Tag Archives: Windsor

Golden Lion – Chrysler Windsor Sedan

From it’s introduction in 1939 the Chrysler Windsor was one level up from the entry level Chrysler Royal until the demise of the latter in 1950 when the Windsor became the entry level model a position it held until the arrival of the Chrysler Newport in 1961 one year before the Windsor model name was retired.

Chrysler Windsor Sedan, Bristol Classic Car Show, Shepton Mallet

In 1957 the sixth generation Chrysler Windsor was launched with, distinctive Virgil Exner styled tail fins and torsion bar Air Ride suspension, the following year Windsors made up 42.36% of Chrysler’s sales.

Chrysler Windsor Sedan, Bristol Classic Car Show, Shepton Mallet

7th generation Windsors featured an interim face lift and upgrade on the 6th generation models and were only built during the 1959 model year.

Chrysler Windsor Sedan, Bristol Classic Car Show, Shepton Mallet

External style differences included an outward flare at the top of the front wing / fender panels even more chrome on the front grill and bumper and kinked chrome side trim running the length of the vehicle.

Chrysler Windsor Sedan, Bristol Classic Car Show, Shepton Mallet

Big news for US customers was the new wedge head RB385 V8, the twin barrel carb Golden Lion 385 cui / 6,309 cc motor produced 305 hp up from 290hp on the previous Spitfire powered model, Canadian customers had to make do with the 295hp R361 Low Block V8.

Chrysler Windsor Sedan, Bristol Classic Car Show, Shepton Mallet

The US Spec Golden Lion powered ’59 sedan seen in these photographs taken at Bristol Classic Car Show, Shepton Mallet was first registered in the UK on the 1st of May 2008.

Thanks for joining me on this “Golden Lion” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow for Ferrari Friday. Don’t forget to come back now !

Queens Abbott – Ford Zephyr 6 Abbott Estate

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Former Wolseley designer Edward Dixon Abbott turned his attention to coach building after taking over Page and Hunt based in Farnham in 1929. His company Abbott’s of Farnham building bespoke for a range of manufacturers chassis including Bentley, Bristol, Frazer Nash, Healey, Lagonda, Rolls Royce, Sunbeam Talbot and even a one off Ferrari 212 Export, but it is Abbott’s bodies on Ford estate cars, after the ’39-’45 war, which were probably the most accessible.

In 1956 Ford launched the Mk II Consul, Zephyr and Zodiac models which became known as the 3 Graces.

Ford Zephyr 6 Abbott Estate, Goodwood Festival of Speed,

The same year Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II took delivery of today’s featured one off Zephyr 6 wagon, which I believe was converted by Abbott’s.

The vehicle with an extra tall roof unusually seats nine and was primarily used for ferrying guests and their luggage around the Queens holiday residence the Sandringham Estate not far from The Royal Stud.

Notice how the wiper blades are set up to give the passenger the best view of the road ahead in inclement weather, I wondered if that was because HRH preferred to let Prince Philip drive, however it seems this odd feature was carried over from the Mk I Ford Consul, Zephyr and Zodiac models to all of the Mk II Consul, Zephyr and Zodiac variants.

Thanks for joining me on this “Queen’s Abbott” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

Thundertang – Mercury Cougar

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Ever ones to spot a niche market by 1967 Ford Motor Company saw a gap between their face lifted Mustang and Thunderbird models and planted the Mercury Cougar right between the two, in much the same way as General Motors the same year planted the Pontiac Firebird above the Chevrolet Camaro in it’s line up.

Mercury Cougar, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square, Bristol

Mercury’s first generation “pony car” was only available as a two door hard top in either base as seen here or XR7 variations.

Mercury Cougar, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square, Bristol

The Cougars platform was derived from the some one as the ’67 Mustang, but with a 3″ longer wheel base covered in an all new body.

Mercury Cougar, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square, Bristol

A 200hp 4.7 litre / 289 cui Windsor V8 powered the base version of the Cougar, though a GT option offered a 335hp 6.4 litre / 390 cui FE motor.

Mercury Cougar, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square, Bristol

With it’s headlights hidden behind the front grill and tail lights, sequential as per contemporary Thunderbird the electric shaver styling front and rear of the Cougar completely disguises it’s Mustang underpinnings.

Mercury Cougar, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square, Bristol

Among the cars accolades Motor Trend named the Mercury Cougar as Car of the Year 1967, and the sale of 150,893 units in 1967 contributed substantially to the Lincoln Mercury divisions place in the market.

Gwinny seen here was purchased new from a dealer Chicago Il in January 1967 and shipped to the UK by the original owners nephew in March 2011 making her a one family car with 50,000 miles on the clock, both the 289 motor and exhaust have been replaced.

Thanks for joining me on this “Thundertang” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again for Ferrari Friday tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

Fasten Seat Belt – Ford Mustang 302 Convertible

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Seven years after the introduction of the original Mustang, Ford launched the forth and final face lifted version on the original 108″ wheel base chassis in 1971.

Ford Mustang Convertible, Summer Classics, Easter Compton

The model aimed originally at the youth market was now aimed at a far more affluent market that could afford to double the price of a basic model with sports packages.

