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Post by D.C. Burtonshaw on May 15, 2021 11:02:33 GMT
Agree with the above comments about the MK4 Zephyr and Zodiac, although I like to see preserved ones turn up at classic car shows, Ford UK, drop the ball a bit with that model. The bonnet should have been shorter and the boot longer and it wouldn't have looked so bad then. I think the suspension design was updated and improved on the later cars, due to the earlier problems.
The Australian Falcons XW and XY made at the same time, looked much better, and even with similar styling (although based on the American Falcon design), seem to get the proportions better.
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Three Litre
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Post by Three Litre on May 15, 2021 11:11:44 GMT
Agree with the above comments about the MK4 Zephyr and Zodiac, although I like to see preserved ones turn up at classic car shows, Ford UK, drop the ball a bit with that model. The bonnet should have been shorter and the boot longer and it wouldn't have looked so bad then. I think the suspension design was updated and improved on the later cars, due to the earlier problems.
The Australian Falcons XW and XY made at the same time, looked much better, and even with similar styling (although based on the American Falcon design), seem to get the proportions better.
Yes, I'd like to see them all side by side to get a good comparison. Must look out for some local classic car shows. I saw a Ford Consul on trailer yesterday, a late model one. I think my dad had one before he got his company car Mk3 Zodiac, must check.
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Cartman
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Post by Cartman on May 15, 2021 13:27:06 GMT
The Consul was a 4 cylinder version of the mark 2 Zephyr/Zodiac. They were very nice, I've driven a Consul once and loved it. I knew someone a few years ago that was into them and I did a bit of work on it. I got to run around in it for a couple of weeks, I collected it from Sheffield and drove it back to Manchester over the Snake pass, going dark, raining hard and it had those daft vacuum wipers which used to slow down when the engine was labouring, then speed up!
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Post by Gene Hunt on May 16, 2021 15:32:26 GMT
Transit anyone?
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The Saint
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Post by The Saint on May 16, 2021 17:03:40 GMT
Transit anyone? Judging by the stance of that Transit, it’s carrying the swag from the Brink’s-Mat robbery! The Saint
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Post by Steve Austin on May 16, 2021 18:43:14 GMT
Transit anyone? To my mind, they've never been bettered. Always the pinnacle of vans in my opinion.
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Post by Sam Tyler on May 16, 2021 20:30:54 GMT
How about a mk1 Escort? The 1300cc engine may only top out at 99mph and take 12.8 seconds for the 0-60 but looks to be pretty good trim level for the time. Sam.
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Cartman
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Post by Cartman on May 17, 2021 7:00:23 GMT
I like Mark 1 Escorts, learned to drive in one, and later owned one, mine was an 1100, N registration, possibly the easiest car to work on ever.
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Post by D.C. Burtonshaw on May 17, 2021 16:17:19 GMT
Oh yes, the lovely 1300E, brought out as a bit of a special edition initially in early 1973, to help boost sales of the MK1 shape in the last couple of years of production before the MK2 replaced it. They used the 1300GT 72 bhp running gear from the 1300GT and Sport models. Available to start with in just 2 colours (Purple Velvet, which seemed to be the most popular colour and Gold) and the earliest "campaign" models were completed at the separate AVO performance Escort factory in Aveley with the RS models. When there, they got the rectangular headlamp front panel, the interior parts, trim and "E" features.
Apparantley these earlier Series 1 cars can be indentified by a stamped code number on the bodywork.
From Oct 1973, production went mainstream at the Halewood factory and the Series 2 cars were available in many more colours, and a 4 door body option was available from early 1974. Other changes were the cars being variously built from converted Sports or 1300XL shells and opening rear side passenger windows on the 2 doors and opening front quarterlights.
They set the predecent for the next luxury Escort, the MK2 Ghia and nice ones are worth a pretty penny now.
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Post by Dirty Epic on May 19, 2021 9:33:33 GMT
Nice finds again Gene and Sam.
It's interesting that that 1300E Escort's price at 2021 value is just under £14,000. The equivalent Focus say a Titanium X is roughly £24,000 to £25,000 a bit of a jump although both cars are very different animals, the Focus is vastly more advanced and easier to drive but I reckon the 'Scort would be a lot more fun and you could have a good trash around in with all the tech on the Focus spoiling the show.
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