One of my favorite films is Monte Hellmans road movie ‘Two Lane Black Top‘ about two drifters in a grey primer ’55 Chevy who earn their keep by drag racing that get involved in a race, ‘for pinks’, along Route 66 with a burned out city slicker in a then new 1970 Pontiac GTO. The city’s slicker believes that ‘it’s all about performance and image’ while the driver of the ’55 Chevy believes ‘you can never go fast enough’.

Today’s car a 1957 Ford Anglia definitely reflects the beliefs of ‘the driver who can never go fast enough’ played by James Taylor in the film.

Externally we have a 54 year old car that looks a little the worse for spending a lot of time standing outside in all weathers,

but then look again at that dinky li’l air scoop on the bonnet and match it with the oversize wheels and even a rank amateur like me begins to wonder what all that weather beaten body work might be hiding ?

The stance of this vehicle in profile when compared to the 4 door version of the Anglia known as the Prefect which I looked at last week only adds to the suspicion that, if indeed this car has a stock size 1172 cc / 71 cui 4 cylinder side valve motor, there is a good chance it is producing more than the 36 hp quoted when it left the factory and that it is capable of much better than the 0-60 time of 29.4 seconds quoted for the model in 1954.

I’d certainly fancy my chances driving my land ladies late model bog standard Passat TDI racing for pinks along Route 66 against this Anglia but I’m not too sure I’d keep the tenner I’d be willing to gamble in a drag race with it at Shakespeare County Raceway where I saw this car.

Thanks for joining me on this wolf in sheep’s clothing edition of ‘Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres’, I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !