1964 Ford ANGLIA 105E DeLuxe

This Anglia Deluxe is a fabulous example of how even humble Fords can survive the passage of time as long as they’re kept dry – really dry – and garaged. The secret of this car’s survival lies in its provenance. Assembled by Ford of South Africa, it was bought and garaged from new by a lady and didn’t go to its second (and current) owner Marcelle until her demise in 2015. 

Marcelle is also a South African. He has settled in the UK and brings dry-climate cars over from his homeland to his business in Newhaven. After owning this Anglia for the last four years, he has now put it through an MOT test. It initially failed on a broken rear numberplate bulb, with advisories for light oil misting on both rear shocks. Even for a ten year old car, that would be something of a result. For a 55-year old Ford it’s not far short of a miracle. 

The car is no concours queen that can’t be driven for fear of denting its value. It’s been deliberately kept wonderfully original, right down to the splits in the front passenger seat (where the little lady sits), and the result is something that can be enjoyed just as much on the road as behind a show rope.

There was a remarkably wide range of paint schemes available for the Anglia. Many of the brighter hues reflected the UK’s determination to break free of the post-war blues, but there was also no shortage of conservative options for those who didn’t want to go down the ‘Americana in miniature’ look that Ford was keen to promote. 

Of the ten shades of grey that you could specify, including some that looked distinctly beige or green, we’re guessing that this one is either Lombard or Ascot Grey. The paint you’re looking at here is a modern two-pack respray carried out for Marcelle in the original colour. Or non-colour if that’s how you categorise grey. It’s still pin sharp and apparently blemish-free. 

There’s a tiny bit of overspray on the boot rubber, but all the fixings and screws are original. The quarterlights and rear opening glasses function as they should, the chrome all round is excellent and all the trim pieces including the wheeltrims and the hard to find front bumper appear to be in smashing order. There’s a period-correct aftermarket locking fuel cap and, charmingly, an additional chrome boot badge in the correct Anglia typeface for Grosvenor Motors, the supplying dealer and (at the time) South Africa’s biggest Ford dealership.

Not many UK-spec Anglias would have sported a Venetian blind in the rear window, but that extra is both a fascinating and, you would think, extremely rare pointer into this car’s background and a great talking point.

Moving inside, we are greeted by the unmistakable odour of a 1960s classic. Well, we say unmistakable but Marcelle hasn't been able to confirm whether the seat material is leather or a particularly convincing variety of vinyl. Leather was an option on South African Anglias, so it could very easily be hide, but so as not to overdescribe it let’s go with vinyl. 

There are a couple of fairly significant seam splits on the passenger seat. Kits exist that will allow the next owner to effect repairs using a curved needle and some finely teased sheep gut. No, not really, but there are kits you can buy that will help you to sort these splits out. Or you can always pay someone who knows what they’re doing. 

The original fabric-style door seals have seen better days. Non-specific sponge rubber seals are readily available at around £20 a side but, as Marcelle has, you may prefer to keep the car as it is. Or you can enjoy the process of hunting down replacement originals. It’s a win either way. 

No problems with the headlining, which is an object lesson to certain other car companies who have never quite managed to get theirs to stick to the roof even in the UK’s far from tropical climate. The door cards are still spiffy and the windows still wind as the manufacturer intended. Even the original push-button radio still works, although we can't confirm if the content is delivered in Afrikaans.  

We love the parallelogram speedo with its uber-long needle that magically disappears somewhere up into the dashtop when you’re on the move. The Deluxe came with a heater and screenwash, which to the best of our knowledge are both functioning.

Marcelle describes his Anglia as ‘solid, solid, solid’, and looking underneath or down the side of the car from any angle – high or low – it’s not difficult to see why he says that. 

Anglia floorpans, sills, rear spring hangers, jacking points, front inner wings and MacPherson strut tops are all danger areas for corrosion, as are the rear valance and crossmember, door bottoms and headlight surrounds. Front wings are especially prone to rot and finding new ones isn’t a walk in the park.

