Any idea where this Ford came from?

[Bill Murray]

Attached is a photo I snagged off of Ebay recently.

It is a '39 or '40 Ford Tudor with what I think is a sliding fabric sunroof. The caption said it was in use in Africa, which fits with the Italian vehicles around it.

I have or have seen numbers of photos of '40 Ford Fordors of both British and Australian origin used in Africa, but never a Tudor.

It looks to be a LHD car and I wonder if it might have come from Egypt. Any ideas???
Bill

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

Ford in Alexandria were supposed to be an assembly/import operation fro British Fords, but they also imported Koln-built Eiffesl much to the chagrin of other British car importers in Egypt. From there they exported British Fords, and probably Canadian ones, in North Africa and around into Trans-Jordan, Palestine, etc. I would suggest that it's a sequestred Libyan/Tunisian car.

[Bill Murray]

Thank you David:
I can tell you this is indeed a rare vehicle. The German Ford vehicles with sunroof used a completely different design, they were not made in this way in the US and Canada either. Not sure about the UK, but I have never seen a Ford with this treatment.

Perhaps the personal car of a fairly well to do businessman or even a low level diplomat.

Maybe someday we will know more..................
Bill

[Bill Murray]

Well, David, I learned more.
It would seem that German Fords, at least Fordor models did indeed get fitted with this type of sunroof.
Here is one photo and I may be able to post another one or two.
Bill

[Bill Murray]

Another
Bill

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

I would suggest that you therefore have two potential sources, well more I suppose on thinking about it!

1. Ford, Alexandria who imported Koln-built Fords as well as Dagenham ones, then exported to Tunisia or Libya
2. Wehrmacht - allocated Koln Fords (for the Heer and Luftwaffe)
3. Koln Fords seized in Europe

I must check to see whether any Dagenham Fords had this type of sunroof fitted.