The UK has a rich history when it comes to car making, and while some of the once-numerous factories have long since been demolished and their remains buried beneath business parks, housing developments and shopping centres, others are still going strong. The place we’re taking a closer look at here is very much one of the latter – the Halewood plant on Merseyside, which has been producing cars for the last six decades.
Constructed by Ford in 1962, Halewood offered a much-needed boost to Blue Oval production, easing the pressure on the sprawling Dagenham factory that had been building vehicles in Essex since 1931. The end of the 1950s saw Ford launching the Anglia 105E, a modest family car that would go on to sell in big numbers. But if the company was to meet demand for its expanding range, it needed another factory; and with efforts to boost growth in employment and prosperity high on their agenda, the Government suggested Halewood.
Ford went on to spend some £30 million building the plant, with the first model rolling out of the gates in 1963 being the Anglia. Originally launched in September ’59 to replace the previous model of the same name, the latest Anglia proved to be a roaring success among buyers seeking a stylish and capable family saloon. It was certainly eye-catching thanks to its sharp lines and reverse-rake rear screen; and while the standard model was somewhat spartan, those with a little more money to spend could instead plump for the Deluxe with its extra chrome and more in the way of interior equipment.
The brand new overhead-valve ‘Kent’ engine was revolutionary by small-Ford standards, gutsy enough to provide sparkling performance as well as being economical. And the four-speed gearbox (a first for Ford) provided slick changes, while tidy handling made the Anglia an enjoyable way
