and for its link to the automotive past. It’s a 1950s
rather than ’60s design, and it feels as if it has one
foot in the world of austerity motoring despite
its smart new suit.” You can sense the 948’s roots
in the engine note, the white-faced speedo and
the provision for a starting handle on the front
pulley. Yet this modestly powered Triumph insti-
gated not only a 12-year run of Heralds, but
also every Vitesse, Spitfire and GT6.
If the Herald and the A40 represented cut-
price Italian glamour, the Anglia was a beguiling
blend of Hollywood and late-period British rock
’n’ roll. In September 1959, few motorists would
have been surprised at a British Ford employing
Dearborn stylistic tropes, but the lines of the
105E created a minor sensation at the Earls
Court Motor Show. Potential customers would
be informed how that ‘Breezeway’ rear screen
deflected rain and snow in the winter and
afforded protection from heat in the summer.
More importantly, it made the 105E one of the
most dramatic-looking small cars of its era.
The looks of the 105E were said to be inspired
by the Mercury Monterey or a ’55 Farina design
for Fiat, but its impact was not entirely depend-
ent on its aesthetics. Enthusiasts noted the
tuning potential of the oversquare power unit
and Sydney Allard scored a class victory in the
1963 Rallye Monte-Carlo in his supercharged
Anglia Allardette. Jason Barnes, owner of this
1966 deluxe, finds the performance to be excel-
lent: “At one point I replaced the standard
FoMoCo carb, which was not Ford’s best, with
an SU, but it is now back to the standard set-up
and that still provides more than enough go. The
164 Classic & Sports Car September 2019
From top: distinctive,
Stateside-inspired
reverse-rake profile has
earned the Anglia a loyal
following; deluxe spec
results in the plushest
passenger compartment
here; oversquare 997cc
‘Kent’ four-pot engine
is beloved by tuners