Ford Prefect: the upright small Ford that motorised Britain (1938-1961) The Ford Prefect was Ford UK's upmarket small saloon for over two decades, from the upright "sit up and beg" pre-war cars to the modern 100E of the 1950s. Cheap, tough and built in huge numbers, it put Britain on the road, and lent its name to a Hitchhiker's Guide character. A guide to the models, owning one, and values.