the " Popularf * 100 Ford the Ford 8h Model "Y by David Minnett (1932 to 1937)

very simple, lightweight chassis and body. In Great Britain during the late twenties Engines also were of simple design, their sizes and thirties, the car buyer chose his auto­ kept to the minimum at around 7 h.p. out of the mobile very carefully if economical necessity for a low annual vehicle license fee. motoring was of importance to him. During 1921, By 1930, while the other British manufactur­ the British Government had introduced a new ers were offering lightweight small engine cars, vehicle road licensing system, and the cost to the the Ford Motor Company at the new Dagenham car owner was based on the horsepower of the factory had stubbornly continued producing vehicle's engine. Model "A"s. This was in spite of the fact the The method of calculation to Model "A" had an R.A.C. rating of around 22 find this horsepower H.P. and cost a prohibitive £22.00 license when became known as the compared to a small four seat Austin 7 H.P. at R.A.C. (Royal Automo­ £7.00. bile Club) formula. Needless to say, there were few cus­ According to this for­ tomers for the Model "A"s coming off the mula, an engine's horse­ assembly line. The immense £5,000,000 power was calculated cost of constructing what was then by squaring the bore Europe's biggest car factory at Dagen­ size of each cylinder ham, on reclaimed marshland (in inches), multiply­ alongside the Thames Estu­ ing this figure by the ary, had been a huge strain number of cylinders, ^| on the Ford Company's and then dividing it by the capital resources. constant of 2.5. Piston stroke . By 1930, the was not taken into account, there­ i Ford design had also fore, as cubic capacity of the engine become obsolete, and was not part of the formula, the R.A.C. this combined with the rated H.P. did not bear any resemblance to high license fee on Ford true Brake Horse Power (B.H.P) cars, combined with the The annual vehicle license fee in 1933 was worldwide depression and col­ £1.00 for each unit of R.A.C. rated H.P. The sum lapse of the British market caused of £1.00 in the 1930s was a substantial amount sales to fall off so much, the company began run­ considering that then a working class man often ning at a loss and was even borrowing funds from earned less than £100.00 per year. its subsidiary, "Ford of Belgium." The consequence of this vehicle licensing sys­ The Director of Ford's European and British tem was that in Britain during the depression of operations was Sir Percival Perry. Sir Percival was the late twenties and early thirties, usually only also a personal friend of both Henry and Edsel the wealthy and middle classes could afford to Ford. He convinced them both a small Ford was buy and maintain large cars fitted with large immediately needed for the British market if the engines. Then, a bicycle was more often the nor­ company were to survive. This matter was given mal mode of transport for the working class man, immediate priority in the design department at and a motorcycle and sidecar combination often Dearborn and a new project designated "19E" (E was as much as a lower middle class family man for England) began. could ever hope for. It was then because of this licensing system The Model Y car manufacturers such as Austin and Morris A team headed by newly hired designer 28 nichverbegaye nsuccessfully inproducin the marketg. Thesligh, anted carthelittlsy e fobega carr sthin usuall sellins particulayg hathed mar EugenSheldrice Tk. Gregoriused the ean thed chien undef engineer developmentr Laurence, The £100 Saloon the Popular Ford

"Main1 reasons help to explain the appeal ol the Popular Ford Car. but undoubted!) the secrel lies to a large extent in the fad that Ford designers have been nstonishingh successful in combining the advantages of man) more pow erful and costl) ears w uh the eeonomx i^i the ordinary 'light' ear."

These illustrations are from the "Popular" lord dealer Brochure 1/L3802/1235 from the author's collection.

