Lot Ended
Description
From a deceased estate; in the current ownership for 14 years;
sympathetically restored about 10 years ago; in regular light use until
recently; various useful spares, books and workshop manuals
included
The MkI Ford
Consul and Zephyr models were first displayed at the Earl's Court Motor Show in
1950. They were among the first mass-produced cars to
use MacPherson strut independent front suspension, a design which is still
widely used today. While the Consul had a 1,508cc four-cylinder engine, the
Zephyr used a 2,262cc six-cylinder unit that produced 68bhp and gave the
car a top speed of 80mph.
Available with 4-door saloon, estate and 2-door convertible
bodies, the Zephyr Six was a success in both the market place and
in competition. In 1953 a Zephyr driven by Maurice Gatsonides famously won the
Monte Carlo Rally, pushing a Jaguar MkVII into second place in the process. Two
years later a Zephyr driven by Vic Preston achieved an outright win in the East
Africa Rally.
In 1956 a larger MkII version was
launched with sharper, more trans-Atlantic styling. Engine size increased to
2,553cc which hiked power output to 86bhp and top speed to 88mph, driving
through a column-change 3-speed manual gearbox with optional overdrive. Front
disc brakes became standard from 1961 onwards. It was replaced by the much
plainer looking MkIII in 1962.
First registered
in March 1962, this Zephyr Deluxe appears to have been supplied new by Central
Garage of Bangor to a Mr Price of Farrar Road in Bangor, judging by the original
Manufacturer’s Warranty card in the file.
Little
is known of the car’s subsequent history, but it was acquired by the current
keeper in 2011 to join his collection of classic cars. A proficient engineer and
mechanic with a well-equipped workshop, he restored the car fairly early in his
ownership and it seems to have been finished by 2015, a few photos on file
showing the work in progress (some of which are reproduced
here).
Old MOTs show that the car was then in
light regular use, clocking up some 700 miles over the next eight years or so,
the odometer currently showing 73,406 miles. On offer here from a deceased
estate, we are told that it was last driven about 18 months ago.
Fitted with a nice period spot lamp and a
luggage rack on the boot, it comes with an original owner’s handbook and several
useful repair manuals and other books relating to the model (see photos). There
are also sundry useful spares in the boot and there are many more spares still
in the late-owner’s garage near Kidderminster (including what looks like a spare
engine) which could potentially be made available to the winning bidder if
desired.
As you can see in the photos, this
Zephyr looks to be in generally good condition for its age, although the paint
finish is not as good as it could be and may benefit from a machine
polish. It has been starting promptly and running well as we have moved it
around on site. On offer here at a
modest guide price, it now seeks an enthusiastic new owner who can give it the
more regular exercise that it deserves.
Consigned by James Dennison – 07970 309907 – james.dennison@brightwells.com