Prefect 107e - Classic Ford
Prefect 107e - Classic Ford
Prefect 107e - Classic Ford
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cftech<br />
BUYER’S GUIDE<br />
148 October 2009<br />
Your first<br />
car<br />
<strong>Prefect</strong> 107E<br />
Overshadowed by its more glamourous 105E stablemate maybe, but<br />
the 107E makes the perfect entry-level <strong>Ford</strong> with bags of potential.<br />
Words Christian Tilbury Photos Gerard Hughes<br />
L<br />
aunched in the shadow of<br />
the Anglia 105E, the 1959<br />
entrance of the <strong>Prefect</strong><br />
107E was a very restrained affair.<br />
Which was a bit of a shame really,<br />
as the familiar-looking <strong>Prefect</strong><br />
had much to shout about.<br />
After <strong>Ford</strong> cancelled the<br />
development of a four-door<br />
105E, the manufacturer shuffled<br />
in the 107E to fill the gap,<br />
creating its unique DNA by<br />
blending the Anglia’s engine with<br />
the <strong>Prefect</strong> 100E bodyshell. It<br />
was something old and something<br />
new, but it certainly worked.<br />
Much of the car’s success could<br />
be attributed to the motor found<br />
nestling between the 107E’s<br />
sturdy suspension towers. Despite<br />
giving away nearly 200cc to the<br />
1172cc sidevalve engine used in<br />
the previous <strong>Prefect</strong>, the 997cc<br />
overhead valve motor boasted as<br />
much torque but more power.<br />
Fuelled by a Solex downdraught<br />
carburettor, the oversquare<br />
engine was good for 39 bhp and a<br />
useful 52.5 lb.ft torque.<br />
Aiding performance and<br />
dramatically improving drivability<br />
was the Anglia’s four-speed<br />
gearbox. Replacing the 100E’s<br />
antiquated three-speeder, the new<br />
’box had a synchro on three gears<br />
and the ability to cruise at 60<br />
mph yet still return over 30 mpg.<br />
To go with the extra urge, the<br />
107E received a boost in the style<br />
stakes too. The three-box styling<br />
was dressed with the additions of<br />
Zephyr-style chrome side strips<br />
and optional two-tone paint, the<br />
latter costing £7 1s 8d. Available<br />
in De Luxe trim only, the 107E<br />
spoilt its occupants with, amongst<br />
other features, carpets, comfier<br />
seats and padded sunvisors.<br />
Unfortunately, the vacuumoperated<br />
windscreen wipers<br />
remained, although this time they<br />
only slowed rather than coming<br />
to a complete halt on full throttle.<br />
The prospect of not actually<br />
being able to see in a downpour<br />
did little to deter buyers. By the<br />
time it was phased out in 1961,<br />
38,541 had been sold. Today,<br />
around 150 are definitely known<br />
to survive and the 107E makes<br />
great sense, being capable of<br />
everyday use but lacking the big<br />
price tag of other classic <strong>Ford</strong>s.<br />
electrIcs<br />
So basic are the 107E’s electrics<br />
that there is only one fuse for the<br />
indicators. This sparseness<br />
means there’s little to go wrong<br />
though, and any problems are<br />
usually down to corroded<br />
connections. Damaged lights and<br />
instruments can be replaced with<br />
those from earlier 100Es, while<br />
the only real likely problem is an<br />
erratic fuel gauge. The<br />
usual fault is that it<br />
constantly reads full,<br />
which is caused by<br />
the build-up of rust on the tank as<br />
there is no separate earth and the<br />
sender relies on the metal contact<br />
to provide a reading.<br />
“the <strong>Prefect</strong> <strong>107e</strong> was<br />
somethIng old and<br />
somethIng new, but It<br />
certaInly worked”<br />
InterIor<br />
Vinyl trim is hardwearing but<br />
does suffer from sun damage,<br />
turning the seat tops brown and<br />
also the headlining.<br />
Replacement vinyl is available,<br />
but complete seats are thin on<br />
the ground so check for the likes<br />
of collapsed bases.<br />
Pay particular attention to the<br />
carpet as it’s unique to the 107E<br />
and although quality, goodfitting<br />
remanufactured sets are<br />
available, you’ll find they’re not<br />
quite to the same specification as<br />
the originals.<br />
gearbox<br />
A whiny ’box isn’t the end of the world — they tend to soldier on for many<br />
miles. Worn synchromesh is more of a pain, making double declutching a<br />
necessity and the telltale crunching on second gear. The hypoid rear axle<br />
is unique to the 107E, but on the upside it’s reliable and, unlike the 100E’s,<br />
can be rebuilt by a competent home mechanic. Interestingly, the diff<br />
ratios are interchangeable with those of many Mk2 Escorts.<br />
brakes<br />
buyer’s guide: prefect <strong>107e</strong><br />
Usual drum brake faults apply — ill<br />
adjustment and leaky wheel<br />
cylinders. A telltale of the former is<br />
excessive pedal travel and only costs<br />
a bit of time and graft to fix, while the<br />
latter will often involve the<br />
replacement of the shoes, due to<br />
contamination, as well as the<br />
