Book Review's,Compliments of Jim Norman (Jan)

PRACTICAL CLASSICS FORD 100E BRIEFING –1991 – Lelsey Publishing Ltd ISBN – 1-873098-19-7
In December 1983, the monthly magazine, Practical Classics, bought a 100E Prefect as a ‘rolling restoration’ project. Basically, after blowing up the engine (“comfortable cruising speed … nearer 65-70 mph”) and fitting a second-hand and not particularly good replacement, doing some bodywork, much of it unnecessary, a poor respray and a clean up, they heaped scorn on it because of its performance and sold it very quickly. I could not understand why anyone would buy a 50’s vintage cooking saloon, and then complain that it has matching performance. I wrote a very strongly worded letter to the Editor (and received an equally strongly worded reply!) and that more or less marked the end of good relations between Practical Classics and the FSOC!

They did do and write about several jobs done during their ownership, and brought all these together to form this book, well illustrated in black and white. It starts with an excellent description of the overhaul of the 100E engine (this was from the first issue of PC, and so pre-dated their Prefect’s purchase. This issue is notable for having my 107E, 984 DFF on the front cover, although this was before my ownership). There are other useful chapters, including brake and front strut overhauls (the actual units are not, however, 100E!), but the section on rear axle overhaul is a gem: it features a banjo-type axle which was never fitted to the 100E. Almost nothing in this chapter can be applied to the model!

Just to add insult to injury, Paul Skilleter’s (who has a ponchant for Jaguars, including a competition-tuned XK120) condemnation of the car is included on the back page.

If you can find a copy of this book, it is marginally useful supplement to workshop manual. But better by far – join the FSOC and buy ‘Technical Tips for the 100E’, written by… er, me!


ANGLIA POPULAR PREFECT – from the Ford Eight to 105E – Michael Allen – 1986 – Motor Racing Publications Ltd - ISBN 0 947981 07 1
This author is better known for his work on Consuls, Zephyrs and Zodiacs, but did a creditable job on their smaller cousins. He begins by looking at ford’s need for a small car in the early ‘thirties and discusses the development of the Model Y. The next chapter considers the range of ‘Upright’ Fords, before Chapter 3 looks exclusively at the 100E in 22 pages, although more comes in Chapter 4 – Sporting Sidevalves. This gives us insights into all the sidevalves’ achievements in motor sport and the tuning equipment available at the time.

Almost half the book’s 144 pages illustrated with black and white photographs are given to the 105E, somewhat limiting its appeal to us. The final few pages consider the cars in the ‘eighties (perhaps not as relevant today), give somewhat brief list of the various mechanical specifications, performance figures for standard and modified cars, and some production figures.

If your interest lies only in the 100E range, this isn’t the book for you. But if you wish to look either side of that model, it covers in detail areas not to be found elsewhere. I found it both readable and informative.

The book is still available new



FORD POPULAR and the Small Sidevalve Fords – Dave Turner – 1984 – Osprey ISBN 0 85045 559 6
Dave Turner is a motoring historian (and a collector of model cars) of some note and at the time this book was written, he was Chairman of the Ford Sidevalve Owners Club. The book is not exclusive to the 100E but covers the history of Ford in Britain; its problems through the ‘twenties trying to sell large-engined American models under the peculiar British tax system; the building of Dagenham; and finally, Ford’s saviour in the UK, the Model Y of 1932 – the car from which the 100E can trace a direct ancestry. It follows and gives detailed descriptions of all the models in between, which is a fascinating story in itself and necessary for an appreciation of the 100E.

I knew Dave at the time as a friendly, helpful and, above all, knowledgeable writer well suited to producing this history. As might have been realised, the book does not specialise in the 100E, but covers all models from the afore-said Model Y to the 100E, and touching briefly on the 107E. It also looks briefly at overseas-built sidevalves, tuning, the OHV engine which was under development for the 100E but dropped when the money ran out, specials (mostly but not exclusively GRP bodies on ‘Upright’ chassis, sidevalves in motor sport, hot-rods and customising, and sidevalve engines in unusually places, powering pumps, boats, railway locomotives and aircraft (I kid you not!). Of the 192 pages, 28 are devoted entirely to the 100E with many appearances in the other sections just mentioned.

The book is very well written and extremely readable and informative. Apart from the text – including many black and white photographs - there are many tables of production runs, modifications, chassis numbers, etc. It has long been accepted as the ‘bible’ on all things sidevalve; there is just one major problem with it.



