1974 Ford Consul

Ford Consul (Saloon), 1972-1975

The Ford Consul was in production from 1972 until 1975. Styled in house, it is a front-engine, rear wheel drive saloon and estate range seating five adults.

Launched in 1972, the Consul range was planned as a successor to the Ford Zephyr - while the more upmarket Granada would replace the Zodiac and Executive. Three models were available in the Consul range - the base, the L and the S, the latter of which featured a Granada grille and 3.0 engine with a reduced specification compared to the Granada. Other Consul models would be sold with 2.0 V4 and 2.5 V6 options, and in a choice of two bodystyles - saloon and estate. The latter would only be available in upmarket 2500L guise. For 1974 the 2.0 OHC Ford Pinto straight four would replace the V4 - a wise decision given the V4's reputation for being coarse in action and the Consul's position in the executive car sector.

The following year would be the last for the Consul; all models replaced in 1975. The Consul would be replaced by the Granada L, the Consul L by the Granada XL, and the Consul GT by the Granada 3000S. This would be the final use of the Consul name Ford had used for a quarter of a century - and which, briefly, it had flirted with using as a prefix on all passenger cars in the early 1960s.

The Ford Consul was a low-priced entry into the executive sector and might also have been seen to compete with larger family cars. With this in mind, the Vauxhall Victor 3300 estate might have been a competitor, but the Ventora would have been too upmarket. The FE Victor, however, would ahve been ideal - especially in VX2300S guise. The Austin and Morris 2200 would also have been seen as excellent alternatives for those looking for a little more innovation in their cars, while a secondhand Triumph 2000 might have offered premium positioning for a similar price. If space wasn't necessary, a Cortina GXL or 2000E would have offered a more luxurious package for a similar price.