Ford Zephyr Mk 1

About the Ford Zephyr Mk 1

The Ford Zephyr is a British car manufactured by the Ford Motor Company in the United Kingdom. Between 1951 and 1972, it was sold as a more powerful six-cylinder saloon to complement the four-cylinder Ford Consul. From 1962 the Zephyr itself was offered in both four- and six-cylinder versions.

The first of the Zephyr range was a lengthened version of the four-cylinder 1,508 cc (92 cu in) Consul, with a 2,262 cc (138 cu in) six-cylinder engine producing 68 bhp (51 kW). Like the Consul, the Zephyr came with a three-speed gear box, controlled by a column-mounted lever.The front suspension design, based on that first seen in the Ford Vedette, employed what would later come to be known as MacPherson struts while a more conventional configuration for the rear suspension used a live axle with half-elliptic springs. The car could reach just over 80 mph (130 km/h) and 23 mpg.

The Ford Zephyr Six was available with 4-door saloon, estate and two-door convertible bodies. The convertible version was made by Carbodies and had a power-operated hood; the estate car was by Abbotts of Farnham and was sold as the Farnham.

Steel monocoque
Engine : all iron ohv
Transmission : three-speed manual with overdrive, rear wheel drive
Suspension : Front MacPherson struts, rear: live axle with semi-ellipitic leaf springs.
Steering : Burman worm and peg
Brakes : drums all round