Ford Zodiac

The Ford Zephyr was an executive car manufactured by Ford in Britain from 1950 until 1972. The Zephyr and its luxury variants –  the Ford Zodiac and Ford Executive – were the largest passenger cars in the British Ford range from 1950 until their replacement by the Consul and Granada models in 1972.

Initially, the four-cylinder version was named Ford Consul, but from 1962, both the four-cylinder and six-cylinder versions were named Zephyr.

From April 1956, the Mk II Consul, Zephyr and Zodiac went on sale – together, they were known as the Three Graces.

The MkII range was clearly designed for a motorist who wanted a more comfortable lifestyle – a new house, a fridge, a telephone, and a bathroom – and wasn’t ashamed to show it by having a two-tone Ford in the driveway.

The styling of the Mkll range was reminiscent of the 1955 Fairlane, and it was the first British Ford range with fins, and to all ambitious commercial travellers or members of Larry Parnes‘ stable of rock and rollers, the Zodiac convertible was the one to have.

Here was poise. Here was style. And here was a car with a hood that electrically lowered to the Coupe de Ville position at the press of a button. Real American-style wizardry!

Here also was a car for summer days, though, partially because the wipers were vacuum-operated and actually slowed down when the throttle was pressed.

But with the hood lowered, it showcased the svelte lines, and it looked ready to speed along the new M1 motorway.

The MkII Zodiac remains one of Dagenham’s most handsome cars. Hollywood glamour on a Pinewood budget.