Ford

Introduced at the London Motor Show in October 1963, the Ford Consul Corsair replaced the Consul Classic. Designed by the same team responsible for the Cortina Mk I, the Corsair was essentially a long-wheelbase, re-skinned Cortina. It shared much of its mechanical basis with the Cortina GT, as well as key body components such as the windscreen and side glass. What set it apart was its bold, jet-inspired styling: a sharp V-shaped front crease framing inset round headlamps and dramatic rear light clusters hinting at tailfins, echoing contemporary American design influences. Available as a saloon and later as an estate, the Corsair offered more presence and refinement than the Cortina, though it never matched its sibling’s sales success. Nevertheless, thanks to its shared development and low production costs, it remained a commercially viable model.

In September 1965 the Corsair range was significantly revised with a redesigned dashboard, improved ventilation and, most notably, the introduction of Ford’s new Essex V4 engines. The 1,663 cc unit powered the Corsair V4 Deluxe, while a 1,996 cc version was fitted to the V4 GT. However, the V4 models were not well received: the 2.0-litre engine in particular suffered from high fuel consumption and underwhelming performance, and public perception quickly turned negative. Sales declined until January 1967, when a substantially improved 2.0-litre version was introduced. In April 1967 the troubled V4 GT was replaced by the better-equipped 2000 E, which helped stabilise the range. Despite these efforts, the Corsair’s role diminished as Ford reorganised its line-up: the larger Cortina Mk III took over the midsize segment in 1970, while the Escort and Capri covered the lower and sportier ends of the market. Over a six-year run, approximately 310,000 units were built.