Convertible elegance for the common worker

Ford Prefect Tourer

The  

Ford  

Prefect  

is  

a  

line  

of  

British  

cars  

produced  

by  

the

UK   

division   

of   

the   

Ford   

Motor   

Company,   

and   

a   

more

upmarket  

version  

of  

its  

direct  

siblings  

the  

Ford  

Popular

and Ford Anglia.

It   was   introduced   in   October   1938   and   remained   in   production   until   1941;   returning   to   the market    in    1945,    it    was    offered    till    1961.    The    car    progressed    in    1953    from    its    original perpendicular or sit-up-and-beg style to a more modern three-box structure. Like   its   siblings,   the   car   became   a   popular   basis   for   a   hot   rod,   especially   in   Britain,   where   its lightweight structure and four-cylinder engines appealed to builders.

E93A (1938–49)

The   Ford   Prefect   was   introduced   in   October   1938   and   built   by   the   Ford   plant   in   Dagenham, Essex.   The   original   Ford   Prefect   was   a   slight   reworking   of   the   previous   year's   7Y,   the   first   Ford car   designed   outside   of   Detroit,   Michigan.   It   was   designed   specifically   for   the   British   market.   It had   a   1172   cc   side-valve   engine   with   thermocirculation   radiator   (no   pump)   and   the   ability   to   be started   by   a   crank   handle   should   the   battery   not   have   sufficient   power   to   turn   the   starter   motor running   from   the   6   Volt   charging   system.   The   windscreen   wipers   were   powered   by   the   vacuum ported   from   the   engine   intake   manifold   —   as   the   car   laboured   uphill   the   wipers   would   slow   to   a standstill   due   to   the   intake   manifold   vacuum   dropping   to   near   nil,   only   to   start   working   again   as the   top   was   reached   and   the   intake   vacuum   increased.   The   windscreen   opened   forward   pivoting on hinges on the top edge; two flaps either side of the scuttle also let air into the car. The   most   common   body   styles   were   two-   and   four-door   saloons,   but   pre   war   a   few   tourers   and drophead   coupés   were   made.   Post   war,   only   four-door   saloons   were   available   on   the   home market, but two-door models were made for export. 41,486 were made up to 1941 and a further 158,007 between 1945 and 1948

Australian production

The   E93A   was   also   produced   in   Australia,   in   1939   only,   with   the   Australian-built   4-door   saloon having   an   all-steel   roof.   2-door   saloon,   tourer,   5cwt   van,   coupé   utility   and   roadster   utility models were also produced.

1939

Engine 1172 cc Ford Straight 4 side valve Power 36 HP Transmission 3-speed manual Lenght/width 3,8 m/1,5 m Height 1,61 m