Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

Rick · Site Admin Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22780 Location: UK

Morning all,

Do any OCC forum-ers own a Consul Classic, or have experiences of them? My understanding is that they were expensive cars to build, and their distinctive styling led to sales not being all that Ford hoped for.

RJ
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Peter_L · Posted: Mon Oct 24, 2016 1:17 pm Post subject:

Just after they were launched, my father was loaned one by a Ford Dealer.

He had previously had a Consul and then downsized to an Anglia. From what I remember, he liked the increased room in the front, but the rear wasn't that great. He also felt that the boot was far too large and added unnecessary length. He went from the Anglia to a series of Escorts, the last was a "looked over" Escort GT. Strange thing was he never liked me borrowing the GT
Laughing

105E Anglia 154"
Consul Classic 171"
Mks 1 2 3 Cortina 168"
Mk 2 Consul 172"
Escort 157"

Dipster · Posted: Mon Oct 24, 2016 1:52 pm Post subject:

I am a little confused. Must be the passing years!

Is the Consul Classic referred to here the rear sloping window one, or the older Consul with the old 1703 cc engine that I have seen badged as a Classic?

Peter_L · Posted: Mon Oct 24, 2016 2:03 pm Post subject:

Rick · Site Admin Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22780 Location: UK

Peter_L · Posted: Mon Oct 24, 2016 2:42 pm Post subject:

alastairq · Joined: 14 Oct 2016 Posts: 2117 Location: East Yorkshire

I recall early Mk1 Cortinas having 'Consul' included on the bonnet front badge.

[I cannot for the life of me but wonder why people bought the Mk1 Cortina estate with the faux wood and fablon sides?}

The photo is indeed a Consul Classic.....although I recall the Capri version also being badged as the Consul Capri.

Didn't the mk 1 Granada in 4 cylinder form get badged as the Consul?

The Capri version has a certain charm..probably be more popular today than back in the 1960's?

Design of the Consul Classic bodyshell seemed to follow on from Ford's Mk2 Zephyr/Zodiac range?

Ellis · Posted: Mon Oct 24, 2016 7:54 pm Post subject:

I don't remember anyone in the village with a Consul Classic in the 1960s or later but the music teacher when I was in Form One in Grammar school has a Consul Capri, a white one.

The chap I bought my Land Rover Series One 86"from sells 1960s cars, Fords and Vauxhall being his speciality and a few years ago he showed me a genuine special edition Capri GT he had bought and had already sold to a Ford collector.

It was in two tone blue and silver metallic with blue leather seats and two tone trim on the other upholstery such as door cards. It was a special order from new I was told.
I have searched the 'net on several occasions trying to find some reference to it or similar Capris but to no avail, alas.
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1964 Jaguar Mark 2 3.4 litre
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52classic · Joined: 02 Oct 2008 Posts: 493 Location: Cardiff.

AIRC the Consul Classic was known as the 315. Distinct from the MKII Consul which ended up being called Consul 375 during its run out phase.

Classics could be had with a 1350 3 bearing engine and 1500 (presumably 5 bearing). Before the 60's were out, Classics were being wholesale butchered as donors for bad boy Anglias!

A very pretty car but rather ambiguous with the MK1 Cortina. How that curvy front end could rust too!

JohnDale · Posted: Mon Oct 24, 2016 8:26 pm Post subject:

emmerson · Joined: 30 Sep 2008 Posts: 1268 Location: South East Wales

emmerson · Joined: 30 Sep 2008 Posts: 1268 Location: South East Wales

Peter_L · Posted: Mon Oct 24, 2016 9:20 pm Post subject:

A Hooper trimmed Capri can be seen here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewpocxzAakA

Ellis · Posted: Mon Oct 24, 2016 10:00 pm Post subject:

Dipster · Posted: Mon Oct 24, 2016 10:20 pm Post subject:

I was quite young when the slopy window Classic came out. I remember my dad bringing home brochures that he had got from a Ford connected mate prior to its announcement.

I thought it looked wierd. Exactly the sentiment I had when I later first saw a Sierra!

As I recall Ford offered some quite odd colours too, rather as had been offered on the Metropolitan and some early Crestas, although they were lovely 2 tones matched with black.

I was guilty of swapping various Ford bits onto 105Es too. As I said, we lived in Essex...... I seem to recall that a 1340 head on a 997 block worked reasonably well, with slightly better breathing and a very high CR, and was a cheap mod.