Ford Zephyr
Ford of Britain's largest executive car, last independently designed by Ford UK.
The Ford Zephyr, built by Ford of Britain from 1950 to 1972, was an executive car. Along with its more luxurious siblings, the Ford Zodiac and Ford Executive, it was the largest passenger car in the British Ford lineup until the Consul and Granada took over in 1972. The Zephyr was the final model to be independently engineered by Ford of Britain.
The first generation, the Mark I, appeared at the 1950 Earls Court Motor Show alongside the four-cylinder Ford Consul. These were the first mass-produced British cars to feature MacPherson strut front suspension. Production of the Consul began on 1 January 1951. The Mark I range ran until 1956. The Mark II Consul, Zephyr, and Zodiac, known as the "Three Graces," went on sale in April 1956 and were popular, lasting until 1962. In April 1962, the Mark III Zephyr 4, Zephyr 6, and Zodiac were introduced, and the Consul name was dropped; the four-cylinder version now also carried the Zephyr badge. Unlike the Mark II, where the Consul had a shorter front end, the Mark III Zodiac and Zephyr shared very few body panels. The Mark III solved earlier weaknesses—Mark I axles and Mark II gearboxes—and proved the most durable and popular of the range, selling as well as or better than the Mark II despite a shorter production run. An upmarket Executive version was added near the end of its life. The Mark III was discontinued in January 1966, and the completely new Mark IV arrived in April 1966. Its design, with V-type engines and independent rear suspension, foreshadowed the later Consul/Granada, but rushed development hurt its durability. It was among the first medium-priced cars with rear disc brakes.
The Zephyr name first appeared on the 1936 Lincoln Zephyr. Later, the Mercury Zephyr, an upscale version of the Ford Fairmont, was sold in the late 1970s, and the Lincoln Zephyr name was revived in 2006 before becoming the Lincoln MKZ the next year. A very limited number of Ford Zephyrs were imported into the U.S., but it was never built there.
**Mark I** The Zephyr Six (Mark I, model EOTTA) was a lengthened version of the 1508 cc Consul, with a 2262 cc six-cylinder engine producing 68 bhp. It used a three-speed column-shift gearbox, MacPherson strut front suspension, and a live rear axle with half-elliptical springs. Top speed was just over 80 mph, with fuel economy around 23 mpg.
Quick Facts
- Manufacturer
- Ford of Britain
- Assembly
- United Kingdom: Dagenham · Ireland: Cork · Australia: Geelong (Ford Australia) · New Zealand: Lower Hutt (Ford NZ) · Rhodesia: Salisbury (FMCR) · South Africa: Port Elizabeth (FMCSA)
- Production
- 1950–1972
- Successor
- Ford Consul · Ford Granada
- Predecessor
- Ford Pilot
- Class
- Executive car (E)
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The Mark I Ford Zephyr was first displayed at the Earls Court Motor Show in 1950, alongside the four-cylinder Consul. It was a lengthened version of the Consul, with a 2262 cc six-cylinder engine producing 68 bhp, a three-speed column-mounted gearbox, and MacPherson strut front suspension. Body styles included a four-door saloon, estate (built by Abbotts of Farnham and sold as the Farnham), and a two-door convertible by Carbodies with a power-operated hood. The Mark I was assembled from knock-down kits in New Zealand and Ireland. In 1953, a Ford Zephyr Six driven by Maurice Gatsonides won the Monte Carlo rally, and in 1955 a Zephyr Six won the East African Safari Rally.
The Mark II range, introduced in April 1956, included the Consul, Zephyr, and Zodiac, known as the Three Graces. The six-cylinder engine was enlarged to 2553 cc with 86 bhp, wheelbase increased to 107 inches, and width to 69 inches. Top speed rose to 88 mph. A two-door convertible with power hood was offered. In Australia, the Mark II was built at Ford Australia's Geelong factory, with sedan, coupe utility (ute), and station wagon versions; the station wagon differed from the British estate in having a wind-up rear window and straight C pillar. New Zealand assembly of the Mark II included the Zodiac.
The Mark III, launched in April 1962, dropped the Consul name; both four- and six-cylinder versions were now called Zephyr. The Mark III shared few body panels with the Zodiac. It proved the most durable of the range, selling at a rate equal to or better than the Mark II. An upmarket Executive version was added late in production. The Mark III was discontinued in January 1966, replaced by the Mark IV in April 1966, which anticipated the later Consul/Granada with V-type engines and independent rear suspension, and was one of the first medium-priced cars to feature rear disc brakes.
Reader's Guide
The Ford Zephyr holds significance as the last car independently designed by Ford of Britain before closer integration with Ford-Werke of Cologne. Its early adoption of MacPherson strut front suspension, later ubiquitous, marked a technical milestone. The Zephyr's rally successes—winning the Monte Carlo Rally in 1953 and the East African Safari Rally in 1955—demonstrated its durability and performance against larger competitors. The Mark III, which solved earlier weaknesses in axles and gearboxes, became the most durable of the range. The Zephyr name was later used on American Ford-related cars, including the Lincoln Zephyr (1936), Mercury Zephyr (1970s), and a 2006 Lincoln Zephyr later renamed MKZ. The Zephyr's legacy includes its role in establishing Ford of Britain as a major manufacturer of large executive cars, and its replacement by the pan-European Consul/Granada marked a shift toward integrated European design.
Did You Know?
- The Ford Zephyr was the first mass-produced British car to use MacPherson strut independent front suspension.
- The Mark III Zephyr, introduced in 1962, dropped the Consul name and was the most durable of the range.
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