1961 Ford Consul Classic

The Ford Consul Classic and its two-door cousin, the Consul Capri, occupy an interesting place in Ford history. They're two of the final all-British Fords, built very much with one eye on the USA. During development, it was known as 'Sunbird'. It was an all-new car, designed to fit in the gap in Ford's range between the Consul Mk2 and Anglia 105E, and clearly had been styled to resemble a larger, more prestigious version of the highly successful small car.

The Classic inherited the Anglia's reverse-rake window and added a few Transatlantic touches of its own. Meanwhile, the Consul Capri did without — and went on to become one of the prettiest cars ever built by Ford in the UK. It was svelte and elegant, and would eventually go on to pave the way for one of the most legendary names in motoring. But the first incarnation was not a commercial success — the body was complex and expensive to produce, and built across three factories.

Performance wasn't sparkling from the 1340cc engine, but it was improved in August 1962 when the 1498cc version was launched. However, the best was saved for last, when the 78bhp Capri GT was launched in 1963, with a near-100 mph maximum speed. The GT engine received a new head with larger exhaust valves and twin-choke Weber carburettor, and it would also end up being used in the highly successful Ford Cortina. Out of the total production run of nearly 19,000, 2002 were GTs.

After a little more than two years in production, the Consul Capri was dropped-with the name making a return in 1969. If you want one now, bear in mind that these cars are both rare and exceptionally susceptible to corrosion. They are also on the way up in terms of values, so survivors are now being cherished. The main issue is with rust throughout its monococque construction. Check front and inner wings, strut tops, jacking points, sills, valances, and the boot floor. And that's just the beginning. And bear in mind, also, that parts are very hard to find these days. But get the right Consul Capri, and you'll end up with a wonderful looking oddity in Ford's history, that is bound to strike up conversations whenever you stop.