I was a mechanic at the main Ford dealers when this range was introduced as 'The three Graces' comprising of the Zephyr Zodiac, Zephyr Six and the Consul. I owned the Zephyr six and looking back was one of the best most reliable cars of that era. If only cars were that simple and easy to work on these days.. Even now I think I could take one apart and rebuild it with my eyes shut. Happy days.

@hyena131

Жыл бұрын

@Ray Griffiths "If only cars were that simple and easy to work on these days." It's called change...

@lovemetu

Жыл бұрын

@@hyena131 Yes change...............and not always for the better.

@suzyqualcast6269

Жыл бұрын

My Grandfatber had a black one, red interior. My Dad had a grey Zephyr that was pinched from outside, when we visited London Zoo.

@hyena131

Жыл бұрын

@@lovemetu That's very debatable. But change is change immaterial as to whether you - or anyone - deems it better or otherwise. If you cannot embrace this, then you are doomed.

@ing.frankmartinez1251

Жыл бұрын

Hello Ray! How can I contact you by private? I wanna to speak about the three graces

When a car is better condition than it was over seventy years ago, you know you're on to something. Stunning.

@PhD63

3 ай бұрын

Probably in better shape than when it came out of the factory.

My first car was a 55 Consul in 58 I bought a Zephyr and in 60 a bought a Zodiac. All 3 were excellent vehicles. The color of the Consul in the picture was Kenilworth blue the same as my Zephyr. Great to see again.

I am 67. When I was about 7, my father had a Zephyr with the 6-cyl. engine. There were Consuls around I recall. In the late 70s I rented a house next to a guy with a Consul. Every morning, (as he had no garage) he would go check his car and then wipe it down. Then he would try to close the driver's door. Being a very old car by now with worn door-locks, he would slam that door about ten times before he could get it to latch properly. That was the wake-up call every morning !! Trinidad & Tobago. West indies.

Wow. Immaculate condition. Love these big old Fords. Wish cars were like this today. They seem to have character that most modern cars lack. Bench seats, column gearchange...just great. And simple maintenance too.

@juanasanelli6831

Жыл бұрын

Humanamente hermosos Bien construidos,seguros económicos fácil de mantenimiento ,Los autos actuales son todo lo contrario

@anthonydempsey7693

Жыл бұрын

Brian I believe if they used the same tool or die cast I don't know the correct terminology and built these again I am sure they would sell in the hundreds of thousands, absolutely beautiful.

@dogsbodyish8403

Жыл бұрын

Simple maintenance - you could get at everything. You had to be handy (and regular) with the grease gun though...

My father had two Ford Zodiacs of the same generation - brought back lots of happy memories, trips to Italy etc. My uncle too, one a rather cool convertible in two-tone cream and pale blue.

@Fyodor48

Жыл бұрын

i envy you (but not really) i drove a consul as above, but the Zodiac was always the dream to own with its much bigger engine, my buddy owned one, black from memory twas a beautiful looking and sounding machine

@suzyqualcast6269

Жыл бұрын

@@Fyodor48 Didn't the Zodiac have double headlights, or oeaks over same or, or, something that made it immediately discernible from the Connie and the Zephyr ¿?

@Fyodor48

Жыл бұрын

@@suzyqualcast6269 yes your right, you reminded me about the 'peaks' i cwertain they had a double headlight configuration but for the life of cant quite remember it!! the zodiac also had a different more 'aggresive' looking grill which in turn fave the bonnet/hood depending which side of the Pond you are one... Our neighbours had a Zodiac, both of them professional dancers and teachers, they were to become my own dance teachers back in the day. I loved going out in their car as the engine had a decent growl that big six cylender. and like the consul (again from memory had a brilliant front bench seat.... but i may indeed be romanticising my memories, twas a long time ago

My Father had one of these from new in the same colours YNG434. I went with him to Dagenham factory to pick it up. I got to drive it and thought it pretty cool!!

My father had this lovely car in 60’s I still remember it and I have pictures with it

When I was 17 in 1967 and just passed my test I drove a 1959 example in this colour and nearly bought it for I think about £100 but my dad talked me out of it by explaining the cost of tax, insurance, servicing etc etc. This one is probably better than new..

It is not probably the best it IS the best example of the finest UK marketed car design of the era. Yes, the later Cortina was a design for the sixties but this beauty was streets ahead in my view when it was launched. Thank you for showing us.

Used to drive these as taxis on a Saturday night 52 years ago. Crossply tyres on a wet road made for a lively back end. Be good to go back and do it all again.

@kenstevens5065

Жыл бұрын

Yes foxstrangler a lot of enthusiastic drivers back then went through the hedge backwards unlike in the mini or 1100 which went straight on. I exprienced both in my youth!

@dianedougwhale7260

Жыл бұрын

@@kenstevens5065 spun twice first !

