Endearing and Enduring.(Escape Roads)

Byline: BROOKS BRIERLEY

When imported cars were the rage here in the 1950s, this cute-as-can-be station wagon made by Ford in England was among them. It is very much an English car-derived from Ford's Anglia two-door sedan of the time-slightly Americanized with left-hand drive and a great air horn, its control button hidden under the dash.

The Squire's visual charm disguises the fact that it is very basic transportation. It is not a highway car. The 36-hp, 1172-cc four-cylinder engine came with special factory instructions printed in red and black letters on a windshield sticker. "Don't race the engine, especially when cold,'' it warns. The top speed is listed there, too, at 35 mph (posted near a speedometer that goes to 80 mph).

There's a surprising amount of interior space within the Squire's 142-inch length and 59-inch height, fostered by comfortable seats with very low backs (about 17 inches high). Even so, the narrow side door can make entry difficult, especially for an adult using the back seat. Once everyone-the Squire seats four-settles in, there is plenty of headroom. An otherwise austere interior of painted metal and vinyl includes two handsome leather fobs, highlighted by three chrome bars, as door pulls.

The engine starts right up with the turn of the key and the push of an adjacent button. Our drive up and down some short hills quickly encouraged using all three of the transmission's speeds. It is fun to drive, and the good view of the road offsets the less-than-perfect ride. The warning sticker, with all of its do's and don'ts, can be a distraction to a driver not familiar with the car.

Instrumentation is sparse. The dash has two dials-one a speedometer and odometer and the other for fuel and temperature-flanked by large open shelves under the cowl. Directional signals are operated with a single lever in the center of the big black steering wheel.

George and Louise Norton (enthusiasts may ...