The Ford Anglia 105E series, launched in the United Kingdom on 30th September 1959, was Ford’s new contender in the small family saloon class to replace the then ageing and increasingly uncompetitive Ford Anglia / Prefect 100E series. To say it got off to a flying start would probably be an understatement. Just two models were initially available, the Standard and Deluxe Saloons. Both were two door and both were powered by an overhead valve 997cc engine capable of up to 75mph whilst still returning excellent fuel economy figures.
This new 105E Engine had particularly oversquare proportions for the period, with a bore of 80.96mm and a stroke of 48.4mm, and was mated to Ford’s first ever four-speed gearbox in a production saloon. The Ford Anglia 105E‘s brakes consisted of 8ins x 1 ¼ins drums all round to give a reasonable degree of ‘stopping power’ whilst the steering was courtesy of the recirculatory ball system.
It wasn’t the car’s mechanicals that really caught the public’s interest though; it was its styling. Never before had Ford produced a car with such an obvious and drastic change in style compared with its predecessor. The swept-back nose gave an impression of improved aerodynamics whilst the reverse-rake rear window blending into the mm, prominent and functional rear fins had more than a hint of American influence on display.
The Standard model was a sparse and functional tool with the minimum of ‘unnecessary’ chrome trim and a lack of such ‘luxuries’ as a glovebox lid, passenger sunvisor, temperature gauge, carpets and so on.
The Deluxe though, had an abundance of exterior chromework to complement the Anglia’s unique body styling, such niceties including a full-width front grille, chrome side-strip, chrome rear lamp units, opening rear quarter windows and optional two tone paintwork. The interior was also more well appointed, but an heater was still an optional extra.
To appease those buyers who wanted a four door saloon, Ford also Launched the Ford Prefect 107E which combined the bodyshell of the Ford Anglia / Prefect 100E with the mechanics of the Ford Anglia 105E.
This three Saloon car range continued virtually unchanged until June 1961. The Ford Prefect 107E was quietly dropped and the 5cwt and 7cwt Ford Thames Vans were added to the new “Anglia” range. In September of the same year, the Ford Anglia Estate was introduced and proved an immediate hit with those who found the Saloon lacked a little in the luggage space department.
In 1962, following the announcement of the Ford Cortina Mk 1, the Ford Anglia Super was announced. The Ford Anglia Super not only employed the 1198cc engine from the Cortina but was also visually more appealing with two-tone paintwork as standard, a distinctive side-stripe, extra chrome trim and a more plush interior, including a heater!
The same car was also sold in Europe, along with an extra European only variant called the Anglia Sportsman. This variant carried the spare wheel on the back of the car, somewhat similar to the “Continental kit” style often seen in the United States. Due to comparatively poor sales of the Anglia 105E in some European Countries, Ford of Italy restyled the Anglia by changing most of the body panels and sloping the rear window in the opposite direction. Ford of Italy then renamed the car to the Ford Anglia Torino.
In 1966 two special editions were released based on both the deluxe and Super models. These cars were available in Venetian Gold or Blue Mink metallic paint finishes with black interior trim. Some 250 models were sold in each colour.
All these versions of the Anglia continued in production with only relatively minor alterations until November 1967, prior to the launch of the Ford Escort Mk 1 in January of the following year.
The total production was as follows:
| Model Type | # Produced |
|---|---|
| Ford Anglia Saloon | 954,426 |
| Ford Anglia Estate | 129,529 |
| Ford (Thames) Anglia Van | 205,001 |
| Total 1,288,956 |
Price Comparions of the Saloon at Launch and End of Life.
| Date | Standard | Deluxe |
|---|---|---|
| September 1959 | £589 | £610 |
| June 1967 | £535 | £596 |
No that’s not a misprint, the Price actually went down.