Ford Anglia? What?
The Anglia must be one of the most easily identified models that the celebrated Ford Motor Company has ever produced, with the first model being launched in 1939 and the final edition, the Super Anglia, hitting the market in 1967. During its lifespan of almost 30 years, the Anglia evolved from being hailed as ‘the cheapest car in the world’ to sporting optional chrome trimming and a synchromesh gear box.
The Ford Anglia’s appearance in the Harry Potter films must have done much to reawaken passions for this classic British motor car. The vehicle was a great seller for years, with the resale market of second hand vehicles giving it a significantly extended life on our roads.
In the 50s you’d pay about £500 for an Anglia, and with the vehicle’s 1000cc engine and top speed of about 80mph, the car gave life to the hopes and ambitions for style of many a frustrated domestic speed dreamer. Essentially a four seat vehicle, however, the Anglia served its purpose as a small family car. Despite everyone’s best intentions the various models could really only accommodate four people, adults or kids, in relative comfort. The family, who crammed their three little ones into the rear of the Anglia, with the youngest often being deposited in the middle where there was no real seat, would be unlikely to enjoy a very comfortable ride.
However, you have to love the Anglia, distinctive for its protruding headlamps, two tone paint effects and stylish tail fin. The vehicle had a character that is lost in the world of modern motoring.