Description
A stunning little car in all respects. The subject of a recent sympathetic restoration and comprehensive mechanical rebuild, this fabulous 100E comes with a unique story having been garage-stored prior to 2021 for over 50 years. With bills and receipts for mainly parts alone totally over £4, 000, this is a superb opportunity to acquire an ever popular 1950`s small Ford that has been properly recommissioned and even boasts a current MoT Certificate to August 2025. Come and see for yourself before I`m tempted to keep it!
Introduced by Ford in October 1938, the Prefect (E93A) was an upmarket variant of the Popular or Anglia both already existing as small family cars within the immediate pre-war production range. Fitted with an 1172cc side-valve engine, the car was offered as either a 2 or 4-door saloon and open tourer. Model production continued after the war with a restyle in 1952 moving the headlights into the wings (E493A) but the biggest change came the following year with a complete redesign with integral construction. The 100E was born. Offered as either an Anglia or Prefect (the latter distinguished by vertical radiator bars and always 4 doors), the now much more modern-looking car came with an all-new 1172cc side-valve engine with higher compression ratio, floor-mounted gearchange and notably vacuum-powered windscreen wipers. Separate front seats were trimmed in quality PVC (leather was an option) whilst dashboards featured a much wider range of dials and instruments than seen previously. Over 100, 500 examples of the 100E were produced over a 6-year run before the model changed again becoming the 997cc 107E from 1959 onwards.
Our car dates from 1956 and was registered from new in North West London. Little is known of it`s early life but by 1967 it was in the ownership of a gentleman, a Mr. Bouquet, living in Wembley. It is very possible that he had owned the car from new. We have some original documentation from this period including his insurance policy, an MoT Test Certificate and a copy of the logbook. From 1969 onwards, it is understood that the Prefect was laid-up in a garage and there it was to remain until his death in 2021. The house cleared and sold, the Prefect ended up as a probate sale and was acquired by a Ford enthusiast living in Sherborne, Dorset. Evidently a non-runner and clearly requiring restoration and recommissioning, our new keeper set about on what was to become a 2-year rolling rebuild. With bills and invoices for mainly parts exceeding £4, 000, notable work included a full engine rebuild with all new gaskets, hoses and ignition parts, some new panels including drivers wing and sills, complete braking system renewal, complete overhaul of cooling system with new radiator, new mild steel exhaust system, fuel pump, powder coating all 5 steel wheels with new tyres all `round, new front springs and suspension tops, new head-lining, fresh carpets and a complete repaint in original Black paint. Back on the road in August 2023, the car was taken for it`s first MoT inspection in probably 55 years and passed with no Advisory Notes. For the past 15 months, the Prefect has been used and enjoyed regularly covering almost 2000 miles. Since our acquisition, we have undertaken a full health-check and can confirm that everything works perfectly and the car is good to go!
The Prefect presents just as can be seen in the photographs. Both body and paintwork are excellent having had a recent full repaint in original Black with just one or two age-related blemishes. All external trim including chrome is superb whilst the interior tells a similar story. Original Dark Red leather trim has been sympathetically renovated and repaired (in the case of the front passenger seat) whilst fresh carpets in Caramel finish off what is a wonderfully evocative cabin. Turn the key and pull the Starter and the diminutive 1172cc fires into life sounding eager and ready for action. Select 1st and the little car pulls away smoothly with easy changes up to 2nd and top. Positive steering inspires immediate confidence, the Prefect feeling balanced and well-mannered with excellent brakes. On a rather damp Saturday, I took the Prefect on a jaunt across the West Dorset Downs towards Hardy`s Monument and can only report that it performed impeccably. Peppy acceleration and a rather infectious exhaust note add massively to the appeal - this is most definitely a small car with a big personality.
The car comes with a copy of the original logbook (it was previously registered SLX 986 but owing to the time in storage had to be re-registered on the current age-related number plate), an original insurance document from 1967 and MoT from the same period, many bills and receipts for mainly parts from 2022-2024, a pair of period 100E maintenance books, a current V5C and MoT Certificate to August 2025 despite being technically exempt.
A substantially yet sympathetically restored example of a popular classic. Just lovely.
Shore Classics is based on the West Dorset coast within easy proximity of both Weymouth and the County town of Dorchester. As classic and vintage dealers, we offer full brokerage facilities. So if you require some help and guidance with selling your classic car or motorcycle, just give us a call today.
