Ford Consul
| Ford Consul | |
|---|---|
1956 Ford Consul Mark II Saloon (204E)
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| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Ford UK |
| Production | 1951–1962; 1972–1975 |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | Ford Pilot |
| Successor | Ford Cortina |
| Ford Consul (EOTA) | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Overview | |
| Production | 1951–1956 227,732 produced. |
| Body and chassis | |
| Body style | 4-door saloon, estate car, convertible. |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 1.5 L Straight-4 |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 100 in (2,540 mm) |
| Length | 164 in (4,166 mm) |
| Width | 64 in (1,626 mm) |
| Height | 61 in (1,500 mm)(convertible) |
| Ford Consul Mark II | |
|---|---|
Ford Consul Mark II Saloon (circa 1962)
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| Overview | |
| Production | 1956–1962 371,585 fixed roof and 9398 convertibles produced |
| Body and chassis | |
| Body style | 4-door saloon 4-door estate 2-door coupé utility (Australia only) 2-door convertible. |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 1.7 L Straight-4 |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 104 in (2,642 mm) |
| Length | 172 in (4,369 mm) |
| Width | 69 in (1,753 mm) |
| Height | 60 in (1,524 mm) |
| Curb weight | 2,700 lb (1,225 kg) |
| Ford Consul (Granada Mark I based) | |
|---|---|
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Ford Consul 4-door Saloon (1972-75)
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| Overview | |
| Production | 1972–1975 |
| Assembly |
Cologne, Germany Dagenham, United Kingdom |
| Body and chassis | |
| Body style | 2-door saloon 4-door saloon 2-door coupé 5-door estate |
| Related | Ford Granada Mark II |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | |
| Transmission | 4-speed manual automatic optional |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 107 in (2,718 mm) |
| Length | 180 in (4,572 mm) |
| Width | 70 in (1,778 mm) |
| Height | 54 in (1,372 mm) |
The Ford Consul is a car that was manufactured by Ford UK from 1951 to 1962. The name was later revived for a model produced by Ford in both Britain and Germany from 1972 to 1975.
Between 1951 and 1962 the Consul was the four-cylinder base model of the three-model Ford Zephyr range, comprising Consul, Zephyr and Zephyr Zodiac. In 1962 the line was restyled, and the Consul was replaced by the Zephyr 4, the mid-range Zephyr model becoming the Zephyr 6 and the top of the range Zephyr Zodiac just being called the Zodiac. At this point Consul became a range of smaller cars in its own right, initially the Consul Classic and Consul Capri, shortly joined by the even smaller Consul Cortina. The Consul Classic was only made for two years (August 1961 - March 1963), before being replaced by the Consul Corsair. The Consul Capri was made from October 1961 until August 1964.
The Consul Classic, the Consul Capri and the Consul Corsair (made from 1963 until 1970) were relatively short-lived, but the Ford Cortina, after losing (along with the Corsair) the "Consul" tag in 1964, went on to become a best-seller. The Consul name was again used by Ford from 1972 to 1975 on a replacement for the Zephyr range, now sharing a body with the more luxurious Ford Granada Mark I. The Capri name by now had also been reintroduced, in 1969.
The Consul was first shown at the 1950 London Motor Show and was the start of Ford of Britain's successful attack on the family saloon car market and replaced the larger-engined V-8 Pilot which had only been made in small numbers. It was given the Ford code of EOTA. Most cars were 4-door saloons with body design by George Walker of the parent United States Ford company, but a few estate cars were made by the coachbuilder Abbott. From 1953 a convertible conversion by Carbodies became available. The body was reinforced by welding in a large X-frame to the floor pan. Unlike the more expensive Zephyr, the hood (convertible top) had to be put up and down manually.
It was also the first car they built with up-to-date technology. The new 1508 cc 47 bhp (35 kW) engine had overhead valves, and hydraulic clutch operation was used, which in 1950 was an unusual feature. However, a three-speed gearbox, with synchromesh only on second and top, was retained. The Consul was also the first British production car to use the now-common MacPherson strut independent front suspension, and was the first British Ford with modern unibody construction.
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Wikipedia