Ford Mustang Convertible, Summer Classics, Easter Compton

By 1972 however, when today’s featured model was built things were beginning to radically change. As an oil crises drove up fuel prices, sales of performance orientated models with high end 275 hp Boss 351 motors plummeted to just 351 units.

Ford Mustang Convertible, Summer Classics, Easter Compton

With the increased perceived need for fuel conservation even the 140 hp 5 litre / 302 cui Windsor motor like the one above stood to be demonised as a gas guzzler against national interests.

Ford Mustang Convertible, Summer Classics, Easter Compton

While performance was “out” safety was rapidly becoming the new “in”, the ’72 Mustang was the first to be fitted with a “Fasten Seat Belt” warning lamp on the dash panel.

Ford Mustang Convertible, Summer Classics, Easter Compton

This particular ’72 model seen at Summer Classics in Easter Compton, fitted with a Mach 1 honeycomb sport lamp grill option was imported into the UK in May 2000.

Ford Mustang Convertible, Summer Classics, Easter Compton

1972 saw Mustang sales dip below 130,000 for the first time since the models launch in 1964 to just 125,903, the forth face lifted Mustang continued to be built with minor revisions into 1973 when sales slightly picked up.

Thanks for joining me on this “Fasten Safety Belts” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres”, I hope you will join me again for Ferrari Friday tomorrow . Don’t forget to come back now !

Ford Mustang Man – Ford Mustang Fastback

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Half way through the 1964 Model year Ford launched it’s sensational personal luxury Mustang and in the process created the Pony Car class which swept aside hitherto performance favourites like the Ford Falcon with which the Mustang shared many components including much of the chassis pan, drive train and even the original dash instruments of it’s older sibling.

Ford Mustang Fastback, Classic Motor Show, NEC, Birmingham

The power unit’s offered on the original Mustangs offered from 105 hp from the Thriftpower straight six to 271 hp from the 4 barrel Windsor 289. The motor in today’s featured car is officially quoted as 4929 cc a fraction over 300 cui suggesting it might be either over bored or from an altogether later period.

Ford Mustang Fastback, Classic Motor Show, NEC, Birmingham

The Falcon strip speedometer was replaced in 1966 with a six round instrument cluster, seat belts were standard in the front, but optional extra’s in the rear.

Ford Mustang Fastback, Classic Motor Show, NEC, Birmingham

This particular vehicle is registered as and I quote from the DVLA, Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency – GOV.UK website, a 1968 “Ford Mustang Man” however the grill bearing the chromed cross motif only seen on ’65 models, absence of trim on the faux ducts ahead of the rear wheels, the wheel trim, Falcon style instrument panel and altogether less aggressive styling compared with the mildly face lifted ’68 Fastback immortalised by Steve McQueen point to this car being at least a ’65 car if not an early ’64 and a 1/2 model.

Thanks for joining me on this “Ford Mustang Man” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again for Ferrari Friday tomorrow. Don’t for get to come back now !

An Ocean Of Crown Vics – Ford LTD Crown Victoria

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The saying in the li’l ol’ England was that everything in the USA and indeed North America was bigger than anything ever seen in Europe and to a greater or lesser extent that was verified on my first trip to North America in 1988, the buildings the cars and even the average height and build of the people seemed to dwarf anything I was exposed to on a regular basis in London or anywhere else in Europe.

Ford LTD Crown Victoria, Indiana State Police, Indianapolis Motor Speedway

What I was not expecting on my 24 hour trip from Toronto to Indianapolis for the Indy 500 was the overwhelming number of race fans camped out in every suburban nook and cranny surrounding Indianapolis Motor Speedway. In Europe most race tracks don’t attract even half of the 250,000 fans IMS can hold and even then the fans are usually spread out over several miles of country side and so never approach the kind of concentration seen at Indy.

I had expected a pretty wild, read friendly if a little drunk, crowd and was not disappointed, though I am glad I did not take my girl friend with me, I think she may have felt just a little intimidated by the rowdy vibe. Soon after getting into the IMS infield just after dawn on race day I found an apparent ocean of Indiana State Police pre’88 face lift Ford LTD Crown Victoria’s and was so impressed with the scale of the law enforcement presence I took the photo above.

The pre ’88 face lift Ford LTD Crown Victoria, also known as the Crown Vic was launched in 1983, from what I have been able to discern police package Crown Vic’s were available either 160 hp 5 litre / 302 cui EFI V8’s or 180 hp 5.7 litre / 351 cui HO V8’s driving through four speed AOD (Automatic Overdrive) transmissions around 1987, never enough to beat the Chevrolet Caprice in the Michigan State Police tests run at Michigan International Speedway, but close enough to keep the order books open until the introduction of the Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor in 1992.

These cars were particularly popular with law enforcement agencies because they were rear wheel drive, RWD, having a perceived more predictable handling and because they featured a separate chassis onto which the body was attached offering the advantage of lower repair costs because the chassis was less likely to get damaged in inevitable collisions which law enforcement work would expose these vehicles to.

Thanks for joining me on this “A Field Full Of Crown Vics” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow for Ferrari Friday. Don’t forget to come back now !

Protoect-O-Top – Ford Ranchero

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Unlike it’s earlier siblings, which had been based on the full size Ford Custom range, the second generation Ford Ranchero was based on the mid size Ford Falcon range and launched in 1960.