1956 Ford Zephyr

The Ford Zephyr-Six and Zodiac Mk I were front-engine, rear-wheel-drive, five-seaters available as a four-door saloon, a five-door estate or a two-door convertible. Production ran from 1950 to 1956 and in their heyday, they represented a major step forward for British Fords.

The Ford Zephyr-Six "EOTTA" debuted at the 1950 Earls Court Motor Show where it immediately attracted attention for its full-width monocoque body – a first for the company. The suspension was by independent MacPherson struts at the front – another first for any mass-produced British car – with leaf spring and a live axle at the rear. There was also a 12-volt electrical system, the brakes were hydraulic drums front and rear, and power was from a six-cylinder "over square" engine.

1951 also saw the Zephyr-Six available as a convertible, with a hood that was power operated to the coupe de Ville position and in September 1952 the original "flat dashboard" was replaced by a fascia with a separate instrument pod.

Maurice Gatsonides's Zephyr-Six won the 1953 Monte Carlo and in October of that year, the Zephyr-Six was equipped with flashing indicators in place of trafficators. Ford also introduced a new flagship - the Zodiac, which was originally known as the "Zephyr-Zodiac". The extensive list of standard fittings included two-tone paint, whitewall tyres, fog lamps, spot and reversing lamps, a heater, windscreen washers, leather upholstery, a clock, wing mirrors and a cigarette as standard. To compensate for the additional weight, the Zodiac boasted a higher compression ratio - 7.5:1 instead of the standard 6.8:1 – and its top speed was 84 mph as opposed to 80 mph. Oddly, it was not available in drophead guise.

For motorists who sought extra performance, their Fords could be equipped with an after-market Raymond Mays engine modification with twin carburettors and an alloy head, resulting in 95mph. In late 1954 E, D Abbott Ltd. of Farnham offered an estate car conversion on the Zephyr-Six and the Zodiac.

All versions were replaced by the Mk. II range in February 1956.

Both the Zephyr-Six and the Zodiac had a 2,262cc S6 OHV engine married to a three-speed gearbox with synchromesh on second and top ratios. Borg-Warner overdrive was an optional extra on the last models.

It is easy to understand why the Ford Zephyr-Six and Zodiac Mk I enjoyed such popularity in the early 1950s; they are very pleasant to drive with a smooth-revving engine and a well-devised steering column gearchange. The Zodiac has a flamboyant charm of its own while the Zephyr convertible is very appealing but can be hard to find. The estate cars are even rarer.

All models should be checked for signs of corrosion around the inner and outer wings, the bonnet's leading edge, the sills, the underside, the jacking points and around the headlamps. The engines are known to be durable but large amounts of oil smoke can denote valve seal or piston ring issues while the transmission can be prone to jumping out of gear. Some interior parts, such as the headlining, are very hard to source.

Alternatives to the Ford Zephyr-Six Mk I included the Vauxhall Velox E, the Austin A70 Hereford and A90 Westminster, the Morris MS Six and Isis, and the Standard Vanguard Phase I and Phase II. The Ford Zodiac Mk I rivalled the Vauxhall Cresta E.