Tag Archives: Zephyr

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 !

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Prototype Family Restoration – Allard Palm Beach MkII #72/7000Z

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At the 1956 Earls Court Motor Show Allard showed today’s featured car, the prototype Palm Beach Mk2, seen in these photo’s displayed by the Allard Owners Club at Silverstone Classic.

Allard Palm Beach Mk II, Allard Owners Club, Silverstone Classic

External differences from the original Palm Beach included hidden door hinges and vents behind the front wheels and more comprehensive grill ornamentation.

Allard Palm Beach Mk II, Allard Owners Club, Silverstone Classic

Internally the four cylinder motor option was dropped and a Jaguar six cylinder was available to complement the base models 120 hp Ford Zephyr six cylinder motor as fitted to the prototype.

Allard Palm Beach Mk II, Allard Owners Club, Silverstone Classic

In November 1956 today’s featured car was registered for the road and used as a demonstrator and later by Allard Motor Companies Brian Howard. In 1969 it was sold to the Hemsworth family where it remained until 2012.

Allard Palm Beach Mk II, Allard Owners Club, Silverstone Classic

The car, one of just six MkII’s built upt o 1958, was offered for restoration to Sidney Allards son Alan and grandson Lloyd having not turned a wheel since 1976 and being kept outside for several years.

Allard Palm Beach Mk II, Allard Owners Club, Silverstone Classic

Two years on and the restoration of the aluminium bodied prototype Palm Beach Mk II is complete with Lloyd Allard having been credited with doing most of the dirty work.

During the restoration a resurrection of Allard has also taken place now known as the Allard Sports Car Company with the initial aim of manufacturing a continuation Mk III Palm Beach and continuation Cadillac powered JR as raced at Le Mans in 1953 and through out the USA in later years.

Thanks for joining me on this “Prototype Family Restoration” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres”, I hope you’ll join me again for bank holiday Maserati Monday tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Exhilarating Motoring – Allard Palm Beach

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The launch of the Allard Palm Beach in 1952 promised ‘exhilarating motoring with complete safety’ for up to three occupants.

Allard Palm Beach, Silverstone Classic

Power options came from two British Ford parts bins the 47 hp Ford Consul 1500 cc / 92 cui 4 cylinder or 68hp Ford Zephyr 2.3 litre / 138 cui straight 6 as seen above. One exception was made for a one off special order Palm Beach fitted with a Dodge Red Ram V8.

Allard Palm Beach, Silverstone Classic

The power to weight ratio was good but this was at the cost of adequate creature comforts, the ventilation, with the hood and windows up, was described as inadequate.

Allard Palm Beach, Silverstone Classic

With the hood up and the window’s down the hood flapped about so much that speeds of over 35 mph were not advised in contemporary reports.

Allard Palm Beach, Silverstone Classic

In 1956, as we shall see next week, a Mark 2 version of the Palm Beach was introduced and in all 80 units are thought to have been built up until 1958.

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

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Streamline Dream Car – Lincoln Zephyr V12

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One of many WOW ! moments I had last year was at the Summer Classics meeting held at Easter Compton when I turned round and saw today’s featured 1936 Lincoln Zephyr V12 purring up the main drag carrying two adults two children and a large black and white TV all the way from Dresden, Germany.

Lincoln Zephyr V12, Summer Classics, Easter Compton

Edsel Ford is credited with conceiving the Zephyr V12 to slot in between the top of the range Lincoln K Series and top of the Ford brand V8 Deluxe.

Lincoln Zephyr V12, Summer Classics, Easter Compton

Edsels initial choice was for a design based on the Biggs Dream Car designed by Jonn Tjaarda and Howard Bonbright a rear engined concept vehicle that was first shown by Ford at the The Century of Progress Exhibition in 1933-1934

Lincoln Zephyr V12, Summer Classics, Easter Compton

High school drop out and head of Ford’s design department Eugene Turenne Gregorie is credited with turning the Biggs Dream Car concept into the finalised front engined streamline design, which must have been seen as something of a gamble in the light of the failure of the Chrysler Airflow model built between 1934 and 1937.

Lincoln Zephyr V12, Summer Classics, Easter Compton

The 110hp 75º degree V12 motor was a development of the Ford flathead V8, not related in anyway to the Lincoln K series V12 motors, top speed for the Zephyr was 90 mph.

Lincoln Zephyr V12, Summer Classics, Easter Compton

Standard on the 1936 Zephyr was the locking glove box, options included the radio and satellite navigation.

Lincoln Zephyr V12, Summer Classics, Easter Compton

During the first year of production the Zephyr V12 was available in 4 door and 2 door saloon / sedan versions.

Lincoln Zephyr V12, Summer Classics, Easter Compton

Note the bullet shaped tail light lenses which would become a notable feature along with tall tail fins on several GM products 22 years later.

