England's overlooked, family-friendly classics | Buyer's Guide

[Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the March 2009 issue of Classic Motorsports.]

Sports cars might be the greatest things since sliced bread, but they’re not ideal for every driving situation. These machines aren’t quite suited to extended trips or inclement weather, and comfortably carrying more than two people is rarely their forte.

Why not opt for a quirky, vintage British family car as a practical alternative? Anyone can have an MGB or TR6, so how about rolling up to the next show in something a little more unorthodox, like a Humber Super Snipe?

These sedans and upright coupes feature all of that great British charm in a more practical package. As an added bonus, they’re not terribly expensive to own or operate. 

They can also be a little more comfortable. “You have to fold your leg three different ways to get in a sports car,” notes Kip Lankenau, founder of Kip Motor Company. Create your own order rather than following what the marketing department dictates, he adds.

Kip’s company is dedicated to keeping these orphaned and unusual British cars on the road. Their catalogs don’t feature pages of parts for MG Midgets and Jaguar E-types. However, if you need a bonnet badge for a Hillman Minx or a Ford Anglia brake pedal cover, they can help.

“There is no N/A in our catalog,” he says, referring to the popular abbreviation for no longer available. “When something goes out of stock, we start making it.” 

In addition to in-house manufacturing facilities, their Texas shop is also stuffed full of new old stock parts and quality reproductions: chrome trim, glass lenses, suspension hardware, electrical harnesses, rubber gaskets, interior upholstery, body patch panels and more. They can even source replacement windshields.

While they can’t recreate the cars themselves, Kip Motor Co. can help match people to prospective purchases. They don’t buy and sell cars, but through word of mouth often work as a matchmaker. While supply is low, so is demand, Kip notes. 

Clubs are also viable ways to find a car. While there’s no North American group dedicated to the Super Snipe, for example, the British Saloon Car Club of Canada and the North American English & European Ford Registry are worth a look—don’t forget, many North American-bound imports from England entered Canada, not the U.S.

When looking at a prospective purchase, Kip has some sound advice: Buy a complete car. While his company supplies just about all of the required restoration parts, buying all of those needed clips and moldings can get expensive. “Spend a hundred bucks more and get a car that has all of the trim on it,” he advises.

While most of us have covered some miles in the popular sports cars from MG, Triumph and Jaguar, these British sedans are a different flavor of our favorite drink. And as we recently experienced during a test day, they can be a great way to share the hobby with the rest of the family.

1953-’59 Ford Anglia: Cute, Cuddly, But Not Very Fast

Through the middle part of the 20th century, the Anglia was Ford of England’s basic family car. While the original 1939-’53 models featured upright, prewar styling, the car received an entire redo for 1953. Suddenly the Anglia was fresh and contemporary.

Not only was the design appropriate for the ’50s, but so was the color palette. So long black and gray, hello Conway Yellow, Ludlow Green and Kenilworth Blue. The sales literature made it clear that this was a car for the modern family: pipe-smoking dads and pearl-wearing moms were shown happily shopping, traveling and commuting, all while saving money.

The car was no rocket ship, but its 36-horsepower engine was acceptable for the times. Top speed was right at 70 mph, and Ford promised up to 40 mpg. The transmission left a little more to be desired, though, as there was a big gap between second and third gears. Think of it as a four-speed that’s missing third, Kip says.

Two doors not enough? The four-door Ford Prefect was nearly identical under the skin.

Test Drive

Visibility in all directions is great, and the floor-mounted shift lever and nice complement of gauges add a sporting touch. Everyone has their own take on style, but we’d say that this 100E-chassis Anglia almost has a hint of ’55 Chevy. While probably not the original designer’s intent, this one could very well slip through the gates at any hotrod show.

Unfortunately, the Anglia isn’t going to win any speed contests. Thirty-six horsepower might have been fine for postwar England, but the car is woefully underpowered by today’s standards. The big gap between second and third doesn’t help. On the other hand, it’s about as quick as its contemporaries, including the Triumph 10, Fiat 500 and Morris Minor. 

