Ford Anglia 105E Friary Motors Ltd Estate Conversion

Friary Motors Ltd of Hatch, Basingstoke, Hampshire, launched their conversion in June 1961 and called it the " Ford New Anglia Touring Saloon". The conversion was some four months ahead of Ford's official Estate model and managed to keep the stylish fins at the rear.

The normal Ford Anglia 105E Saloon was extensively modified to the rear of the “B” pillars above the waistline. The “C” pillars were extended backwards altering the shape of the rear windows in the process. New rear side windows and a new one-piece tailgate assembly were added. The tailgate secured on to the existing boot latch. The rear seats were also modified so that they could be folded forwards to allow for a flat loading area.

An article about the Friary Motors Limited conversion appeared in The Autocar Magazine of 14th July 1966, a copy of the article can be downloaded here.

The Friary Motors Ltd conversion cost £89 12s 6d (on top of the purchase price of the saloon).

Friary Motors Limited Advert

The July / August 1994 copy of Anglebox Magazine contained a letter from a club member in Yately, Hants who had sent in two photographs of the Friary Anglia Conversion that he owned at the time. He stated in his letter that the photographs show the car prior to its “dismemberment” (I assume as the initial stages of its restoration.)

Anglia Touring 1 Anglia Touring 2

The November / December 1996 edition of the Anglebox Magazine contained a letter from another club member, this time from Leigh-on-Sea, Essex. He had sent in a photograph of the Friary Anglia Conversion that he had just picked up.

Anglia Touring 3

I am not sure whether these two letters feature the same vehicle or different ones, but I wonder if any of the Friary Motors Ltd Conversions survive today.

Please feel free to email me, if you have any photo's or other information about these conversions.