The Prefect
This 1948 Ford Prefect is a left-hand drive example, acquired by the current owner in 1962 as part of a $5 poker game. The car is finished in single stage British Racing Green over a mohair-like but modern fabric interior. It was originally upholstered in brown leather that was good enough to serve as hints but not patterns. Power is supplied by a 1,172cc sidevalve, inline four cylinder engine paired with a three-speed manual gearbox and rear-wheel drive. The engine was sourced from a 1958 Prefect 100E then professionally overhauled and converted at that time to insert rather than the original babbit rod bearings. Externally, the engine appears almost identical to the original but it is known to be much more robust. It is also the same displacement and horsepower rating. The internal dimensions, bore and stroke, etc, are mostly identical so that much of the existing tooling could still be used. It comes standard with a belt-driven water pump and oil filter, features that were not available on the original.
Equipment includes 15" steel wheels, sourced from a Triumph TR3, wearing whitewall radial tires, a 12 volt electrical system, a single fog light and Ford optional dual tail lights. Enhancements include an electric fuel pump and two-speed electric windscreen wipers, replacing the original vacuum operated unit. In addition to the original trafficators, it is also equipped with modern, flashing turn signals via the side and tail lights. This E93A seems to be unique in that it has an extended boot as found on the Anglia as well as the Australian-built Prefect but never the English version. This extension provides ample luggage space for the American market. Further discussion of the extended boot can be found here. The car resides in Oklahoma City, OK and includes an original owner's manual, other literature, records (service, maintenance and restoration) and a clean Oklahoma title.
The E93A was introduced in 1946 and built by Ford, UK at its new Dagenham, Essex assembly plant. No records exist to explain the extended boot. The best guess is that it was a prototype for the North American market where purchasers are accustomed to more trunk space than the standard version could offer. Sales of the "little" cars had been somewhat less than hoped. This one is refinished in glass-flat, green urethane and features chrome bumpers with optional overriders, a period-correct side mirror, running boards, dual wing-mounted taillights and a third brake light for safety..
Body-color steel wheels feature chrome hubcaps and trim rings and they are mounted with 165R15 whitewall radial tires. The Prefect rides on a 94" wheelbase and features front and rear solid axles with transverse leaf springs. Stopping power is provided by hydraulic drums at all four corners, also from that same 1958 Prefect that supplied the engine. Original brakes were mechanical. That was probably barely adequate at the time considering road conditions and other vehicles it shared the roads with. In today's traffic with smoother, high-speed roads and bigger cars, not so much.
The left-hand drive cabin features front and rear bench seating trimmed in coordinating fabric and vinyl. Coordinating carpet covers the floor and additional equipment includes a heater, under-dash shelf and upgraded electrical system to include automatic interior lighting, a complete, new wiring harness and an opening windscreen.
The exquisite steering wheel fronts a handsome bakelite dash housing an overly optimistic 90-mph speedometer, an ammeter, a fuel gauge and an oil-pressure/water-temperature gauge. The five-digit odometer shows 39k miles but total mileage is unknown but certainly more than that. The current owner reports adding 30 to 35k in previous years. The odometer was inoperative at the time but has since been restored.
The 1,172cc four was originally rated at 36 brake horsepower in US specification. Power is sent to the rear wheels via a floor-shifted three-speed manual gearbox.
Recent service includes oil and filter change, differential oil change and gasket replacement, a new steering box seal, chassis lubrication, a new electric fuel pump with filters and refreshed clutch and brake hydraulic fluid. Brake hoses were replaced at that time.
An added feature for safety in today's traffic is the high mount 3rd brake light. Yes, it is a LED fixture but it was the only thing available that seemed to be an appropriate size for that quite small rear window. Although white, or clear, here, it does light red. With the glass installed, it just clears the rubber at the bottom.
More photos below. Thumbnails can be clicked for full view.
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