidied, with any wear and tear repaired.
“A guy told me what paint to use to do the headlining. It was a New Zealand–assembled car and they got a bit carried away with the glue brush — there was a bit of surplus going where it wasn’t meant to. After I masked it all up, it came up like new,” says Winston.
Back on the road
This is not a car that has been cosseted in a warm, dry garage and done only short trips. Since the Saxtons have owned it, they have completed some impressive trips around the South Island, often using roads that some of us might be apprehensive about taking a fourwheel-drive vehicle on.
“We’ve done one or two trips to Nelson on Easter [Vintage Car Club] rallies, and a trip to Greymouth via a few back roads,” Winston explains.
After one trip to Nelson, a bad vibration in the car started after they left Hanmer Springs. They pressed on, travelling through Wanaka and eventually arriving home to a surprise: “We jacked her up and found a universal joint had gone on the driveshaft. That could have been a bit tricky. We replaced the driveshaft and no trouble since. You never know what’s going on underneath, do you?”
Winston recalls with amusement tackling the Nevis Valley in the Anglia, a route that is normally the realm of 4x4 vehicles.
“Yep, it’s been through the Nevis. We did an autumn trip through there. We went through the next day to Cromwell, back out through Bannockburn, through the Transmission Line Road, and on to Lookout Point at Clyde, so we have done a few runs in it,” he says.
For those who don’t know the old goldfield’s route, taking a road car through it requires one set of wheels to ride the highest point of the deep ruts, straddling them to avoid bottoming the car. Deep snow often makes the area impassable in winter — and then there is the mud.
Winston also remembers a memorable event on one trip to Greymouth, which had some interesting moments for Linda.
“I had been doing a building job at home and whilst climbing off the tractor my son was driving, I fell and half wrecked my shoulder. I told Linda I wouldn’t be driving much. We went out to the racecourse for the photo shoot and gymkhana. I said I couldn’t drive, so Linda took off on the gymkhana. There was another woman driving her car, and they ended up racing each other. I thought we might get in trouble,” he laughs.
A keen tractor enthusiast and member of the Thornbury Vintage Tractor Club, Winston more often travels on tractor treks nowadays, while the Anglia gets used for occasional weekend runs and events such as the Southland Vintage Car Club’s Easter Rally.
Back in the day, Winston raced Minis at Teretonga Park Raceway, and for 10 years was chief flag marshal for the Southland Sports Car Club. He also completed a stint of 40 years in the local volunteer fire brigade.
“You enjoy doing these things, but there comes a time to take it a bit slower. It’s all about the people you meet,” Winston muses.