Ford Prefect

The Ford Prefect is a line o Breetish caurs produced bi the UK section o the Ford Motor Company, an a mair upmarket version o its direct siblings the Ford Popular an Ford Anglia.  It wis introduced in 1938 an remained in production till 1941; returnin tae the mercat in 1945, it wis affered till 1961.  The caur progressed in 1953 frae its oreeginal perpendicular or 'sit-up-an-beg' style tae a mair modren three-box structur.

Lik its siblings, the caur became a popular basis for a hot rod especially in Breetain whaur baith its lichtweight structur an its  fower cylinder ingines appealed tae builders.

E93A (1938-49)

The Ford Prefect wis introduced in 1938 an biggit bi the Ford plant in Dagenham, Essex. The oreeginal Ford Prefect wis a slicht rewirkin o the previous year's 7Y, the first Ford caur designed ootside o Detroit, Michigan. It wis designed specifically for the Breetish mercat. It haed a 1200 cc side valve ingine wi thermocirculation radiator (nae pump) an the ability tae be stairtit bi a crank haundle shoud the battery no hae sufficient pouer tae turn the stairter motor runnin frae the 6 Volt chargin seestem. The windscreen wipers wur pouered bi the vacuum portit frae the ingine intake manifold - as the caur laboured uphill the wipers wad slow tae a standstill due tae the intake manifold vacuum droppin tae near nil, ae tae stairt workin again as the tap wis reached an the intake vacuum increased.
The windscreen opened forrit pivotin on hinges on the tap edge; twa flaps aither side o the scuttle an aa let air intae the caur.

The maist common body styles wur twa an fower door saloons but pre war a few tourers an coupés wur made. Post war ae fower door saloons wur available on the hame mercat but twa door models wur made for export.

41,486 wur made up tae 1941 an a further 158,007 atween 1945 an 1948.

E493A (1949–53)

Post war, the Prefect design changed little till replaced in 1952. The headlamps moved intae the wings an trafficators wur fittit (internally lit semaphores sprungin oot frae the door pillars tae signal left an richt turns), tho due tae space restrictions thir wur left oot on the Australian-biggit Ute. Ae fower door saloons wur available on the hame mercat, the twa door sector bein left tae the Anglia but some wur made for export.

The brakes remained mechanically operated uisin the Girling rod seestem wi 10 in (250 mm) drums an the chassis still haed transverse leaf springs front an rear.

A Prefect testit bi the Breetish magazine The Motor in 1948 haed a tap speed o  an coud accelerate frae 0-0-50 mph (80 km/h) in 22.8 seconds. A fuel consumption o  wis recorded. The test car which haed the optional leather upholstery cost £412 includin taxes. In standard form thay commented that it wis the cheapest 4-door car on the Breetish mercat.

192,229 war made.

References

Prefect
Category:1938 introductions