Talk to me about Ford Popular 100E's....
Discussion
Back in 1970 when I passed my Driving Test, my Dad had a 100E Pop
He offered it to me as my first car - I refused it!
Fast forward 44 years I think they look ok, very thick steel compared to modern cars, easy to swop bits over from more modern (1970s) Fords
If it's the de luxe model it'll have a heater......
He offered it to me as my first car - I refused it!
Fast forward 44 years I think they look ok, very thick steel compared to modern cars, easy to swop bits over from more modern (1970s) Fords
If it's the de luxe model it'll have a heater......
A little bit more info than "i refused one 40 years ago" please..
They appeal to me because they can be made to look pretty cool with some nice wheels and lowered abit. I normally agree with leaving classics unmolested but they look the business when done tastefully. Then you've got engine swaps etc..
I understand that 40 years ago it probably would've been a slow shopping trolley but i think they have a certain charm nowadays.
They appeal to me because they can be made to look pretty cool with some nice wheels and lowered abit. I normally agree with leaving classics unmolested but they look the business when done tastefully. Then you've got engine swaps etc..
I understand that 40 years ago it probably would've been a slow shopping trolley but i think they have a certain charm nowadays.
ks.. 
Hi,
Some real world experience having owned a 3 door 100E about 3 years ago.
Everyone of a certain age will wave or acknowledge you.
Rust was not an issue on mine, Ford steel was very thick back then and the only welding I had to do was a small 3 inch patch directly behind the drivers seat.
The ride is very "soft" and the car will wallow around a bit.
3 speed gearbox takes a bit of getting used to, but the trick was to get into into top quickly.
Drum brakes all round which pull up square but you need to adapt your driving style and preempt the road and other drivers more than say driving a more modern car from the 70's/80's
Top whack is around 55mph, but will slow significantly for any gradient etc.
I originally bought mine to carry out a period hot rod conversion, but as the car was in such good condition I could not bring myself to start chopping around with the bulkhead etc so I ran it around for a couple of months before selling it on as it was too good to mess around with.
Regards
Some real world experience having owned a 3 door 100E about 3 years ago.
Everyone of a certain age will wave or acknowledge you.
Rust was not an issue on mine, Ford steel was very thick back then and the only welding I had to do was a small 3 inch patch directly behind the drivers seat.
The ride is very "soft" and the car will wallow around a bit.
3 speed gearbox takes a bit of getting used to, but the trick was to get into into top quickly.
Drum brakes all round which pull up square but you need to adapt your driving style and preempt the road and other drivers more than say driving a more modern car from the 70's/80's
Top whack is around 55mph, but will slow significantly for any gradient etc.
I originally bought mine to carry out a period hot rod conversion, but as the car was in such good condition I could not bring myself to start chopping around with the bulkhead etc so I ran it around for a couple of months before selling it on as it was too good to mess around with.
Regards
TheProfessor said:
having owned a 3 door 100E about 3 years ago.
A 3-door? Do you mean an Escort / Squire estate or was it the weird offspring of an Anglia and Prefect? 
Another thing to note is that the wheels are not the normal 4x108mm bolt pattern so you can't swap wheels from other Fords - old caravans though....
Used to own a '55 Prefect which had the very rare Murray overdrive. It worked on all gears, so you had six forward and two reverse gears - 40mph backwards was, er, interesting!
The one I wish I'd never sold was the '60 107E Prefect I had. 107Es came with the OHV Kent 997cc pre-crossflow engine and a 4-speed gearbox (the bulkhead is different to accommodate the Kent engine). Mine had a 1500GT Cortina engine and box fitted which was lots of fun - apart from still having the original drum brakes which needed three weeks notice in triplicate.
I'd have one again in a heartbeat!
