Ford Zephyr Mk I

Manufacturer	Ford of Britain
Production	1951-1956 148,629 saloons and 4048 convertibles made
Successor	Ford Zephyr Mk II
Body style(s)	4-door saloon 5-door estate (conversion) 2-door convertible (conversion)
Engine	2,262 cc (138 cu in) straight-6 ohv
Wheelbase	107 in (2718 mm)
Length	172 in (4369 mm)
Width	64 in (1626 mm)
Height	60 in (1524 mm)
Curb weight	2,464 lb (1,118 kg)
Related	Ford Consul I
Ford Zephyr Zodiac
Production	1954-1956 22,634 made
Body style(s)	4-door saloon 5-door estate (conversion)
Engine	2,262 cc (138 cu in) straight-6

Ford Zephyr Mk I

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). It had MacPherson Strut independent front suspension and a live axle with half elliptic springs at the rear. 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 2-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.

The car was a success not only in the market place but also in competition. In 1953 a Ford Zephyr Six driven by Maurice Gatsonides won the Monte Carlo rally, pushing a Jaguar Mark VII into second place in the process. Two years later a Ford Zephyr Six driven by Vic Preston with D P Marwaha achieved an outright win in the East African Safari Rally.

A saloon tested by The Motor magazine in 1951 had a top speed of 79.8 mph (128.4 km/h) and could accelerate from 0-60 mph (97 km/h) in just 20.2 seconds. A fuel consumption of 23.7 miles per imperial gallon (11.9 L/100 km; 19.7 mpg-US) was recorded. The test car cost £842 including taxes but was fitted with optional leather trim, heater and radio (the basic car cost £842).

Zephyr Zodiac (or Zodiac Mark I)

Model number EOTTA

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, etc. The engine had a higher compression ratio - 7.5:1 instead of 6.8:1 - increasing the maximum power to 71 bhp (53 kW).

A car tested by The Motor magazine in 1955 had a top speed of 80 mph (130 km/h) and could accelerate from 0-60 mph (97 km/h) in 20.2 seconds. A fuel consumption of 22.2 miles per imperial gallon (12.7 L/100 km; 18.5 mpg-US) was recorded. The test car cost £851 including taxes.

There are no official records of Zephyr Zodiac convertibles being produced but there were a few estate cars.