Ford Anglia Spider Frua

Vehicle Overview

The Ford Anglia Spider Frua is a one-off concept vehicle constructed in 1962 by Italian coachbuilder Pietro Frua. The prototype was based on the Ford Anglia 105E, a small saloon car produced in the United Kingdom by Ford of Britain between 1959 and 1968. Frua’s intervention involved a complete reconfiguration of the standard four-door saloon body into a two-seat open spider, with styling and proportions markedly distinct from the original production vehicle. The base chassis and mechanical components of the Anglia 105E were retained, including its front-mounted inline-four engine, rear-wheel-drive layout, and four-speed manual transmission. No modifications to the powertrain or suspension were reported. The concept remained mechanically consistent with its mass-produced counterpart, suggesting the vehicle was intended as a styling study rather than a performance variant. Frua’s design introduced a low-profile front end with integrated headlamps and a simplified grille. The side profile was streamlined, with revised proportions achieved through a shortened cabin and lowered beltline. The rear deck was sloped and minimally ornamented. The result was a compact open-top vehicle with dimensions and form resembling contemporary European roadsters, in contrast to the utilitarian and upright appearance of the donor car. The interior was configured as a two-seater, with revised instrumentation and custom upholstery. Materials and trim levels were not publicly documented but are presumed to have followed Frua’s typical standards for concept vehicles of the period. The Ford Anglia Spider Frua was exhibited at the 1965 Geneva Motor Show. It did not advance to series production, and no further examples were built. The sole prototype’s current status and location remain undocumented in publicly accessible records, and no confirmed chassis number is available. The Anglia Spider Frua exemplifies the mid-20th-century practice of independent European coachbuilders applying bespoke design treatments to existing mass-production platforms. Though it remained a one-off, the vehicle serves as a case study in stylistic adaptation and the possibilities of reinterpreting economy-oriented platforms within a sportier design framework.