@kenstevens5065

Жыл бұрын

@@dianedougwhale7260 Correct. Goodyear G8 cross ply tyres helped and they used to 'squeal fantastic' on smooth Tarmac on a hot sunny day!

My dad had a few of them in Jamaica back in the 1960's.

I had a 1959 Consul Delux, cream coloured body with a red roof, red leather interior, when l was 17 in 1968, cost me one hundred pounds. Loved it, had it about 2 years, still brings back many happy memories.

@leopoldonotarianni8663

Жыл бұрын

Very nice colour scheme

Absolutely fantastic . So good to see a true classic .

Plastic seat covers were available here in Australia, short pants and hot sun, ouch. This car is museum quality. Wow. 👍

In 1968 aged 18 I was gifted a 1958 Mark 1 Consul colour was a darker blue than this one the 1st car I owned and probably the best car I ever owned. Mine had a Light dip on the floor column change and hand brake on the dash.

Amazing. I remember family friends travelling from Thurso in Scotland to my parents home in Plymouth to visit in the late ‘50’s or early’60’s and being taken for several rides in the front seat. The details of the dashboard came back

@collinhunter9792

Жыл бұрын

imagine you mentioningThurso!!!! we lived there from 1963 up to bout 1990. only dad left at the end. he worked for Dounreay, U.K.A.E.A. We had a white consul. loved that car

@stuartpeacock8257

Жыл бұрын

@@collinhunter9792 Incredible!

Back in the early 1970's I had a Mkll Lowline saloon in Windsor Grey with light blue & white vinyl interior. Lovely old thing and the best £50 I ever spent.

I've found the purchase documentation for my mother's new 1961 Consul Convertible (in Pompadour Blue) - the extra electric hood option was £76! Your car would look nice with the white wall tyres!

A 1960 Consul was my first car, white with a red roof, cost £30 and the big ends went on the A1, but I loved it

We had one back in the 60's, it was two tone grey and Maroon I think.

My Dad had a 1960 light blue Zepher .it came out with from England on the Arcadia in 1962.Dad sold it in 1972 at our farm sale at Gollan near Dubbo .My first car was a cream Zepher . They were a great car .

This was my third car and it was the same colour, My first was a 1955 Consul mark 1, the second was a Zephyr six convertible which was white with a red roof, I think that it was a 1959 model, then I had this one.

I had two of them 1960 and 61. The downside was the crappy wipers that worked off the inlet manifold such that the faster you went, the slower the wipers worked and if you were going uphill, they stopped altogether.

@gibb253

10 ай бұрын

We hired one on holiday in UK in 1960. Apart from the wipers virtually stopping when accelerating, the sun visors would not stay up and kept dropping unexpectedly 😅 It was also rather underpowered for a family of four with luggage

Father also bought his Consul new from Jennings (1954). From mermory he bought four vehicles of various sorts from them. Sad such family businesses fade away - so many changes in Morpeth since the 1950s, and none of them good so far as I know.

I had a lowline 375 Mk 2, wonderful car, alas it went to rust heaven, now at 71 i am glad i experienced those big old fords, where with the bench seat you could get your girlfriend to slide across if you took a left hand corner. Later i went onto a Mk3 Zodiac, two of them. later still a Mk3 Granda ghia 2.9. Pity Fords dont make big cars now. Your vid has brought back some very good memories of being 18.

@dianedougwhale7260

Жыл бұрын

Who installed the 375 -- was that a 351 Big Bore--with Super charger ?

@CaseyJonesNumber1

Жыл бұрын

@@dianedougwhale7260 Consul 375 was the model designation, not engine size! 1961 model. It was still 1703 cc.

Sid James drove one in. Carry On Camping if I remember correctly 😀 fantastic

How as a young boy I loved my uncle's Consul - the same colour as this too!

Beautiful. And the sound of the engine is absolutely beautiful.

My dad bought a 63 consul for my use when I went to his house for the weekend 🙃 😅. This was the first time I have seen one since 1969

1965 bought my dream 375 de lux, grey black roof, red leather bench seat, (great for courting !) Cost £95, repo job, 1968 sold car, drum kit, 😭baby due, damn bench seats 😛

My dad had one in yellow with black roof, this was sold as "new low line for 59"

1959, obviously the best year ever.

My father purchased one in the late 50s and I used it to travel to work every day. That front seat was fantastic, seriously annoyed when he sold it and purchased a Singer Vogue.

@nigelparrott6944

Жыл бұрын

Snap! My Dad had a Consul 1959. 333CBJ and changed it in 1966 for a Singer Vogue GUO966D Oh the memories!

@suzyqualcast6269

Жыл бұрын

Double snap, sort of: My Gpa had a black Connie. My Dad had a grey Zephyr 6, he later had a metallic red Rootes Singer Vogue (the model which was 'squared off', if that makes sense ?, with the rectangular rear lights).

