Jim Norman's 107E Prefect

JAN · Post by **JAN** » Sun Oct 21, 2007 7:36 am

This is by way of an introduction of me, as well as the Prefect. I'll do the important one first!

The car is a 1961 107E Prefect, the old 100E shell but with the 105E's OHV engine and drive train. I bought it at the end of October last year for daily transport, and covered over 17,500 miles in it since. It's in excellent condition, having only 23,793 miles on the clock when I bought it. As with all these cars, it's been quiet, ecconomical and 100% reliable.

Now the less important half of the duo: I used to be the model's Technical Advisor to the Ford Anglia 105E Owners Club and Ford Sidevalve Owners Club here in the UK (also 100E Tech Advisor). The dauntless leader, Michael (whom I had the great pleasure of meeting on a trip he made to the UK several years ago) has asked me to be the 108E Registrar (that's a 107E with the steering wheel on the wrong side!). Despite not knowing what this means, I've said yes.

I'm happy to give what technical advice I can on the 100/101E and 107/108E, but bear in mind that my experiance is rather limited to standard models; nor do I know where spares are available in the USA. But otherwise, drop me a line on j.norman2007@btinternet.com - I'll do my best. And if you have a 108E, I'd love to hear from you.

Regards to all,

Jim

Post by **IFHP** » Mon Oct 22, 2007 7:08 pm

Jim,

The car is a real beauty, and so is the setting on the third photo. Welcome to EnFoStuff.com, it’s really great to have you with us. Do you still have the black 107E that you let me drive when we visited back in 2001?

Michael

JAN · Post by **JAN** » Tue Oct 23, 2007 3:41 am

Thanks for the compliments, Michael. No, I no longer have the black 107E Prefect, 926 BOA. I bought it as temorary transport in October 2000 until my normal daily driver (another 107E - I'm sure you're getting the picture! There's also another in the garage)) completed a major restoration over the next two years. Such is life that this restoration still hasn't started, but BOA had deteriorated to the point where major work was needed on her too. Still lacking time, I bought BLC instead, and sold BOA to a sympathetic owner, who began the work. I saw it again earlier this year at a show; much of the work is done and the bottom half is now a light grey - and quite fetching!

I have done a fair bit of work - rustproofing and so on - to BLC so I don't have the same problem again. This one has to last.

The locations of the photos are North Wales near Porthmaddog; Prees Heath in Shropshire (this garage specialises in classic cars, hence the background); and the gate house of Cholmondley (pronounced Chumly) Castle in Cheshire. And no, it isn't what I call Home!

Post by **IFHP** » Mon Feb 22, 2010 12:39 am

Jim, judging from the back cover of the December 2009 issue of the Sidevalve News, your 107E has been some time in the limelight. Congratulations!

Articles on Jim's Prefect appeared in Retro Ford and Classic Ford.

Ale06 · Post by **Ale06** » Mon Mar 01, 2010 7:31 pm

Wonderful Prefect. It looks perfect!

thamesgasser · Post by **thamesgasser** » Fri Mar 05, 2010 5:53 am

i no that car did a load of work on it about 10 years ago
cheers john

JAN · Post by **JAN** » Sat Jun 12, 2010 1:05 pm

Thanks for the kind comments, guys! I haven't had much time to do things on here (or most other places) due to my own being ill, and my mother being very ill. This latter has meant that for the last couple of months my life has consisted of being briefly at home, then either at work or at the hospital. Since the Prefect is my only means of transport, the mileage has risen considerably in that time: even under normal circumstances it's about 18,000 per year, but over the last seven weeks it's done just over 3,500. One thing I have to say: it's more than risen to the challenge!

Anyway, to get to the point. My real interest is steam locomotives, and I'm heavily involved in railway (or railroad, if preferred) preservation. Some forty years ago, I and three others began the Stanier Mogul Fund to rescue an engine from a scrap yard in south Wales. The engine now runs on the Severn Valley Railway. (for the details, go to www.staniermogulfund.org.uk). What I do is take myself back to a previous era - the 1960s - and one way to do this is to provide 'period' photos - but taken today, if you see what I mean! Combining the car with the loco is an ideal means of doing this. Here are two recent examples:

The car has also appeared in a few of the glossy monthly magazines recently, e.g. Classic Ford:

and Retro Ford:

as well as the various owners clubs publications, and SMF News, of course!

Winter was pretty severe here last year, but the car still saw daily use:

There is also a 1:76 scale model of the car on sale:

But it also gets used for fun; this shot by Scott of www.105speed.com was taken on their Lakes Tour last September - a high-speed romp around north west England. Life hasn't all been tedious!

zephyrgary · Post by **zephyrgary** » Sat Jun 12, 2010 4:45 pm

Some great shots there. Good to see your car being put to proper use. Thanks.
Gary

enfoprefect · Post by **enfoprefect** » Sun Jun 13, 2010 7:54 am

Great car and great photos Jim. I always liked the 107E better than the 105E. Would love to find one for myself but they are literally "rare as hens teeth" here.

Post by **IFHP** » Mon Jun 14, 2010 6:24 pm

Jim,

Good to hear from you again. Sorry about your health issues, I wish the best to you and your mother. Thanks for taking the time to update us and post these great pictures.

Michael

JAN · Post by **JAN** » Sun Sep 12, 2010 3:08 am

I did the 105speed.com Lakes Tour again last Sunday. The only problem was that, on the Saturday, I first had to go to Abingdon in Oxfordshire, a 355 mile round trip, before heading for Appelby, up near Carlisle. Including the Tour itself, that was another 268 miles.

The Tour consisted of eleven 105Es, all quite highly modified, and the lonely Prefect, with only a few more minor ones. It took us over some challenging roads, many single track with passing places, hairpin bends and 1 in 4 gradients. The first three photos are approaching the slate mine in the Honister Pass, through the hairpin at the top of the 1 in 4.

We also used more conventional roads, and here I am about to overtake Wayne (user name, awesome) at about 70 mph. Wayne took all four photos, and it was a little disconcerting to see hime throwng his Anglia around the hairpins with on arm out of the side window, camera on the end of it!

A cracking day with good weather and good company; I've already booked next year!

cortinapaul · Post by **cortinapaul** » Sun Sep 12, 2010 7:41 am

Nice that chap , ive seen you cuttin about in it a good few times

enfoprefect · Post by **enfoprefect** » Sun Sep 12, 2010 8:01 am

Looks and sounds like a fantastic excursion. I am very envious.

Ale06 · Post by **Ale06** » Sun Sep 12, 2010 11:28 am

The last pictures are amazing!!

fjkghia · Post by **fjkghia** » Mon Sep 13, 2010 1:52 pm

Lovely looking car, nice that it is used as it should be used.