In 1961 Ford of Britain introduces the
new Ford Consul Classic (109E RHD / 110E LHD) ("Consul 315" as
export version). The car was intended to fill the gap between the
smaller Ford Anglia (105E) and the larger Ford (Consul) Cortina (Cortina
Mk I). The car was available with two or four doors. It had a four
headlamp front grille, Ford Anglia style "reverse slope"
rear window and large "gull wing" tail-fins. Mechanically
it was similar to the Anglia, and used a slightly larger 1340cc Ford
Kent Engine.
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| Predecessor: Ford Consul Mk II |
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| Prototype Ford Consul Classic: Apollo with Ford Anglia nose |
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| Prototype Ford Consul Classic: Apollo |
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| Ford Consul Classic 2-doors |
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| Ford Consul Classic 4-doors |
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| Ford Consul Classic 4-doors |
After only one year in production the
model was replaced by a slightly improved 116E (RHD) / 117E (LHD)
with a 1500cc Ford Kent engine.
The Ford Consul Capri, codename "Sunbird", was the two-door coupé version of the Classic. The
Consul Capri included four headlights, variable speed wipers, front
disc brakes, dimming dashboard lights, and a cigar lighter. The
four-speed transmission was available with either a column or a floor
gearchange. In February 1963 a GT version became available.
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| Prototype Ford Consul Capri: Sunbird |
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| Prototype Ford Consul Capri: Sunbird |
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| Ford Consul Capri |
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| Ford Consul Capri |
The Ford Consul Classic was was
replaced, after a three-year production, in 1963 by the Ford Corsair
which was based on the Ford (Consul) Cortina (Cortina Mk I). Only
111,225 Classics and 18,716 Capris were produced, making it one of
the rarest UK Fords.
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| Successor: Ford Corsair with 60s icons Jean Shrimpton and Jim Clark |
Ford Consul Capri Car Test (UK, 1961)
Ford Consul Classic Car Test (UK, 1962)
'Ford Consul Capri, codename "Sunburd"': I think you mean "Sunbird". :-O
ReplyDeleteThanks for reporting the error!
DeleteThe Ford Consul is not the predecessor to the Consul Classic. The Consul Classic only had the Consul name in common, they aren't in the same category.
ReplyDeleteThe Consul Classic plugged the gap between the Anglia 105E and the larger Consul 375. The Consul Cortina was introduced over a year later in autumn 1962 as an addition to the range, and proved much more successful.
ReplyDelete