You would of thought it had came straight out of the factory the car is in mint condition 👏👏👏👏😍🤩

@vernonmatthews181

Жыл бұрын

Should have been handled with gloves.👍👌🍺🍻🥃💚🌎🗽

I had 375 model white roof green body and loved it.

I had a nice grey MK2 Zephyr six that apart from the usual jumping 2nd gear was lovely. In fact the heater was superior to any modern car Ive driven.

Just WOW!!!! Absolutely stunning and beautiful. How could you take that out on the road? I'd be paranoid about just taking it into open air! Probably the best example in existence

i worked on these cars and owned one as well, the same body type (forget the detail) was the zeypher zodiac i think they had twin headlights or headlights and spots, and a six cylender engine, for their time they were quick.. edit* when you were showing how clean it was you could clearly see the bumper brackets, back then bumper brackets were seriously heavy flat bar with 3/8 bolts holding them through the chassis, different engineering

My Father had a navy blue one , he was so proud of it kept it immaculate WGG599 Where might it be now?

These cars seemed to be everywhere when I was a kid. There were three parked in the little drive owned by various neighbours. That was 1970. Known as Ford Consul, Zephyr or Zodiac. Variations in style I guess. Always thought the body shape was similar to the french Simca Ariane from '57 and various U.S. models. Friend has an Ariane and says you need just three spanners to work on it. The great days of cars. They might be more advanced today and efficent but lack the elegance and style of the cars of yesteryear.

Not only the best consul but the best car in the world .Thanks for a very nice picture

I know the previous owner and have seen the car close up on many occasions. It’s as stunning as it looks in the auctioneer’s vid. It’s now up for sale at Fairmont Sports and Classics in Chelmsford for £34,500!

Love the comparison of being much better quality than a Testla 😃 That was the icing on the cake for me Brilliant vedeo and wonderful car Top draw 👍👍👍

This model British Ford Mk2 Consol, Zephyr and Zodiac were favourite British cars of the Period. In my own view, the Mk3 was less of a car than the Mk1 & Mk2. I briefly owned a Mk1, but my enduring preferences were American cars both assembled locally or imported fully built up from Canada. British cars, were much less popular among my cohorts for what they represented-stayed conformity. But that was then and know attitudes and perceptions have changed among the groups that now see other things as more important-time does not stand still.

I remember seeing these as a five or six year old around 1960 and thinking they were rather flashy.

Car is in pristine condition,I like the color

You should have worn white gloves when handling that car. I once applied for a job as a chauffeur that required gloves. My late Dad in 64 did a bare metal respray of Mk1 Zephyr 6 sedan. He painted it the original two tone. Dark Gray over Light Grey. Loved your presentation, Mr Lawson must have had credentials that reflected his passion for the Ford motor product. Wondered whether he had Henry Ford in his family tree, I don't think just having Ford shares alone would cut it.👍👌🍺🍻🥃💚🌎🗽PS - Greetings from New Zealand.

@wbsons9956

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the kind words! White gloves might have been needed. We did give it a good polish after recording

Great cars, I had I guess 3 or 4, a 375 lowline deluxe, was the best till it got written off by an army landrover, go anywhere anytime car, must admit to wanting one now as long as it was the same price as when I bought them back in the late 60s early 70s

WOW, Brings. Back memories. Of. My. Youth I used to Have an emaculate Mk2 which was imported back to. London in 1979. ( ALL STEEL . ). Now Iam in my. Sixties , I Now. Have. Another One ,, a high. Line. Convertible . To. Replace the convertible. I. Had. *. Reg. Name 583. Thanks for-the video. What a. Car ,

My grandfather had one of these but maybe it was a Zodiac or Zephyr Mk 2. Later he had a Midnight Blue 1962 Mk 3 Zodiac executive KTW 524C 2200 straight 6 i think.

I hade one! Works good for a long time.

Absolutely concourse, stunning beautiful Ford Consul. Reminds me of the one Sid James drove in Carry in Camping 😂

@andrewfayers9147

Жыл бұрын

Sid's was a 57/58 high line, with detachable roof rack!

@suzyqualcast6269

Жыл бұрын

Sidney used to live up the top of our road, being Iver Lane, just across from the church and Matteys newsagents. Not far from Pinewood.

@andrewfayers9147

Жыл бұрын

@@suzyqualcast6269 I live in Langley, so know Sid's old house in Iver. Sadly demolished and rebuilt.

Really really smart consul

63 years old actually, and looks good for another.

@Finglesham

Жыл бұрын

Not if you drive it.

Some reason planing to go visit this car for photographing it only if it was in the USA

I had a 1957 model in 1970 lovely car.....same colour as this...