weeping cylinder. An ineffective<br />
handbrake is also quite common, the<br />
design of the backplate mechanism<br />
tending to wear a groove in the shoes<br />
and the linkage also seizing.<br />
October 2009 149
cftech buyer’s guide: prefect <strong>107e</strong><br />
The 107E’s engine is considered<br />
to be good for 70,000 miles. A<br />
surefire sign it’s tired is heavy<br />
breathing, so check for fuming<br />
from the dipstick aperture and oil<br />
filler cap. This points to the piston<br />
rings needing replacement but<br />
more worrying is any rumbling,<br />
which usually points to the<br />
collapse of the middle main<br />
bearing of the crankshaft. For<br />
added practicality and a useful<br />
boost in performance though,<br />
use a worn engine as a handy<br />
haggling tool and substitute it for<br />
the 1198cc engine found in the<br />
later Anglia 123E — it’s an easy<br />
swap and goes straight in on the<br />
original mounts.<br />
The basic ignition system is<br />
reliable, but the original Solex<br />
carbs can suffer from flat spots.<br />
The common cure is to fit a<br />
replacement system from a later<br />
105E, which used a slightly<br />
modified version.<br />
150 October 2009<br />
Your first<br />
car<br />
engIne need to know<br />
body<br />
It’s made from surprisingly thick metal, but the 107E does have a<br />
number of rot spots. Most common is the lower part of the front wings<br />
that rust from the inside out due to the wheels kicking up debris into a<br />
rather unfortunate mud trap. Also inspect the sills, floor, jacking points<br />
and rear spring hangers. Most important though, is under the bonnet<br />
as any rust in the vicinity of the strut mountings and bulkhead will be<br />
complicated and costly to rectify. Don’t expect to find NOS panels but<br />
some decent, remanufactured items are available.<br />
steerIng &<br />
susPensIon<br />
Stiff steering points to worn ball<br />
races in the struts’ top<br />
mountings, while any stiff spots<br />
usually mean that the steering<br />
box has been overtightened to<br />
compensate for any wear.<br />
Over time the rear leaf springs<br />
will sag and the dampers will<br />
leak. A simple bounce test will<br />
reveal if the dampers are shot<br />
and any crashing from the back<br />
over bumps, together with a<br />
slightly tail down stance, means<br />
that the rear springs are tired.<br />
New parts are available and the<br />
damper inserts of the struts can<br />
be readily replaced.<br />
Clubs & Forums<br />
<strong>Ford</strong>100E.com<br />
www.ford100e.com<br />
<strong>Ford</strong> Sidevalve Owners’ Club<br />
www.fsoc.co.uk<br />
<strong>Ford</strong> Anglia 105E Owners’ Club<br />
www.fordanglia105eowners<br />
club.co.uk<br />
Old Skool <strong>Ford</strong><br />
www.oldskoolford.co.uk<br />
Specialists<br />
<strong>Classic</strong> <strong>Ford</strong> Parts<br />
01344 304064<br />
Ex-Pressed Panels<br />
01535 632721<br />
www.steelpanels.co.uk<br />
John Blythe Goldendays<br />
01603 881155<br />
Pop Parts Plus<br />
01773 580988<br />
www.poppartsplus.co.uk<br />
Small <strong>Ford</strong> Spares<br />
01692 650455<br />
www.smallfordspares.co.uk<br />
Insurance<br />
Fully comprehensive insurance<br />
for a 107E with an agreed value of<br />
£2000 is £355.95 per year, based<br />
on a 3000 mile limit and insured as<br />
a second car for a 21-year-old with<br />
a TN14 postcode. Quote provided<br />
by <strong>Classic</strong> <strong>Ford</strong> Insurance, 0800<br />
0276146, www.classicford<br />
insurance.co.uk.<br />
Values<br />
£500-£750<br />
MoT’d cars that need plenty<br />
of TLC.<br />
£750-£1250<br />
Sound to tidy examples that are<br />
capable of regular use.<br />
£1250-£2000+<br />
Good to very nice cars.<br />
Concours, timewarp examples<br />
can command upwards of £3K.<br />
sPec<br />
Body<br />
Four-door saloon, steel<br />
monocoque, De Luxe trim<br />
Engine<br />
997cc, four-cylinder, 39 bhp @<br />
5000 rpm, pushrod overhead<br />
valve, cast iron cylinder head<br />
and block, chain-driven<br />
camshaft, Solex downdraught<br />
30ZIC2 carburettor, centrifugal<br />
and vacuum ignition, 52.5 lb.ft<br />
torque @ 2700 rpm<br />
Gearbox<br />
Four-speed manual<br />
Suspension<br />
Front: independent by<br />
MacPherson struts, coil<br />
springs, anti-roll bar<br />
Rear: live rear axle with<br />
half-elliptic springs,<br />
telescopic dampers<br />
Steering<br />
Burman worm and<br />
peg steering<br />
Brakes<br />
Girling hydraulic with 8-inch<br />
drums all-round<br />
Wheels and tyres<br />
4.5Jx13 steel rims,<br />
5.20x13-inch tubeless tyres<br />
Performance<br />
Max speed: 72.9 mph<br />
0-60 mph: 27.2 seconds<br />
Price when<br />
launched<br />
£621 12s 6d, including<br />
purchase tax of £183 12s 6d<br />
NExt<br />
MoNth<br />
mk2 capri<br />
ghia<br />
thanks<br />
Many thanks to Jim Norman,<br />
owner of the 107E shown here,<br />
and Graham Carr of www.<br />
ford100e.com for their help<br />
with this feature.<br />
October 2009 151