Ford Popular 103E

The Ford 103E is best known to most enthusiasts as the “sit up and beg” Popular. Launched in 1953 as a budget addition to the Anglia and Prefect range, it hit the market at the perfect time as second-hand cars were virtually unobtainable.

For sale alongside the more modern three-box monocoque Prefect/Anglia it won many friends for its unpretentious basic design which, despite a lack of such luxuries as a heater or passenger windscreen wiper, performed sterling service with considerable charm.

Produced in late 1955, this attractive example spent the first eight years' of its life in New Zealand. Imported back to its native land in 1963, it has clearly been restored in recent years, MOTs showing that it has covered just 1,030 miles in the last 28 years!

Fitted with trafficators, a period rudimentary heater and with recent trim, the vendor describes it as “very sound with good paintwork and running well” - the engine certainly sounding very sweet when manoeuvring for the photographs. It is MOTd until August 2013, although of course will not need a new one to be enjoyed on the open road when this one expires.

Simple, reliable and economical to run, these budget Populars exude a real charm and honesty, harking back to an era where life ran at a more leisurely pace and you still got real beef in pies! Tasty horse, that Shergar...