What year is the Ford Anglia in Harry Potter?
The Ford Anglia in Harry Potter is the blue Ford Anglia 105E, a model from roughly the late 1950s to early 1960s. The books do not specify an exact year, while the film version is commonly cited as a 1960 Anglia 105E.
In the Chamber of Secrets storyline, Harry and Ron escape London aboard a magical blue Ford Anglia 105E to reach Hogwarts after missing the train. Because the novels name the model but not a calendar year, fans and production sources place the car within the late 1950s–early 1960s era; the film’s on-screen prop is frequently described as a 1960 Anglia 105E.
Canonical details from the books
Key facts from the books about the vehicle.
- Model: Ford Anglia 105E
- Color: Bright blue
- Role in the plot: The magical family car used to reach Hogwarts after missing the train
- Year stated in text: Not specified
Because the year is not spelled out in the text, readers rely on the model designation (105E) and era cues to place the car in the late 1950s–early 1960s window.
What the text reveals about the year
The books explicitly name the vehicle as a Ford Anglia 105E but do not provide a calendar year, leaving the precise year to inference from design cues and context.
Film portrayal and production notes
Film-related details and production context for the on-screen car.
- Prop model: Blue Ford Anglia 105E
- Reported production year for the prop: 1960
- Purpose in film: Used for the pivotal flight sequence and subsequent escape
- Relation to the books: Maintains the same model (105E) and color, aligning with the book’s description
In cinematic materials and behind-the-scenes notes, the on-screen Anglia is commonly described as a 1960 Ford Anglia 105E, reinforcing the late 1950s/early 1960s aesthetic in the film adaptation.
Prop specifics
Prop teams selected the 1960 Anglia 105E to balance period accuracy with practical effects for the flying scenes, helping to translate the book’s model into a tangible, era-appropriate vehicle on screen.
Summary
Canonically, the car is a Ford Anglia 105E, with no exact year given in the text. The Anglia 105E generation ran from about 1959 to 1962, placing the vehicle in the late 1950s/early 1960s window. The film’s on-screen prop is widely cited as a 1960 Ford Anglia 105E, which is the year most fans quote when discussing the car’s appearance in Harry Potter.
Bottom line: Ford Anglia 105E, circa 1959–1962; film references commonly call it a 1960 Anglia 105E for practical, visual accuracy.
