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The Ford Zephyr was a car manufactured by the Ford Motor Company in the United Kingdom. It was a larger saloon to complement the Ford Consul. The Ford Zephyrand its luxury variant, the Zephyr Zodiac which appeared in 1955, were the largest passenger cars in the British Ford range from 1950 to 1971 before being replaced by a larger Ford Consul and Granada.
The Mark 1 Ford Consul and Zephyr models were first displayed at the Earls Court motor show in 1950. Production began with the Consul on January 1 1951. The Mk I model ran until 1956. From April 56 the Mk II Consul, Zephyr and Zodiac went on sale and were known as the Three Graces. The Mk II range was a big seller and finished its run in 1962 when from April that year the Mk III Zephyr 4, Zephyr 6 and Zodiac went on sale; the Consul name was dropped. The Mk III range was made from 1962 until the completely new Zephyr/Zodiac Mk IV range was released in April 1966. This car was ahead of its time with a design that resembled one of the later Consul/Granada range with V-engines and independent rear suspension.
Although the Ford Zephyr never saw American production or sales, the name itself has appeared on other American Ford-related cars: the Mercury Zephyr was an upscale version of the Ford Fairmont, and the Lincoln Zephyr began its second production run in 2006 (the first was from 1936 to 1942).
[] MK I
[] Zephyr MK I
Ford Zephyr Mk I
Ford Zephyr Mk I
Production: 1951-1956
148,629 saloons and 4048 convertibles made.
Body style: 4-door saloon
estate car
Engine: 2262 cc Straight-6
Model number EOTTA
The first of the Zephyr range was a lengthened version of the Consul with a six cylinder 2262 cc engine producing 68 bhp. Suspension was by coil springs at the front and a live axle with half elliptics at the rear. The car could reach just over 80 mph and 23 mpg.
It was available with 4-door saloon, estate car and convertible bodies. The convertible version was made by Carbodies and had a power-operated hood; the estate car was by Abbotts of Farnham and was sold as the Farnham.
[] Zodiac MK I
Ford Zodiac Mk I
Production: 1954-1956
22,634 made.
Body style: 4-door saloon
estate car
Engine: 2262 cc Straight-6
Model number EOTTA
The Zodiac was an upmarket version of the Zephyr with two-tone paint, white wall tyres and spot lights. The engine had a higher compression ratio - 7.5:1 instead of 6.i8:1 - giving an increased power output of 71 bhp. There are no official records of Zodiac convertibles being produced but there were a few estate cars.
[] MK II
[] Zephyr MK II
Ford Zephyr Mk II
Production: 1956-1962
294,506 (including the Zodiac Mk II) and 6911 Convertibles made.
Body style: 4-door saloon
convertible
pick-up
Engine: 2553 cc Straight-6
Model number: 206E
In 1956 the Consul, Zephyr, and Zodiac were all restyled to a new family look. The 6-cylinder cars had a their engines enlarged to 2553 cc and the wheelbase was increased by 3 inches to 107 inches and the width increased to 69 inches. The weight distribution was also improved. Top speed increased to 88 mph and the economy was also better at 28 mpg. The Zodiac and Zephyr were also offered in two body styles these being the 'Highline' and 'Lowline'. The two models shared various differing components from thicker A, B and C pillars to the shape of the instrument panel. The 'Highline' variant featured a hemispherical cluster, whereas the 'Lowline' had a more rectangular panel.
As well as a 3-speed manual gearbox there was an optional overdrive and from 1956 a Borg Warner automatic transmission. At first drum brakes were fitted all round but front discs became optional in 1960 and standard from mid 1961.
A convertible version was offered and a pick-up was sold on the Australian market. Owing to the structural weaknesses inherent in the construction of convertibles very few convertibles are known to survive: probably only 20-25 examples.
[] Zodiac MK II
Production: 1956-1962
294,506 (including the Zodiac Mk II) and 6911 Convertibles made.
Body style: 4-door saloon
convertible
pick-up
Engine: 2553 cc Straight-6
Model number: 206E
The Mk II Zodiac was slightly altered to distinguish it from the lesser variants, having more elaborate tail-end styling and at the front a different grille. The auxiliary lamps and wing mirrors were deleted from the Zodiac range but it gained two-tone paint, whitewall tyres, chrome wheel-trim embellishers and gold plated badges.
[] MK III
[] Zephyr 4 Mk III
Ford Zephyr 4 Mk III
Production: 1962-1966
106,810 made.
Body style: 4-door saloon
estate car
Engine: 1703 cc Straight-4
Model: 211E
Rather than call the smaller-engined model the Consul as before, Ford UK called it a Zephyr 4 - the 4 to indicate that it had the four cylinder 1703 cc engine from old Consul. A four-speed manual geabox, now with synchromesh on all ratios, was standard, with overdrive or automatic transmission available as options.
[] Zephyr 6 Mk III
Ford Zephyr 6 Mk III
Ford Zephyr 6
Production: 1962-1966
105,256 made.
Body style: 4-door saloon
estate car
Engine: 2553 cc Straight-6
Model number:213E,214E (right hand drive and left hand drive)
The Zephyr/Zodiac Mk III shared many of its components, as well as the basic design, with the Mk II. The exterior was designed by Canadian Roy Brown who also designed the Edsel and the Cortina, though the rear of the body was inspired by a design proposal by Frua. Unlike the Zephyr 4, the Zephyr 6 had a full width grille including the headlight surrounds. With the same 2553 cc displacement as before, the Mk III model had higher compression ratio resulting in some 20 hp higher output as well as a broader torque range.
Only saloons and estate cars were made, the estate being an conversion by Abbotts of Farnham.
[] Zodiac Mk III
Ford Zodiac Mk III
Production: 1962-1966
77,323 made.
Body style: 4-door saloon
estate car
Engine: 2553 cc Straight-6
Model number:213E,214E
The Zodiac was an upmarket version of the Zephyr 6, with a different grille (containing 4 headlights), its own exclusive bumper bars and plusher seating.
[] MK IV
Ford Zephyr Mk IV
Production: 1966-1972
102,417 made.
Body style: 4-door saloon
estate car
Engine: 1996 cc V-4
2495 cc V-6
Models: 3008/3010E
A completely new and larger body was made for the Mk IV range and the suspension was independent all round using coil springs. Disc brakes, servo assisted, were used on all wheels. The engines were new and of V format, the 4 having a 1996 cc V-4 and the 6 a 2495 cc V-6 unit.
[edit] Zodiac and Executive Mk IV
Ford Zodiac Mk IV
Production: 1966-1972
48,846 made.
Body style: 4-door saloon
estate car
Engine: 2994 cc V-6
Models: 3012E/3022E
The Zodiac Mk IV and Executive had four headlights and an uprated 2994 cc V-6 engine. The Executive was an upmarket version.
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