FORD 100E & 107E

The decade or so after World War Two was a hard time for Britain. Food rationing continued until 1954, resources in general were scarce and much of the population endured significant austerity. Given these conditions it is quite understandable that Ford continued to produce a small car until 1959 which had remained largely unchanged since the early 1930s. The 103E Popular looked and drove like ancient history, but it was for many the only affordable family car available.

However, the 1950s was also a decade of enormous optimism, which expressed itself in forward-looking design and style. This was the energy that in 1953 gave birth to Ford’s 100E models. To 21st Century eyes these two and four-door saloons can look cute and retro, but much about them was thoroughly modern and in many ways with the 100E Ford brought the future to the common man. It embraced monocoque construction, a three-box body style, hydraulic brakes, independent MacPherson strut front suspension and 12-volt electrics. The real cutting-edge stuff of front-wheel-drive, hatchback body and transverse-mounted engines wouldn’t be part of the Ford proposition until 1976’s Fiesta, but the 100E represents a real turning point for the company.

Behind the scenes there was less radical equipment. The engine was updated somewhat for the 100E, but it was still essentially the same venerable 1172cc, sidevalve, inline-four unit packed by the 103E. This was bolted to a three-speed gearbox, which even then was