1951 Ford Consul

By 1950, Ford UK had a yawning chasm in its lineup. The small Anglia and Prefect saloons dated back to 1938, with 1-litre, 4-cylinder, side-valve engines, mechanical brakes and transverse leaf suspension. At the other end, the V-8 Pilot was a continuation of the archaic French Matford, a 4-light saloon, which was based on the 1936 American model. It was powered by the 3622cc flathead V-8 engine, had hydromechanical brakes, transverse leaf springs and a torque tube rear axle. The grille had been updated into a huge chrome waterfall, which it shared with the redesigned 1949 Prefect. Thirsty but reliable, the Ford Pilot proved popular with rural police forces.

The all-new 1950 'shoebox' Ford Consul was Ford’s first unitary design, patterned after the 1949 American model, and with a full-width 'mouth organ' grille. The 4-door Mk I Consul saloon was the smallest model in the slab-sided EOTA range, which would expand to include the 6-cylinder Zephyr and Zephyr Zodiac.

The Ford Consul was powered by an oversquare 1508cc overhead-valve 4-speed engine generating 48 horsepower, which provided a top speed of 75mph. The new model featured a 3-speed column change, hydraulic brakes, and 12-volt electrics, as well as independent front suspension with MacPherson struts. The Consul was built from 1950-56 and 231,481 found buyers. There was also an estate conversion by Abbotts of Farnham, which cost an extra £145, while Carbodies built 7,797 2-door Mk I convertibles.

Ford moved upmarket in 1951 with the 2262cc, 6-cylinder Ford Zephyr saloon, which was also available as an Abbott Farnham estate and a Carbodies convertible. The wheelbase was stretched four inches, and the model could be recognised by the horizontal bars in the grille and a raised centre section. With 68 horsepower it was capable of 85mph, but very softly sprung and prone to severe body roll. Both Consul and Zephyr saloons cost less than £650. The Zephyr convertible was notable for a 3-position electro-hydraulic power top, which could be driven in the partly open 'coupe de ville' position.

Ford's luxury Zephyr Zodiac model followed in 1953 with a leather interior, heater, fog lamps, gold-plated badges, whitewall tires and two-tone paint. Modified by Harry Weslake and others, the 6-cylinder engine found its way into a number of small sports cars and a rare option in the Zodiac was the triple carburettor Raymond Mays package, which was good for 100mph. In all, 152,677 Zephyrs were sold and 2,267 Zephyr Zodiacs. There were a few Zephyr Zodiac estates but no known convertibles. A factory Ford Zephyr driven by Maurice Gatsonides (of Gatso traffic camera fame) and Peter Worledge won the 1953 Monte Carlo Rally from Ian and Pat Appleyard in a Jaguar Mk VII by one second. In 1955 Gerry Burgess and Peter Easton finished 4th in the Monte, driving a Zephyr, while Vic Preston Sr. and D.P. Marwaha won the very tough East African Safari Rally.

The Mk I Zephyr Zodiac looked quite dated by 1956 and was followed by the much-improved Mk II, which was based on the 1955 American Ford line. Surviving Mk Is are quite rare as the combination of unitary construction and negligible rust-proofing proved to have drastic consequences at MOT inspection time.