2 b)\ Model "18" as a design base. The new, small Ford The new Ford was such an immediate success was to be fitted with a 933 c.c. miniature version that Dagenham production of the Model "Y" in of the 4-cylinder Model "A" engine producing an 1933 was nearly 33,000 units or the amazing economical R.A.C. rated 8 h.p. The entire equivalent of 19% of all British new car sales. mechanical setup was a scaled down version of its After only one year of Model "Y" production, the American cousin. previous financial losses at Ford U.K. had incred­ The design of the prototype, which was ready ibly been turned into a respectable profit. by February, 1932, so delighted Edsel Ford, that During the first few months of production, he immediately gave Gregorie had been orders for a larger ver­ busy refining the sion to be developed Model "Y" design for the U.S. market. and by 1933, a This larger car was redesigned car more later to be known as the immediately recog­ Model "40". nizable as the Model Production of the "40" was coming off Model "Y" began in the production line. August of 1932 at the The windscreen was new Ford factory now slanted 20 Dagenahm in Essex, degrees backwards, The bodies were built as was a longer radi­ by the nearby Briggs ator grille with now factory and transported nine (eventually to complete and painted be further reduced to to the Ford works, five four) side louvres on at a time, on trailers the bonnet. A roof before joining the over­ gutter and central dip head production feeder. in the front bumper The all steel welded were amongst vari­ wire spoke wheels ous other minor, but were manufactured by significant styling Kelsey Hayes of changes in the car's Britain, also in a facto­ design that year. ry next to Ford's. By 1936, the As in the United Ford Model "Y" had States, Ford Britain did become known as not exhibit their prod­ the "Popular" Ford. ucts at shows with the This name was to other car manufactur­ remain with many ers. Instead and at the models of small same time as the British Motor Show was being British Fords even into the 1980s. Body colours held, Ford preferred to exhibit its products at the available since 1932 include; Cordoba Grey, "Royal Albert Hall," very near to its London Vineyard Green, Orient Blue, Thorn Brown, showrooms on Regent Street. Maroon, and, of course, Black. Front and rear When first exhibited to the public there on wings were normally painted in black enamel. February 19,1932, the new Ford caused a sensa­ Accessories available during 1936 were limited tion. Just as the Model "18" in the U.S. had given but included the following items: a sliding sun the buyer exceptional value, likewise when the roof and leather upholstery for an extra sum of Model "Y" was introduced in the U.K. it had little £10.00 each. An air cleaner, illuminated clock or no competition. mirror, tandem windshield wipers, sun visor, The start of a five year model run which was to spare wheel cover and a luggage rack were also total nearly 200,000 units of the Model "Y" began on offer from the dealers. on August 10, 1932, and was to continue until Model "Y" production was not restricted to the August 31, 1937. Dagenham factory. They were also manufactured Models offered in Britain included the Fordor, or assembled in Ford factories at Barcelona, Tudor, and the Van. The first versions of the mar­ Spain; Asnieres in France; and Cologne in Ger­ quee had a short curved vertical ribbed radiator many. Variations of the Model "Y" included from 3grille0 , non-skirted front wings, a bonnet with France the "Eifel", and from Germany, the stylish terintwentand ag y straigho 2n 2it verticas troo fronfl edgest louvres bumper. ,. a Thverticae bodly windshield had no gut,­ Britiswer"Koinee ofteh" Empir Cabrioletn assemblee suc. Ihdn fro aths eAustraliam distan "knoctk countrie ,dow Moden kits.ls o"Y"f" thse Typically, English sporting convertible style perfectly set and the car stopped, ama/ing e\er\- tourers were available such as the "Mistral" from one, including him. the now famous Jensen of West Bromwich. The In another TV series "The Perfect Hero" star­ "Kerry", the "Cairn" and the "Terrier" from W.H. ring Nigel Havers, the scene was set during the Perry, (coachbuilders and Ford dealer). The London Blitz, with the Model "Y" having been "Alpine" from Arrow, were all models available crashed into a bombed and burning pub during an from Ford dealers on special order. air raid. Rubble, broken glass. Fullers Earth (a While Ford had been enjoying a resounding substance that looks like real dirt) and a lamp post success with the Model "Y", the other British car were carefully placed on and over the car. makers had not been asleep. When a film extra was directed to run OVER In 1934, Morris introduced its "Eight" series, the bonnet to assist an injured man hanging out of the design of which had obviously been uplifted the open driver's door, Dave had to stop the from the Model "Y". Now, with serious competi­ action! tion, out of necessity, the little Ford gradually The Fuller's Earth clogged the carburetor jets became cheaper and cheaper to buy and perhaps and the car expired during filming the following in stages less refined. The Tudor was initially week. Fortunately, across the road from the film­ introduced to the British market at £120.00 in ing, was a Ferrari dealership that allowed Dave 1932. This price was lowered to £115.00 in Octo­ into their workshops to clean the carburetor while ber, 1933, and lowered again to £110.00 in June, he was dressed in thirties attire. 1935. During October, 1935, the Morris "Eight" Dave and his family thoroughly enjoy their was competitively priced at £120.00. Ford fought Model "Y" as well as a 1941 Mercury Sedan back once more that same month and the basic Coupe which he has owned since 1974. Model "Y" was finally reduced to its lowest price ever and was thereafter commonly known as "The Popular £100 Ford." There are just over 800 known surviving examples of the Model "Y" worldwide. about the author... David Minnett