Pluses

• Cheap to own & operate.
• Cute colors.
• Floor-mounted shifter.
• Excellent visibility.

Minuses

• A new kind of slow.
• Poor gear spacing.
• Vacuum-powered wipers.
• Did we mention it’s slow?

Parting Words

Consider the Anglia a neat family car for local use and you’ll be happy.

1956-’62 Ford Zephyr: British Tea Meets American Beer

For the family who wanted a little more space—or the businessman who needed a little more status—Ford had an answer: the Zephyr. This machine represented Ford of England’s full-size family car from 1950 though 1962. 

Ford released the second-generation Zephyr for 1956, and the styling was right in line with the times, from the full-width chrome grille to the little tail fins. In fact, some Brits found the look to be too American. 

Where the Anglia could carry four passengers, a pair of bench seats gave the Zephyr room for six. It also featured a big trunk that could carry everyone’s stuff. And for those who wanted to arrive in style, there was the fancier Zephyr Zodiac.

The cars in the Zephyr line weren’t just bigger, as they also offered six-cylinder performance—a nice touch for today’s driving conditions. A 2.5-liter, 86-horsepower engine backed by a three-speed manual transmission was standard, and top speed was close to 90 mph. An overdrive for the manual transmission and automatic gearboxes were optional.

Test Drive

As soon as the clutch is released, the extra torque offered by the inline-six is realized. Despite being half a century old, this car can run with modern traffic—up to a point. Our three-speed-equipped car was excellent around town, but the engine felt strong enough to tackle a fourth gear for more relaxed cruising.

As is typical with ’50s and ’60s sedans, the Zephyr also offers plenty of seating: The two bench seats don’t offer a ton of lateral support, but there’s definitely room for the entire crew.

Pluses

• Good performance.
• Roomy interior.
• Four-door practicality.
• Big trunk.

Minuses

• Needs the overdrive.
• Non-synchro first gear.
• Can be a little bland.
• Styling too American?

Parting Words

The Zephyr offers a great mix of practicality, price and performance.

1960 Humber Super Snipe Series III: Great Name, Great Presence

Where the two Fords we tested were aimed primarily at the masses, the Humber Super Snipe was marketed more as an executive vehicle. Period advertisements featured gentlemen wearing tuxedos and women in evening gowns. Think of this car as an alternative to a Jaguar Mark II.

Humber was part of the Rootes Group, the same organization that gave the world the Sunbeam Tiger and Raymond Loewy-designed Hillman Minx. The Super Snipe first appeared for the 1938 model year and combined strong performance with a reasonable price tag. 

The updated prewar design was replaced by a contemporary, all-new Super Snipe in 1958. The design was very up to date, featuring jet-age-inspired lines, small tail fins and a healthy dose of brightwork.

This new Super Snipe originally featured a 2.6-liter inline-six, but displacement grew to 3.0 liters by the 1959 model year. Front disc brakes were also new for that year. 

Humber continually updated the car during the model run, using series numbers to chart the changes. One of the biggest modifications occurred for 1960. This Series III car gained contemporary quad headlamps, a feature largely adopted by Detroit two years earlier. Like the related Sunbeam Tiger, the Super Snipe also disappeared in 1967.

Test Drive

Right off the bat, the Super Snipe wins the exhaust note comparison test. It emits a nice, deep note at idle—it’s not a loud wail or the sound of a car that needs a muffler. In an understated manner, it simply lets everyone know that this car means business.

Once underway, the ride is comfortable yet quiet. It’s the right mix of performance and luxury, a precursor to the formula since perfected by BMW.

Pluses

• Can cruise at 80 mph.
• Upmarket interior.
• Room for six.
• Coolest car name ever.

Minuses

• Little to no club support.
• Few built.
• Little demand.
• Most wore dark colors.

Parting Words

Easily our favorite, the Super Snipe is quick yet nicely appointed.

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