Ford Classic
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| Manufacturer | Ford of Britain |
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| Production | 1961–1963 111,225 made.[1] |
| Predecessor | Ford Consul |
| Successor | Ford Corsair |
| Body style(s) | 4-door and 2-door saloon |
| Engine(s) | 1.3 or 1.5 L Straight-4 |
| Wheelbase | 99 in (2515 mm) [2] |
| Length | 170.75 in (4337 mm)[2] |
| Width | 65 in (1651 mm) [2] |
| Height | 56 in (1422 mm) [2] |
| Curb weight | 2070 pounds (940 kg) |
The Ford Consul Classic or 'Consul 315' (as the export version was known) was a mid-sized car built by Ford in the UK from 1961 to 1963. Available with two or four doors, in Standard or De Luxe versions, with floor or column gearshift. It is commonly referred to as the Ford 109E , though four such codes are possible as explained below. Obvious competitor models at the time included the Hillman Minx and Singer Gazelle from Rootes group.
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[edit] Ford Classic model codes
The Classic (and related Consul Capri) had the Right Hand Drive and home market Ford code of 109E (but 110E if L.H.D.) for 1961-1962 models with 1340cc engines, or 116E (but 117E for L.H.D.) for 1962-1963 manufacture with 1500cc engines. Those codes also distinguish the gearboxes and steering components which are not greasable on later cars, so cutting first-user servicing costs. Despite all these codes the cars all looked the same throughout production 1961-1963, the visual distinctions being the number of doors, the trim & equipment level between Standard and De Luxe and their exciting choice of colours.
[edit] Concept and Development
The Classic was a quality model by Ford "suitable for the golf club car park" originally intended for introduction earlier and deletion later than actually occurred. The styling exercises were mainly undertaken in 1956 under Colin Neale and other aspects of R&D followed, and it is likely a recognisably similar car could have been introduced in 1959 subject to different senior management decisions. In practice the run-away early success of Anglia (1959 on) used up most of the car manufacturing capacity at Dagenham vindicating the decision to compete against the BMC Mini. (The Halewood plant did not open until 1963.) Ford therefore entered the 1960s with the small Anglia , Popular and Prefect , the big "three graces" launched back in 1956, and NOT the mid-size market Classic.
[edit] Description
The Ford Classic was similar in appearance to the more popular Ford Anglia, featuring the same distinctive reverse-rake rear window, but with twin headlamps and different frontal treatment. But it is longer, wider and so heavier than the Anglia. Inside the separate front seats and rear bench had a standard covering of PVC but leather was available as an option. There was a choice of floor or column mounted gear change. Single or two-tone paint schemes were offered. Several of the car's features, unusual at the time, have subsequently become mainstream such as the headlight flasher ("found on many Continental cars") and the variable speed windscreen wipers.[3] The boot or trunk capacity was exceptionally large, with a side stowed spare wheel well, and more important the huge high lift sprung lid allowed a great variety of loads to be both contemplated and packed. At 21cu.ft this was 15% larger than Zodiac mk2 and had obvious advantages for business use.
The Consul Classic was also mechanically similar to the Anglia, and used slightly larger 1340 cc and from 1962 1498 cc variants of the Ford Kent Engine. The car had front 9.5 in (241 mm) disc brakes and was fitted with a four speed gearbox: early cars provided synchromesh on the top three ratios, while the arrival of the 1498cc version coincided with the provision of synchromesh on all forward gears.[3] Suspension was independent at the front using Macpherson strut units and at the rear the live axle used semi elliptic leaf springs. A contemporary road tester was impressed, noting that "probably the most impressive thing about the Classic is its road holding".[3]
[edit] Performance
A car tested by The Motor magazine in 1961 had a top speed of 78.4 mph (126.2 km/h) and could accelerate from 0-60 mph (97 km/h) in 22.5 seconds. A fuel consumption of 35.8 miles per imperial gallon (7.89 L/100 km; 29.8 mpg-US) was recorded. The test car was a 4-door deluxe version costing £801 including taxes, [2]but the sticker price on a two door standard Classic with the same engine was just £745 including taxes.[3]
[edit] Replacement
The Consul Classic was replaced in 1963 by the Ford Corsair. 111,225 Classics and 18,716 Capris were produced (Including 2002 'GT' Versions). In addition seventeen station wagon (estate) conversions were carried out by Ford Dealership 'Hughes Limited' of Nairobi, Kenya. One of these vehicles made it over to the UK in 1964 and survives to this day in the South-East of England.
[edit] Consul Capri
Based on the Classic, and sharing its 99 inch wheelbase, was a coupé version - the Consul Capri (335).
[edit] References
Consul 315 and Consul Capri Parts List 1961/4, Ford Motor Company Ltd. (March 1965)
[edit] External links
| Ford car timeline, European market, 1960s–1980s — next » | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Type | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| Supermini | Fiesta I | Fiesta II | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Small family car | Anglia 105E / Super Anglia 123E | Escort I | Escort II | Escort III | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Large family car | Consul II | Cortina I | Cortina II | Cortina III / Taunus TC | Cortina IV / Taunus III | Cortina V / Taunus III | Sierra | |||||||||||||||||||
| Taunus G13 | Taunus P4 | Taunus P6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Classic | Corsair | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Executive car | Taunus P3 | Taunus P5 | Taunus P7 | Taunus P7.2 | Granada I | Granada II | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Zephyr II | Zephyr 4/6 III | Zephyr 4/6 IV | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Zodiac II | Zodiac III | Zodiac IV | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coupé | Consul Capri | Capri Mk1 | Capri Mk2 | Capri Mk3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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