Lincoln Zephyr V12, Summer Classics, Easter Compton

The Lincoln Zephyr V12 proved to be a big hit with 15,000 vehicles sold in the first year of production which accounted for 80% of all Lincoln sales in 1936, and remained in production until 1940.

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Z Cars Edsels English Cousins – Ford Zephyr & Zodiac Mk3

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After the humungous sales & marketing flop that was the Ford Edsel debacle Canadian Roy Brown moved on to designing smaller projects in the Ford empire namely the Ford Cortina along with the Zephyr and Zodiac Mk3’s featured today.

Ford Zephyr 6, Mk3, Goodwood Revival

The Consul name was dropped from the Zephyr and Zodiac range and moved to the smaller Cortina range in 1962 while the entry level Zephyr became the 4 cylinder powered Zephyr 4. Seen above at the Goodwood Revival is a 1963 6 cylinder Zephyr 6, a model that became indelibly implanted in my mind thanks to the kitchen sink Police drama known as ‘Z -Cars‘, please do not even think of pronouncing it “Zee”, one of the earliest adult orientated show’s I remember seeing on our very first black and white television in 1966.

Zodiac, Castle Combe

The Zodiac, as seen here at Castle Combe Classic and Sports Car Action Day, was the top of the range Mk3 ‘Z’ range featuring twined head lights to leave no doubt in the minds of purchasers that this car was the one with all the goodies.

Zodiac, Castle Combe

Both the Zephyr 6 and the Zodiac were built with straight 6 2,553 cc / 156 cui motors inherited from the Zephyr and Zodiac Mk 2 models.

Ford Zodiac, Mk3, Castle Combe

The Zodiac Mk3 can also be externally differentiated from the Zephyr Mk3 by the rear quarter light which has been moved from the rear door of the cheaper Zephyr 6 to the C-post of the more expensive Zodiac.

Ford Zodiac, Mk3, Castle Combe

From the rear both the Zephyr and Zodiac Mk3 models clearly owe, even if understated, lines of DNA heritage to the Ghia built Lincoln Futura of 1955.

Thanks for joining me on this Z Car edition of ‘Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres’. I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

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3 Graces – Ford Zephyr MK2

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In 1954 Colin Neale lead a team that styled the Ford Consul, Zephyr and Zodiac Mk2 that all shared the same body, by the end of the year prototype cars were being tested across Europe and in 1955 further prototypes were being tested against the back drop of the Mau Mau uprising in Kenya.

Ford Zephyr Farnham Mk2

In February 1956 the ‘3 Graces’, as the models became unofficially known, were launched on the market the Consul with a 4 cylinder 1703 cc / 104 cui motor and the Zephyr and Zodiac with 6 cylinder 2553 cc / 156 cui motors.

Versions of the ‘3 Graces’ can be seen above, 410VRE is a 1958 Zephyr Farnham, a model which was selected by five police forces to became Britain’s first Motorway Patrol Cars in 1959. The Convertible 527FGY is a ’62 Consul, less than 30 ‘3 Grace’ Convertibles are thought to exist because the soft top conversion took so much strength out of the unitary chassis. 707JDV following the Consul is a 1961 top of the range Zodiac Farnham estate / station wagon.

Ford Zephyr Mk2, Mallory Park

The 1959 Zephyr Mk2 is seen above at Mallory Park being prepared by Ian Kellet Racing for Barrie ‘Whizzo’ Williams, seen standing to the right of the photo above, to drive in last year Goodwood Revival meeting.

Ford Zephyr Mk2, Mallory Park

Between 1956 and 1962 294,506 3 Grace models were built alongside 6,911 Convertibles. Some of all three variants were built in Fords Geelong factory south of Melbourne.

Thanks for joining me on this 3 Graces edition of ‘Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres’ I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Abbotts Body – Ford Zephyr 6 Farnham

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Last week I had a look at the remains of the 1953 Ford Zephyr 6 that won the 1953 Monte Carlo Rally, today’s car is a 1957 Zephyr 6 with estate / station wagon coach work by Abbots of Farnham, seen here at the Goodwood Revival.

Ford Zephyr 6 Farnham, Goodwood Revival

Between 1951 and 1956 148,629 Zephyr 6 saloon /sedan models were built along with 4048 convertibles with body work made by Carbodies these days called London Taxis International a company best known for making most of London’s black cabs.

To satisfy the demand for Zephyr 6 customers wanting an estate or station wagon Ford did a deal with Abbots of Farnham who converted saloons supplied by Ford into estates which were sold as Farnhams.

It is not known how many Zephyr 6 Farnhams were built but production at the Abbotts works was sufficient for Bristol to move the relatively low volume production of the 405 drop head bodies from Abbotts to Tickfords in Newport Pagnell.

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

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