Rich G
My biggest and most substantial issues with these is the archaic boat anchor of an engine, and that is when comparing it to cars of it's time. I would actually say that for me it is so hopeless that it would completely ruin the experience of owning one of these if it was a good car, which it certainly is not. I simply can not think of a positive thing to say about these other than they kept Britain moving after the war, which is not really a good reason to want to drive one now. The brakes and more significantly the brake fade is terrible, the wipers stop working when you drive up a hill, but work furiously when you're stationary. The gearbox just adds to the misery of driving one. The only thing I found amusing about driving one is that the speedo runs out of orange marker at the zero end when you go above about 70 and starts turning white again, that does require a very long and steep hill to achieve. Why would anyone possibly want to own one of these when there are so many good classic cars. Drive a 100E and then drive a Mk1 Jag and try and understand how they come from the same time.
elephantstone said:
A little bit more info than "i refused one 40 years ago" please..
They appeal to me because they can be made to look pretty cool with some nice wheels and lowered abit. I normally agree with leaving classics unmolested but they look the business when done tastefully. Then you've got engine swaps etc..
I understand that 40 years ago it probably would've been a slow shopping trolley but i think they have a certain charm nowadays.
In 1973 I had a 100e I paid £30 for it from a learner driver, it was a bit slow with the 3 speed box and tiny engine, so after cutting the bulkhead and slotting in a Lotus twin cam it was really quick and accelerated well with a 4.44 ratio diff, wheel spin on what seemed like every corner. Great memories. I wish I had it still.They appeal to me because they can be made to look pretty cool with some nice wheels and lowered abit. I normally agree with leaving classics unmolested but they look the business when done tastefully. Then you've got engine swaps etc..
I understand that 40 years ago it probably would've been a slow shopping trolley but i think they have a certain charm nowadays.
Get one and modify it only don't cut the bulkhead, the 107e has more space under the bonnet too squeeze other engines in but is 4 door. Most mk1 escort stuff can be fitted and specialist companies are out there to help.
I have owned a Popular Deluxe 100e for quite a few years. Easy to look after and pleasant to drive if you like a 'time warp' driving experience - which I do. Just changed to radial tyres from crossplies and the handling improvement is a revelation, as it would have been back in the day.
My car is a 1960 22K miler and absolutely original, but stuff doesn't last forever and I have decided a refurb and respray (A full restoration would be sacrelige)will be on the cards this winter.
In standard form it is a struggle to keep up with modern traffic these days. Drum brakes are amazing, ride is good and the sidevalve engine a sweet as a sewing machine but the 3 speed box means there is never a right gear for the moment and there are frustrations like the vacuum wipers to contend with.
But don't forget it is a 60 year old design and the standard Pop was the cheapest 4 wheel car on the market in 1960.
Mine will stay standard, but have a look on www.ford100e.org Every level of upgrade is catered for.... Who needs MK1 Escorts while the old 100e still lives?
My car is a 1960 22K miler and absolutely original, but stuff doesn't last forever and I have decided a refurb and respray (A full restoration would be sacrelige)will be on the cards this winter.
In standard form it is a struggle to keep up with modern traffic these days. Drum brakes are amazing, ride is good and the sidevalve engine a sweet as a sewing machine but the 3 speed box means there is never a right gear for the moment and there are frustrations like the vacuum wipers to contend with.
But don't forget it is a 60 year old design and the standard Pop was the cheapest 4 wheel car on the market in 1960.
Mine will stay standard, but have a look on www.ford100e.org Every level of upgrade is catered for.... Who needs MK1 Escorts while the old 100e still lives?
This was mine.
6 speed Wooler remote control gearbox, E Type gear knob, rev counter, no hub caps, wooden steering wheel with remote horn button.
Ford Anglia in 1963 near Belfry Hotel
6 speed Wooler remote control gearbox, E Type gear knob, rev counter, no hub caps, wooden steering wheel with remote horn button.
Ford Anglia in 1963 near Belfry Hotel52classic said:
What a lovely picture! I remember Wooler stuff for later Fords but a 6 speed 'box?
Looks like your car has got non standard seats too.
Thanks.. the gearbox was effectively an overdrive & had two levers, the original with remote control & the overdrive lever alongside[Not visible in photo]. The seats were standard.Looks like your car has got non standard seats too.
The 6 speed was especially useful when sprinting at Curborough [ which had just started in '63] where with the standard 'box you'd either be valve bouncing in 2nd or have no power at all in top [3rd]. Overdrive 2nd gave a usable gear before the complected change to top & then o/d top.
Edited by threespires on Thursday 26th June 19:49
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