Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[Rick]

I thought it might be interesting, from time to time, to kick off a thread just about one particular car, then add in our own experiences/recollections of these cars, regardless of whether we own, or have owned, one.

So, anyone have any experiences of the 105E? I've never owned one myself, but as a nipper I remember a neighbour (who we affectionately called the Dragon..) had an immaculate blue example, with the white side flash - would that be a Super then? I often wonder what happened to that car.

This slightly less perfect example was photographed in Altrincham, in the early 1990s.



RJ
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[Rusty]

I never had one myself, but one of the other aprentices where I did my time had one that he dropped a later model 1600cc engine into and hotted it up somthing shocking. It used to go like a Lotus Cortina, "REAL QUICK". He drove it for years and even when he got his next car he kept it, he may even still have it, I havn't seen him (or it) in years.

[Rick]

I did come across a field, only 7 or 8 miles from here, that must have had 50 105Es parked in it, in varying states of disintegration. I'll have another look next time I'm over thattaway, see if they're still there or not...

R
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[Nic Jarman]

Why oh why the 105E. Did you read my post? I think the aprentice had a really good sense of humour. I knew 2 people that had rolled a 105E. At least Ford used a truely great film ( Forbiden planet, 1956) to copy Robbie the Robot's mouth.
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[Brian M]

Nice idea Rick - my 105E experiences:

In 1960, my father part exchanged his 6 years old Austin A30 (sorry Rich) for a grey 105E De Luxe. I remember he was contemplating the basic model, but my Mum thought the front painted grille was ugly and so he had to pay the bit extra for the De Luxe.

One day it was stolen from the road near where he worked, but recovered a couple of days later with false number plates on it. It was identified by the service receipt that was still in the glovebox. I went with him to the police station and the only way we could take it away was if we fitted correct plates to it. In those days there was a two or three day wait for pressed aluminium plates (no-one made them in their shop, they had to come from the factory) so we bought a set of stick on plates, and put the front one on the bonnet in real boy racer style.

In the way home through Lewisham SE London, we were overtaken by a police car that swung in front of us to bring us to a quick stop. Yes - they had recognised the number from their stolen vehicle list. The Police receipt we had been given meant we were soon on our way, but it was an exciting event for a ten year old to witness.

When I was 17, my best mate had two 105E's. The second was a modified one with a 1500cc Cortina GT engine, 5.5 inch wheels and was maroon with a grey roof to copy the Broadspeed racing Anglias. I was driving a 100E Ford Prefect at the time so he was quite a hero.

He subsequently sold it to another schoolfriend who had owned it for precisely 3 hours when he hit a lampost and wrote it off!
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[peppiB]

This was the first car I experienced the starter being in the ignition switch. Late 50's i was a paper boy and the shop owner gave me a lift to the start of my round I was fascinated to see her turn the ignition on and then continue turning to start it. I only ever owned 1, which was used by my late wife. Had it for 4 years in the early 70's and other than regular servicing, didn't cost me anything for repairs.

[Rusty]

[peter scott]

The first time I ever went on holiday abroad a friend and I took his father's Cortina to Norway. Back then, before the oil revenues most of the roads were gravel and the many long, rough hewen tunnels were very scarey. Pitch black and with the roar of oncoming lorries navigating around the 6 inch deep pot-holes was impossible. The Cortina survived but on another visit my car was a Sunbeam Alpine in which the doors were difficult to open if the hardtop wasn't in place so we bought a 105E, from an uncle who was going to trade it in for a brand new Mark 1 Escort, and took it instead.

It was a great little car. Smooth, free reving engine, lovely gearbox and went round corners pretty well. Lots of corners in Norway and with right hand drive we often had the advantage over the locals in seeing around the near sides of vehicles we wanted to overtake.

The Anglia survived the Norwegian roads and we actually sold it a small profit when we returned.

Peter


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[poodge]

My mum had a very early painted grille,baby blue model in the mid 70's,which was passed on to me later.
The NZ government had a fleet of these,I have never known any sold privately.Hers was probably one of them.
When I got it,it had already done a huge mileage,but the motor and gearbox had been reconditioned,so it ran very well.
It always felt like it was going to turn over if you went through a corner a bit quick,since it ran on only 520x13's.This particular car was in quite a poor state bodywise,as the drivers door never shut properly.The number of times I had to grab the door as I hit a pothole!The floor was also a bit rusty,and my brother had riveted a piece of aluminium over a hole in the back seat area.
In those days you could still get away with that.
I sold it for scrap,but much to my surprise,I saw it a few weeks later being pedalled quite swiftly by a youngster.I hope he got as much fun out of it as I did.

[Greg]

Personally I think the 105 is a lovely car, I remember my uncle having a maroon coloured one.
I like Brian M's story of the 'stolen Anglia', great story and reminds me of the Film 'Never let go' with Richard Todd, who's Anglia also gets stolen by Adam Faiths character. Good Film

[bob2]

I like the 105e. Remember a great uncle having an immaculate one from new and keeping it for donkeys of years till e passed away some years ago, it was still as immaculate as ever and went to a local collector.
It was a deluxe model to which he added some cosmetic features off the super.
I was also going to buy a very original deluxe model once before taking the hunter off my father in law, it was a 1 owner from new car as well though it wasnt as excellent as the one my great uncle had!!

A friend of mine has a mental one fitted with a 2.1 ltr pinto, straight cut gears, twin webers (48s), rack and pinion steering from an escort mrk 2, discs from a capri and it goes like s**t off a shovel.
Here it is, wish I had a pic of the engine bay as its beautiful!!

[bob2]

Another 2 seen at local meets

[andycars]

Taking our Anglia 1200 Super to Tredegar Park show (Newport, South Wales) tomorrow. Been cleaning off the mud from Much Marcle Steam Rally where we stayed the weekend in our lightweight Qek caravan which we towed with the Anglia at end of July.
Rick, the Anglia in the opening thread looks like a "venetian gold" super - these were made, along with metallic blue mink ones, at the end of the production run and are quite rare. I believe only 500 were made - not sure whether of each colour or altogether.
Pleasant to drive, comfortable, excellent on fuel. 105E Anglia Owners Club has excellent spares scheme. Some body panels, chrome and interior trim difficult to get hold of & expensive. The estates are especially useful.

[52classic]

1960 Anglia 105e YLA434 (never forget do you!?) was my first 4 wheeled car (after a Berkeley T60) Dark grey and formerly owned by the Danish Bacon company.

In 1969 it cost 50 quid which was very cheap for what was quite a fshionable car at the time. Problem was rust in the near side A post combined with a very heavy door.

My solution, with the exuberance of youth, was to cut a similar section out of a scrapper which was held in position by roofing bolts. The base of the post didn't meet the floor but no problem... Some plywood shuttering and a 'pour' of concrete had it looking OK.

I was working for Tony Chappell who was a works hopeful driver for Ford.

When his Escort Twin Cam was being painted I blagged some Ermine White and Tractor Orange for a flash down the side. Sprayed the Anglia with my mum's vacuum cleaner on the very night we watched the moon landing AIRC.

Happy days.

[Guy]

105E, yes great car for conversions.
Rip out the engine & box (997 cc) replace with a Cortina 1600 & box, front struts from a Corsair gave disc brakes to help stop again, upgrade back axle with the Corsair axle
Remove front grill to reveal oval hole for the rad. cooling fibreglass half a dozen vertical struts in for effect.
Result a fast boy racer for practically nothing.

One big drawback were the tipping seats to allow access to the back seat.
These used to hammer holes in the floor pan.
Cheers
Guy