When Mel H. found his ‘48 Anglia in Texas through the Internet, it was not a chance meeting.  He was already in love with the car, or at least that model of car.  It was sort of an online romance.  But why an Anglia, also known as an English Ford?  It all started when he was a teenager and used to help crew his brother’s B Class Gas Super ‘40 Willys at the drags. He loved watching the blown (supercharged) Anglias scream down the track.  That is, until the National Hot Rod Association banned them because such awesome power was so hard to control on a 90" wheelbase.  He finally realized his dream five years ago and trailered home his white Anglia.  While the body may be a tea-drinking Brit, the guts are black-coffee American.  With a Chevy, auto trans running gear that Mel upped to a 350 CID engine, a Ford 8" rearend and Mustang II front suspension, its starred and striped forever.  Mel says that although it may not have a blower, the all-American power train pushes this light-weight 2200 lb Ford very well.  So if you see Mel in his Anglia cruising down the road and don’t know whether he’s playing “God Save the Queen” or “America,” he’s playing both.  After all, they’re the same tune.

Story by Ron C. © 2007