I LEARNT TO DRIVE IN ONE OF THOSE –John Howe –
1992 –ISBN – Ford Sidevalve Owners Club – 0-9519527-0-6
John submitted his cartoons to ‘Sidevalve News’from 1989. Some were ‘in’ jokes aimed – light heartedly – at well known members or then current happenings, but in time the more timeless ones were assembled into this book. It really is hilarious in places, and presents certain characteristics of our cars – and their drivers – in a new and comical way.

The book is still available from the FSOC, but to members only. I might not go as far as to say you should join just to get the book, but it’s certainly a stong incentive!



RESTORING SMALL FORDS – Tommy Sandham – 1991 – Willow Publishing (Magor) ISBN 0 9512523 6 4
Tommy is probably the world’s greatest authority on the Mk I Cortina, but he has extended the scope of this entirely practical book to also include other Fords from the early ‘sixties: Classic / Capri, Corsair, 105E and100E / 107E. Restoration includes mechanical (but OHV engines and four-speed transmissions only, no sidevalve with three-speeders), electrical, but mainly panel work. The text follows TYPES of jobs rather than following a job on a vehicle type, so repairs to a chassis leg will be illustrated by shots of such work on any of the models. The descriptions are therefore general in their nature rather than detailed to any car; anyone wanting to fit sills to their 100E will not find a blow by blow account, but acquire the background knowledge to attempt the work on their own initiative.

The 100E does not figure prominently and many, but not all, of the photos (all black and white) were of my 107E under going accident repairs to its front end in 1990. The explanations of all work are straight forward and down to earth. The text is very readable and even inspirational; after you’ve finished this book you might just find yourself out in the garage restarting that restoration project!

I’m not sure of the book’s availability; the 105E Club had it listed but I imagine it will be only a used copies available now.



SUPERTUNE YOUR 100E –No Date – Bill Cooper – Reprinted by Ford Sidevalve Owners Club
“Book” is possibly the wrong word here: this publication consists 74 duplicated pages between yellow paper covers, the whole being stapled together down the left hand side (in fairness to the FSOC, this was how the original was produced, and they reproduced it similarly, save for adding the Club logo). It is, in many ways, a revised version of the “Ford Ten Tuning Manual” with many sections lifted straight from it.

For many years, it has had little more than collectors’ status; the necessary tuning equipment recommended in it was long out of production, while second hand examples of this were akin to the chewing apparatus of the avia domestica. Nevertheless, some at least, of the necessary gear has now been remade, so the book’s relevance has increased with the passing years.

It starts by describing the 100E engine, including its overhaul (tuning a worn engine is wasted effort) before giving a stage by stage description of how to extract more power from it. The various processes are described adequately by words, diagrams, charts and graphs, leaving the reader in no doubt as to the power output he can expect from a given modification (from a base of about 31 bhp, not the 36 optimistically claimed by Ford) up to about 70 bhp. This isn’t the maximum that the engine will deliver, but there comes a stage when the torque is pushed so far up the rpm scale that the engine is no longer suitable for road use – track only!

Those who use their 100Es only for shows might like to invest in these period bits; they were mostly aluminium alloy and polished up beautifully, considerably improving the under bonnet vista. As for increasing the 100E’s performance – well… it most definitely does! I once fitted twin SUs and Aquaplane alloy inlet / improved cast iron exhaust manifolds to a 100E Popular and was amazed at the improved performance. The amazement was exceeded only by that caused by the fuel consumption, which worked out at 17 mpg… Perhaps not something for daily use!

Unfortunately, even the FSOC reprint is now long gone, so this is another one where Ebay might be your only possible source.



RESTORING SMALL FORDS – Tommy Sandham – 1991 – Willow Publishing (Magor) ISBN - 0 9152523-6-4
Tommy is probably the world’s expert on the Mk I Cortina, but this book is extended to cover a range of ‘sixties Fords: the Mk I Cortina, Classic / Capri, 105E and 100E / 107E. It is entirely a hands-on book on the restoration of these cars, mechanics, electrics and body. Tommy’s specialty though is bodywork, and much of the book deals with how to remove the holes that afflict cars of this age.

The models are fairly well sprinkled throughout the book, which is well illustrated with black and white photos of the work being done to supplement the informative text. 100E’s are largely but not entirely represented by my own 107E (DFF 823) during repairs following its disastrous accident in 1989, but it does give godd views of the front end construction. As well as the text and pictures, there are various mechanical specifications, torque settings and so on.

I found the book fascinating, informative and actually inspiring. After reading it, there is an overwhelming urge to get into the garage to try the techniques described, and finally get that restoration project underway. If your car is already solid and mechanically sound, there’s little here for you, but for most owners of 45+ year old cars, there is almost certain to be something!