@PhD63

3 ай бұрын

My dad had a ‘58 model, exact same colour as this one. We drove all around the UK in it as kids and I absolutely loved going out in it. He had it for years.

I paid sixty quid for mine in 72 whist in the RAF, sold it to a lad who was late for a date for thirty quid ! They were the days my friends !

Is that like the same would be in the us or a bit different in the UK that is great original colour and the lines and that so nice I am curious More full details on the engine itself snd I'd automatic than I'd well and updated certain for today roads or l originally

If only modern cars looked as good.

Beautiful condition

My father had one of these in the same clour scheme and even had the vynal see through seat covers. It was a nice car and comfortable but quite slow, under powered engine but ok for the time.

Was the colour on this car Diamond Blue ? Remember this colour being popular on the much later mark 3 Cortina from late 1970

@andrewfayers9147

6 ай бұрын

Kenilworth blue, later renamed Pompadour blue.

Fantastic condition....!!!

Put it in a museum

A lot of that "Chrome" is stainless steel!!

Brilliant car 🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩

Ford really hit the spit with this model. To think that the Consul was the entry level but in some eyes the best looking with the 56 t bird front end treatment..

@leopoldonotarianni8663

Жыл бұрын

I totally agree. Very Thunderbirdesque.

where can I find a carpet like that? I own a Zephyr 1959 in Havana, Cuba

Should have seen my uncle Billy's, same colour!!

Had a 57 Ford Consul it was just over 3 years old when I bought it awful thing nearly broke me replaced it with a 1962 EK Holden Special beautiful car light years ahead of the Ford Consul never owned a Ford since

@leopoldonotarianni8663

Жыл бұрын

Which was better built. Which felt better More modern etc

@mariebennett5739

Жыл бұрын

@@leopoldonotarianni8663 The Holden was a qualitly car 10 times better built than the crappy Ford Consul

Why isn't there an engine under the bonnet? My grandmother's sewing machine is what I saw

Just beautyful! Better than the plastic electric junk from now

Incredible condition, but like the Zephyr and Zodiac the the poorest designed exhaust manifold ever

I used to own a 1961 consul 375 low line brilliant car 3speed Colin change would have been better with the later 4 speed But still a great car

What happened to the wing mirrors ?

@andrewfayers9147

Жыл бұрын

They were an optional extra.

"Shut that door"

BIG BACK SEAT ?

Very nice indeed . Camera movement made me a little dizzy , too fast

Love it

@johnfarrell273

Жыл бұрын

No mirrors on the car

@oddjobtriumph1635

Жыл бұрын

@@johnfarrell273 probably not enough traffic on the roads back then to worry lol

I’m not into classic cars - I just want to get from A to B with the confidence that it will get me there and back - but all the comments show it’s a nostalgia thing and I buy into that. In my mind, we had the Consul and the Zodiac a bit above (in status) the Anglia. I seem to remember also a Vauxhall that was all curves like an American car but smaller. All too short on creature comforts for me now.

Are they Cross-ply, tyres, can they still be bought ( just asking )

@raypurchase801

Жыл бұрын

They can be bought for 13 inch wheels (A35 etc.), but supplies are intermittent. I don't know about other sizes.

ace car, that is why i have 1

Good one

Can U give Cotact No I want Tu purchase What Price ?

What's the price guide on the vehicle

@wbsons9956

Жыл бұрын

Guide price is £25,000 - £35,000

We’re they made by Vvauxall

One thing install booster brakes.

My second car 1960 highline bought for £160 my idea of heaven as a 17 year old boy ,YLW 64 are you still out there 😂

@wbsons9956

Жыл бұрын

Sadly YLW64 isn’t showing with the DVLA so looks like it hasn’t survived 😢

How is the horn? it's important to check.

If you've got £75,000 to spare you have a beauty

MinE was white with green top.....917TMD.

My father car GHV 626 Leary to drive it!

wonder how much it sold for?

@wbsons9956

Жыл бұрын

Watch our follow up video for the final price kzread.info/dash/bejne/Z4iLuZSIhrmep7Q.html

@Jack-fs2im

Жыл бұрын

@@wbsons9956 Wow 29.5 some lucky owner.Sadly not me but still hope its gone to a good home.thanx

It is better than a brand-new car

Amazing, though you did make me laugh when you looked at the engine bay and said 70 years old, give us a break, myself and the car are merely 63 !! if i had a garage i’d sell the wife and buy it 👍

My dad had the same car as this it bloo up same colour evrey think was the same as this

This I think this is the Low Line for '59

@PhD63

3 ай бұрын

It is.

how much?

@wbsons9956

Жыл бұрын

Watch the video on the link below to see what it did at auction. The world's best Ford Consul sets a new auction record! kzread.info/dash/bejne/Z4iLuZSIhrmep7Q.html

It's in mint condition