Ford Squire

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Ford Squire
Overview
Manufacturer Ford of Britain
Production 1955-1959
17,812[1]
Body and chassis
Body style 2-door estate
Layout FR layout
Powertrain
Engine 1172 cc I4
Transmission 3-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase 87 in (2,210 mm)[2]
Length 142 in (3,607 mm)[2]
Width 60.5 in (1,537 mm)[2]
Height 63 in (1,600 mm)[2]

The Ford Squire was a car from Ford for the United Kingdom market built from 1955 to 1959.

It was a two-door, four-seat estate design, the brother to the Ford Prefect 100E four-door saloon, sharing the same 1172 cc Ford Sidevalve 36 bhp (27 kW) engine and other parts and the same interior trim. It was substantially shorter than both the Prefect and the closely related Ford Anglia 100E two-door saloon. It used the short front doors of the four-door model because the bodyshell was optimized for use as a panel van (which was marketed as the Thames 300E). The rear door was in two pieces split horizontally. The rear seat could be folded flat to convert from a four-seater to a load carrier. Until 1957 there were wood trim pieces screwed to the sides of the vehicle.

The Squire competed in the same market segment as the Hillman Husky and the Austin A30 / A35 based estate: these were significantly more popular in the UK than longer estates at the time. Total production was 17,812 cars.

The British Motor magazine tested a Squire in 1955 recording a top speed of 69.9 mph (112.5 km/h) and acceleration from 0-50 mph (80 km/h) in 20.2 seconds and a fuel consumption of 35.7 miles per imperial gallon (7.9 L/100 km; 29.7 mpg-US). The test car which had the optional heater cost £668 including taxes.[2]

Ford Escort

The Ford Escort was a mechanically identical estate car but based on the Ford Anglia which had a lower trim level. This proved more popular and a total of 33,131 Escorts were produced between 1955 and 1961.[1] Production of the Escort continued until 1961, two years longer than the Squire.

Some years later, the Ford Escort name was also used for two other small cars, manufactured in Europe and North America.

A less expensive variant of the Ford Squire was branded as the Ford Escort.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Sedgwick, M.; Gillies.M (1986). A-Z of Cars 1945–1970. Devon, UK: Bay View Books. ISBN 1-870979-39-7. 
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 "The Ford Squire Estate Car". The Motor. December 8, 1955. 
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