Ford Zephyr & Zodiac MKIII 1962-1966
German cars may have taken over the car market in the 21st
century but back in 1960's Britain, times were difficult for German
car manufacturers. Ford, Rover and Vauxhall dominated the British car
market as high import taxes kept out all European car manufacturers.
The Ford Zephyr and Zodiac MKIII were extremely popular in 1960's
Britain. They were spacious, comfortable, good to drive and easy to
maintain. They were produced for four years and not many of them have
survived as they have rotted away.
Engine: 6-cylinder engines live longer than their 4-pot
counterparts, as they are less stressed. But still check for worn
piston rings, valve gear and bearings. Rattling or rumbling from the
bottom end means a lot of money to fix properly. Look for clouds of
blue smoke from the exhaust indicating a full engine rebuild is due.
If you carry out the work yourself, you will pay £1250 to
rebuild a 4-cylinder engine or £1500 to overhaul a straight-6.
Have the work done professionally and you will pay up to £2500.
Zephyr and Zodiac engines all sound a bit tappety. The Zephyr 4 has a
timing chain giving imprecise timing. This causes a rough idle and
poor acceleration. The 6-cylinder engines were smooth enough to not
warrant a tensioner.
The biggest and most likely problem with any of these engines is a
worn rocker shaft. The rocker tips and shaft wear when the seal for
the oil feed pipe comes off. It's easy to fix if caught in time. But
it is worth checking that all is fine when the valve clearances are
set. Remove the rocker cover, idle the engine and watch for oil
coming from the drillings in the rocker tips. If the camshaft or
followers are worn it gets even more costly because the engine has to
come out. You can rebuild the head on a DIY basis for around £350.
Get a specialist to do the work and convert to unleaded. While you
look under the bonnet check for oil leaks from the rear of the
engine. There is a rope-type seal for the back of the crankshaft and
it frequently leaks. To fix this properly will involve engine removal
and stripdown. Finish off by having a look at the colour of the
coolant. If it's rusty, it is likely that there's corrosion in the
waterways of the block and head. A thorough cooling system flush and
refill with a good quality coolant with corrosion inhibitors should
be sufficient. These engines are especially prone to corrosion if
anti-freeze levels aren't maintained.
Specifications of
Ford Zephyr 4 1962-1966:
Engine-1703cc/4-cylinder/OHV
Power-68bhp @ 4800rpm
Torque-94lb ft @ 3000rpm
Top Speed-85mph
0-60mph-20 seconds
Gearbox-4-speed manual/optional O/D
Fuel Consumption-23mpg
Specifications of
Ford Zodiac 1962-1966:
Engine-2553cc/6-cylinder/OHV
Power-109bhp @ 4800rpm
Torque-137lb ft @ 2400rpm
Top Speed-104mph
0-60mph-13 seconds
Gearbox-3-speed automatic
Fuel Consumption-18mpg
Ford Zephyrs and Zodiacs in excellent condition have increased in
value in recent years. Classic car buyers have realised that getting
an average car to excellent condition is more costly than simply
paying a premium for a nice example in the first place.
While there is a market for the Ford Zephyr, it's the Ford Zodiac
that's the most popular of the two. It is the most attractive and has
the most power. A Zephyr 4 in good condition is around £1400.
An equivalent Zephyr 6 in good condition will cost in the region of
£1650 and a Zodiac would be worth around £1900. Values
rise even further to £5000 for a Ford Zodiac in excellent
condition. The Ford Zephyr 6 would be £4000 and Ford Zephyr 4
would be around £3000 in excellent condition. But some have
been known to change hands for rather a lot more. The estate version
is extremely rare but doesn't command high prices.
Parts Prices for
a Ford Zodiac:
windscreen (used) £50
sill-£130
radiator-£185
oil filter-£45
steering box-(rebuilt) £200
rebuilt gearbox, exchange £350
The Ford MKIII has still got a lot to offer but finding one in good
condition is very difficult. Locating a decent one will take time and
patience. The Zodiac is by far the most common out of the three
Fords. So locating a Ford Zodiac shouldn't be too difficult. The
three Fords shouldn't be forgotten but remembered.
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