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ClassicLine Interviews Shelby Webster

With show season almost upon us, we are really enjoying hearing what our clients have planned for the year ahead. There is talk of local shows, long distance drives to national events, as well as plans for European road trips – it’s all part of the fun of owning an old vehicle!

So, when client, Shelby Webster, contacted us to renew the insurance on her 1960 Ford Popular Deluxe 100e, we were keen to find out what her plans were for this year.

We last met Shelby at Dragstalgia 2018 where she picked up a Top Five award in the NSRA Show ‘n’ Shine with the 100e. We know that Shelby spends quite a lot of time at Santa Pod Raceway supporting her dad during the drag racing season so it’s not surprising to hear that the Retro Show and Ford Fest are on her list of must attend events this summer. As well attending some of the NSRA events and Ford100e.com events, Shelby tells us that another her must attend shows is Atomic – a relaxed event with some beautiful retro styled cars.

Her 100e, nicknamed ‘Daisy’ is no stranger to the retro car scene. Since its unveiling in 2012, Shelby has won an award almost every year since! The car was first show at the Classic Ford Show in 2012, won Best pre ‘70s at the Retro Show in 2013 and 2015, Power & Style winner again at the Classic Ford Show in 2014, Best British at Atomic in 2017 and feature article in Retro Cars Magazine in July 2014 – not a bad CV for someone who is only 30!

‘Daisy’ is no stranger to the retro car scene. Since its unveiling in 2012, Shelby has won an award almost every year since!

Shelby has been into hot rods, particularly Fords, from a very young age. Having a dad who is a well-known motorsport designer and fabricator within the British drag racing world, and whose raced in various classes over the years, it was only time before Shelby caught the bug…

But it was back in 2008 when it really began. October 2008, Shelby bought Daisy as an all original. Despite there only being a couple of past owners, there was very little rust and she was in very good condition. Shelby tells us that her original intention was to keep Daisy all stock and just give her some TLC… However, once home a test drive to the end of road made it clear that the original side valve engine needed more than a little TLC – in fact, Shelby discovered that left as it was, she wouldn’t have much fun driving!

After discussions with her dad, Shelby decided the best option was a complete rebuild. Of course, with Webster engineering skills in her blood, Shelby set about adapting the 100e to give the best ride, be a nifty little thing whilst retaining as much of the original look as possible.

The project took roughly three years to complete, only working on it over Christmas and summer whilst home from university. Shelby tells us, “it was great because dad worked with me helping me and teaching me along the way, I was able to do quite a bit like welding and strip the paint. Due to my dad’s profession and expertise I didn’t want him to build it for me. I wanted a big input and to do as much as I could and learn too, it also means it has huge sentimental value and I feel I appreciate it more”.

Daisy now runs a 2 litre Zetec engine from Retro Ford with Mikuni bike carbs from Cheshire Sports Cars. Shelby updated the rocker covers to the BDA style from Retro Ford, with a matching sump. Up front there’s a custom built all alloy radiator and she changed the original grill from the Popular to the Prefect, preferring the look of the simple vertical bars.

Underneath it’s all Ford with a MK1 Escort front axle and struts with updated springs. Shelby tells us, “people often comment on the fact we made them fit without massively changing the structure to the engine bay and strut posts. We had to adapt the tunnel to fit the engine and the Type 9 five speed gear box”. The rear axle is Anglia/English, with leaf springs. Wilwood disc brakes all round with no servo. Shelby says the car is now really fun to drive and handles really well, cornering on 3 wheels!

Shelby says the car is now really fun to drive and handles really well, cornering on 3 wheels!

Completing the exterior look are 15” wheels front and rear with steel solid rims with hub caps. After having retro looking mini lite replica wheels originally, Shelby swapped back to a more classic look with the solid rims and hub caps, going bigger at 15” all round.

Inside, she added a custom gauge panel similar to the Anglia to allow for oil, water and fuel. The retro Smiths gauges are colour matched with the cream paint work. The steering column is custom built and steering wheel removable. The door cards, kick panels and backseat were covered in black by Custom Coach Trim to match the Cobra bucket seats in the front.

This car is full of personal touches like the beautiful wooden OMP steering wheel which Shelby’s dad personalised as a birthday present by having a clock put in the centre. She has added a few girly touches that she made herself, like a daisy pressed in resin on the wooden gear knob. “People always say how tidy the car is in engine bay and underneath and even boot area. This is a sign of the work dad produces, he has a great way of keeping wiring etc and all unsightly stuff hidden away. It really makes a difference and shows in all cars he has designed and built”, Shelby tells us.

The cream paint colour was spotted on a new Mini, BMW Pepper White – as Shelby says, not too white and not too yellow! She had a very talented friend with experience of old British Fords paint the car and he did a great job of showing all the lines and shape the car has. Shelby says it still looks just as good now six years down the line!

So, after six years on the road, Daisy received some exhaust maintenance for Christmas. The exhaust is custom-built stainless steel, but the headers were painted black, which burnt off, and these have been replaced with stainless too finishing it off nicely.

At only 30, Shelby is still a young hotrodder, so we asked her if she had any tips for others wanting to get involved in the scene. “My tips would be to get out to the shows and get talking to people of the cars you like, in my experience the hot rod world is very friendly and approachable. Try to access different sorts of shows and events, static, circuit racing, drag racing as they are all similar yet very different so may influence what you want in a car. Speak to clubs and read magazines”. CL: Great advice Shelby!

Thanks for chatting to us Shelby and we look forward to catching up with you at a show this year.

Related Pages

The GCe – The Story of a surprise 100e build!
A Pop to make your ‘Heartbeat’
Ford 100e Insurance