Vintage Thing No.162 - Naco Conversions Ford Special

The St Pirans Cross on the wing indicates the long standing association with cornwall

At the 2022 Land's End Trial start at Plusha Services, I met David Child with this Ford 8. It's obviously not your common or garden Ford 8. This ones has a Conversion Car Bodies GRP shell from the Naco Works, in Epping, Essex.

The front end reminds of a 100E Ford Pop and a contemporary Vauxhall Victor

I am unsure what to call this car. The company were called Conversion Car Bodies but I've seen some people refer to them as Naco shells. The chassis is a straightforward Ford 8 so you might just as well call it that.

Badged as a Ford, it seems to have a mild identity crisis and David is often asked "What is it?" Nowadays, product branding is carefully managed.

From the rear there's something of a 105E Anglia estate vibe

Conversion Car Bodies were quite astute in aiming their products at a gap in the market for 1950s specials. The Naco shell (see how difficult it is to call it what it is!) was far more practical for the family man and had a roof when others did not. Also offered as a saloon, the estate version could almost be said to anticipate the Reliant Scimitar GTE. 

Survivors of either body shell are incredibly rare. 

David's estate could be unique. 

Note the different grille of the saloon version

DMP10 was built by David Hilliard in Cornwall in the 1960s and the quality of his work has helped it survive to the present although it has passed through the hands of some enthusiastic and careful owners. David trialled it in MCC events until 1981 when he retired. Mike Furse bought the car from him and carried on trialling it until David Childs bought it from him and continued its trials career.

Practicality extends to good access in the engine bay

David's car sports the most desirable constituents for a Ford 8 special from the 1950s with a water pump and semi-downdraft twin SU carbs. 

The rear axle is not so special to look at but includes all the best parts for competition work

It also has the axle of two halves that Roger Ashby sourced for his Coates Orthoptera (VT No.155). This consist of two short halves of the offset Fordson E83W van axle, which is much stronger than the ordinary Ford 8 variety. If you use the whole Fordson axle, it's too wide so you need to find two axles and make one narrow one out of the twain. 

David's example is very well put together and stands up well to the battering its use in classic trials involves. Inside, it's nicely equipped with comprehensive instrumentation. 

The controls fall easily to hand. Mass-produced saloons rarely had such good instrumentation

The styling may lack finesse but the Italians had all the best lines in the 50s. The quality of the mouldings is good. 

Mike Furse campaigned David's car for a few years in MCC events and David is still putting together his cars competition history, which goes beyond the 1979 Edinburgh Trial when he photographed it at Buxton to the 1960s when David Hilliard entered it in classic trials.

David's car attracts attention at Blue Hills in 2007

I have never seen, or heard of, a saloon survivor of the Conversion Car Bodies Naco shell. I made a short internet search for them but all leads return to DMP10 and a few reminiscences from some of my fellow enthusiasts from many years ago.

Mike Furse said that John Hayes found one in a garden in Bristol when he owned DMP10. They made a close inspection of it and discovered many differences, which made them wonder about the firm who built it. Conversion Car Bodies certainly seem to be very mysterious. 

Nobody knows the fate of this example at the moment. The remains of a front number plate are just visible. It's not the same number as the one in the publicity photos but - if you study them closely - the registration number on that (EYT657) is the same as that on the saloon bodied car!

If anyone has any more info on the company of the cars, please let me know. David Child would also like to hear about history of his car, particularly photos of it in competition.

Tailpiece : David Child pumping up his tyres after ascending Blue Hills on the 2007 Land's End Trial