1949 Ford Prefect E493A 1.2 petrol 4
Summary:
A low performance oddity
Faults:
Hmm. The engine became so worn that it couldn't drag the heavy little body up hills except with a run-up.
Replacing the babbit (poured) main bearings meant a line boring job, but replacing the valves was a breeze, the head was just a little cast plate, and there was no water pump or oil filter to worry about.
General Comments:
This car was advertised in the brochure still in the glove box when I bought it as a 'double entrance saloon', with exceptionally light controls and ideal for ladies to drive. They must have been giantesses in those days.
The car was seriously slow, and the beam axles and transverse springs (same as the Model T) made for exhilarating cornering.
I tipped it on its side one night, with five of us in it, and we climbed out, and set her up straight again, with only a little gravel rash on the fenders and oil leaking from the oil bath air-filter to show for it.
An odd little car, complete with an enormous valve radio and laminated windows all round.
All bakelite inside, and built like a little battleship.
An interesting stage of an automobile rake's progress.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know
Review Date: 27th November, 2001
4th Jun 2006, 02:18
I had one of these little beauties myself back in 1961. You are dead right about the cornering ability or lack thereof. I managed to tip it on it's side whilst cornering at the top of Anstey's Hill (In South Australia). The only injury was my pride. I removed the body a couple of years later after suffering major damage after striking a kangaroo. I built a pipe and timber 'Ute' type body on it, and in this form, it carried me along much of the outback SA roads now travelled by the yuppies in their very pricey four wheel drive palaces. I travelled the Strazleki, the Birdsville track, much of the un-made road areas of the Flinder's ranges, untill I had a head on collision with a Land-rover on some massive sandhills along the dog fence at Quinembie sheep station. I managed to drive it, after wiring star droppers along the chassis, to the township of Milparinka in NW New South Wales, this was all back in the early 1960's. The car is still on the dump at the back of the shed at Coally sheep station.. Bill B.
22nd Sep 2023, 17:27
Great story Bill, Interesting stuff. Sounds like I could drive to from London to Australia as long as I went in a straight line.
8th May 2006, 21:42
Has this car any collector value???