Ford

The Mark I Ford Consul and Zephyr models were first displayed at the Earls Court Motor Show in 1950, production began with the Consul in January 1951. It was the start of Ford of Britain's successful entry in the family saloon car market. With stablemate Zephyr, it was the first British Ford with modern unibody construction. Most cars were four-door saloons, but a few estate cars were made by the coachbuilder Abbott. From 1953, a convertible conversion by Carbodies became available. The Consul had new 1,508 cc engine with overhead valves. The Zephyr was a lengthened version of the Consul, with a 2,262 cc six-cylinder engine. The Zephyr Zodiac (or Zodiac Mark I) was an upmarket version of the Zephyr launched at the London Motor Show in autumn 1953. It had two-tone paintwork, leather trim, a heater, windscreen washers, whitewall tyres, and spot lights. 

In 1956, the Consul, Zephyr, and Zodiac were all restyled. They had a longer wheelbase and a complete restyle, borrowing cues from the 1956 models of America's Thunderbird and Fairlane. The Consul received a larger 1,703 cc engine, and the six-cylinder cars' engines were enlarged to 2,553 cc, with power output raised to 86 bhp. A Consul De Luxe version with contrasting roof colour and higher equipment specification was added in 1957. The roof profile was lowered in 1959 on the Mark II 'lowline' version, which also had redesigned rear lights and much of the external bright work in stainless steel. Mid-1961 the Consul was renamed the Consul 375.

1956

1960

1961

In April 1962, Ford replaced the Consul/Zephyr/ Zodiac range with a dramatically restyled model, although it shared some of its mechanical components, as well as the basic chassis design, with the Mark II models. Rather than continue the Consul name, Ford UK decided to call its replacement Zephyr 4, the 4 indicating that it still used the four-cylinder 1,703 cc engine from Consul 375. Unlike the Zephyr 4, the Zephyr 6 had a full-width grille including the headlight surrounds. The Zodiac was an upmarket version of the Zephyr 6, but differed considerably from that model by the limousine-type rear doors, sharper roofline with narrower C-pillar and tail, unique grille (four headlights instead of two), plusher seating, and up-market upholstery, dashboard, and interior fittings. 

1962

1964

The Mk IV range was launched in early 1966 with new engines: a 1,996 cc V4 engine and a 2,495 cc V6 unit. The "Executive" was an upmarket version of the Zodiac and had the highest specification offered by Ford to UK customers in the 1960s. Automatic transmission along with power steering and a sunroof were standard equipment. Other standard features included fully reclining front seats, walnut fascia, full instrumentation, carpeting throughout, reversing lights, fog lamps, and a radio. In January 1967, less than a year after the introduction, Ford announced that production of the Mark IVs was being cut back in response to poor sales. Production ended in 1972.