David Minnett, a member of the England Regional Group No. 127, has owned a Model "Y" for almost twenty-five years. (See back cover) In 1971-72, the car was given to him by a dear friend but was dangerously unroadworthy and rot­ ten as a pear (the car, not the friend!) Dave and his Products girl friend (now his wife and mother of four chil­ Inc. dren) totally dismantled the car (body off chassis) in a small garage while they were courting. Have your 1932-1948 flathead Ford They married, stopped the restoration, and coil re-built with modern day started a family, buying a house and restoring it technology and materials and still instead. About 1985, after all the kids had arrived, retain its original outward restoration of the Model "Y" began again. appearance. David's Model "Y" has been featured in sever­ al episodes of "Poirot." the TV series starring Join our growing list of customers David Suchet as a 1930's Belgian detective in who have solved their coil problems. London. Dave was able to drive during filming in We are also restoring the 1932 some episodes but his all time favorite centers tall dome coil. „ . . . around a car chase though London. The Model "Y" was cast as a police surveillance and chase Bob Anzalone car. 8720 Sharon Hollow Road When Dave watches that chase over again, he Manchester, Ml 48158-8661 can't believe he ever allowed the actors to race it (734)428-1808 like they did. In one scene the car had to hurtle FAX (734) 428-1807 along at speed on a cobblestone road and stop [email protected] with the front bumper fractions of an inch from an 31 actor's legs. Dave says he had those rod brakes models MVYW

WP 4335

bis scries o\' photos illustrates the exterior development changes of the Model "Y". The fol­ lowT ing caption s explain the changes. (Models are identified by license number):

WP 4335 is an August 1933 example. Notice the straight sculpted bumper. The crank hole is located on the scuttle below the short radiator grille. The bonnet sides now have nine lou\ res and the roof also has a rain gutter. The headlamps which arc fitted close in to the radiator grille have painted rims and no mag- naflex bars. Separate sidelamps are fi led on the front wings (fenders). The front and rear wings have no skirts.

DL S773 is a September 1933 chassis fitted with a "Cairn'* Cabriolet body which was first registered in 1934. Notice the landau irons and styl­ ish door embellishment. The head­ lamps now have magnaflex bars and the rims are chrome or nickel plate

& text by David Minnett

See a very rare Model Y on Page 62 )9 FMH 824

FMH 824 is a late 1933/early 1934 van. The radiator grill is now longer and incorpo­ rates the crank hole. The front bumber now "dips" in the middle. The headlamps, now with round shape "magnaflex" bars are still fitted close to the grille and the side lamps remain on top of the front wings (fenders). This configuration was to remain in produc­ tion until June 1934. Vans were not fitted with rear bumpers, and the spare wheel was mount­ ed on the door on a special frame. Because of the close proximity of the spare wheel, door handles on vans were often fitted vertically and downwards. FMH 824 has the wrong later type headlamps fitted.

RAY 553

RAY 553 is a Sep­ tember 1934 van. The radiator grille is now longer and incorporates the crank hole. The front and rear wings are now skirted. Vans did not have bumpers or running boards fitted. The spare wheel is attached to the door on a frame. Also gone in 1934 were the sidelamps on the wings (fenders).

DLP 449 (The writers car) is a September 1936 example. Since 1934 the sidelamps are now gone and the headlamps which incorporate the side- lamp bulb are now fitted fur­ ther out from the radiator grill. Notice the redesigned headlamps with curved lenses and diamond shaped "mag­ naflex" bars. The bonnet has a centre chrome strip and the door handles are of the "swept" style. Curved front bumpers were introduced in 1935, but DLP 449 has incor­ rect 1937 Model 7Y bumpers fitted (without the central 4groove)0 . OY 7006 is an October 1933 Ford Fordor Super DeLuxe. This car is the actual car exhibited at Ford's Earl Court Motor Show later that year. DeLuxe models featured the following accessories as standard. Sun roof, Leather upholstery, Steel spare wheel cover, Tandem wipers, Clock mirror, Twin tailamps, Sun visors, Rear window blind and trafficators. OY 7006 was produced by Ford especially for the show and featured fully plated headlamps, sidelamps and stainless tailamps. The non-standard "Electric Blue" paint was also specially applied at the factory. - David Minnett

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