No worries with any of that here as it’s all as clean as a quite clean whistle. It’s the same story under the bonnet. The engine and wiring are both remarkably original and remarkably fresh, an unusual combination. Even the soundproofing, traditionally the first underbonnet area to fall into disrepair, is almost entirely intact. 

As an aside, the 997cc Kent engine (not converted for unleaded fuel in this car) has a fine reputation for reliability, more so than the later 1.2 in fact. Transmissions are equally durable.

Marcelle did have the service handbook and plenty more paperwork for this car, but sadly much of it was lost last year during a difficult period in his life. That’s a pity, but Marcelle assures us from his own personal knowledge that the 61,764 mileage is genuine. 

The V5C is present, and Marcelle has just attached the correct age-related stamped-metal 1964 ‘B’ registration plates to the car.

A quick Google of Grosvenor Motors turned up a lovely old shot of the road running past the dealership in Rosebank, Johannesburg. We don’t know if that’s where the car was sold from, but with Marcelle pointing you in the right direction any budding detectives among you could have a field day digging into the car’s history. It’s a safe bet that the members of the UK-based 105E Owners’ Club would be extremely interested in this car, and more than happy to fill in many of the blanks on your adventure. The VIN plate showing the car’s Port Elizabeth origins and giving its 274987 serial number will be a great starting point.

Anglias you find on the road today tend to be either hot-rodded or over-pimped. This example falls into neither of those traps. It’s utterly unpretentious, very representative of its time, and – the biggest bonus of all – apparently solid. The grey and red colourway really suits it too. Our Estimate is £5,000 - 7,000.

On its launch, the Anglia was dubbed ‘the world’s most exciting small car’. Admittedly, that accolade came from Ford itself, but journalists of the time were agreed on what a step forward the 105E was over the 100E in terms of handling, performance and economy. They also rated the light transmission and airy feel of the cabin. One American journal testing the car noticed no shortage of female admirers.

The next owner can enjoy the hidden financial benefits of running a workmanlike classic like this. Check the numbers on the invoices you can see in the Gallery. A 105E is not the kind of car that will try to break you. A full stainless steel exhaust from someone like J&B Anglia is only just over £300 – not that this car needs a new exhaust. That’s just an indicator of how reasonably priced parts are.

With very little work needed to make it perfect, this is a rare opportunity to lock yourself into a Ford era that, price-wise, is yet to rocket off into the stratosphere in the same way as 1970s-on Blue Oval products already have. Ron Weasley’s ownership of the extremely rare flying version (in what appears to be the same colour of grey) is unlikely to do future Anglia values any harm either.

We always encourage viewings. This Anglia is located at the vendor’s premises in Newhaven, Sussex. Just click the ‘Contact Seller’ button at the top of the listing to arrange an appointment. Ahead of that, or at any time during the process, you’re more than welcome to ask any questions or jot down observations in the comments section below. You won’t be shocked to hear that our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ section will answer general questions that are frequently asked about how The Market works.

Also please note that we have a network of trusted suppliers with whom we work regularly and successfully: Classic & Sportscar Finance for purchase-financing, Thames Valley Car Storage for storing your car, AnyVan for transporting it, and Footman James for classic car insurance.

BORING, but IMPORTANT: Please note that whilst we at The Market always aim to offer the most descriptive and transparent auction listings available, we cannot claim they are perfect analyses of any of the vehicles for sale. We offer far greater opportunity for bidders to view, or arrange inspections for each vehicle thoroughly prior to bidding than traditional auctions, and we never stop encouraging bidders to take advantage of this. We do take a good look at the vehicles delivered to our premises for sale, but this only results in our unbiased personal observations, not those of a qualified inspector or other professional, or the result of a long test drive.

Additionally, please note that most of the videos on our site have been recorded using simple cameras which often result in 'average' sound quality; in particular, engine and exhaust notes can sound a little different to how they are in reality.