NEXT GENERATION DIARIES
Warren Breslin is hooked on 100Es – he just can’t get enough of these 1950s family Fords and has a terrific trio of saloons and estates. He can’t envisage a day when he won’t own one
HOW DID YOU COME TO OWN YOUR CLASSIC?
‘There have always been 100Es in my life – I have loved them since the 1970s when my parents ran them. In fact, I still have my parent’s 1959 Anglia 100E, which dad dropped an 1100cc Crossflow engine into. I swapped that for a tuned 2.0-litre Sierra Pinto unit fuelled by twin Weber 40 DCOE carbs when I acquired the car. I got this low-mileage Popular back in 2012 for £1700 from a Classic Car Weekly advert. It was standard and it’s never been welded apart from when the bulkhead was fabricated to accept the Crossflow engine. What’s more it’s never been off the road even though it’s been modified extensively under the standard-looking bodywork.’
WHAT DO YOU USE IT FOR?
‘These days it, along with my other prized 100E – a Squire estate that I bought online and has featured in a Ford magazine – all are saved for special cruises and shows. Actually, this picture, taken at an autumn show in Essex, was this car’s first run since having a Type 9 five-speed gearbox fitted; the better ratios and that extra gear make all the difference. Many people remark about the wheels, which are normal, but widened steel types fitted with Escort MkI hub caps so the car looks pretty stock, which is how I like 100Es to look.’
WHAT WOULD YOUR OWNERSHIP TIPS BE?
‘Join an owners’ club for starters, not simply for spare parts and help but for the social side as well. There’s the Ford Sidevalve Owners' Club, although I tend to use the Facebook groups such as ford 100e.com and modified 100e. While not as popular as the later 105E Anglia and Escort the 100E – which is of a similar design – is far less expensive to buy and equally great to modify to make them better for modern roads. All mine feature a Crossflow engine, five-speed gearbox, Anglia 105E rear axle, modified suspension, seven-inch rear rims and more.’
WHAT DO YOU SEE BEING IN YOUR GARAGE IN FIVE YEARS’ TIME?
‘Well, it’s got to be several 100Es! I am helping my brothers Aaron and Lewis to re-build our parents’ first ever car – a 1959 Popular 100E, which will have a 2.0-litre Pinto engine. Aaron also inherited dad’s 1961 Consul Classic, which he built up on our driveway during the late ’70s, early ’80s, shortly after he died in 2021; it now has Cortina 1500 Kent power. First registered on 14 June 1961, it’s believed to be the oldest Consul Classic left, but I would be interested to see if any readers would like to dispute this. I can’t ever see the day when I wouldn’t own at least one 100E.’
WHAT IT C
