[D]

After The Great War Ford of Detroit started setting up facilities in Germany, France and Britain. British production began at Trafford Park, Manchester with the Model T and later, the Model A. Between 1913 to 1923 the Model T was the UK's best selling car. Production was moved to Dagenham in Essex in 1932 where it remains today. In the 1960's an additional factory was based in Liverpool.

The first true British Ford was the 8 hp Y Series two or four door saloons. Just prior to the outbreak of the Second World War the updated Eight and Ten models were introduced. After the war these were to be updated to become the Prefect and Anglia.

The Pilot of 1947 used a V8 engine that was developed during the war years, but the austerity of the post war years led to its replacement with the Consul and Zephyr in 1951. These had transatlantic styling and were powered by a four (Consul) or six-cylinder (Zephyr) engine.

A later de-luxe version of the Zephyr was sold as the Zodiac. All three were available as four door saloons, two door coupes or Abbot bodied estate cars.

The small car end of the market saw the New Anglia and Prefect in 1953. The last "perpendicular" Ford, the Popular finally ceased production in 1959.

The Classic, with a backwards-sloping rear screen similar to the 1959 Anglia, and Capri followed in 1961 fitted with 1340 cc engines and were later to be replaced by 1500 cc units.

1962 saw the introduction of the Cortina, a model name that was to last for many years over several Marks. Lotus built a twin-cam version that was widely used in motor sports.

The photograph of the red 1951 Anglia Convertible was kindly provided by Ross G Frater of Brisbane.

E-Mail: history@britishmm.co.uk