Ford Zodiac

You don’t need a crystal ball to predict that this stylish sixties cruiser is set for stardom

The Germans may have taken over the executive car market in the 21st century, but back in the early Sixties things were very different. High import taxes kept the Europeans out, leaving Ford, Rover and Vauxhall to dominate the affordable luxury car scene. While Rover offered its P4, P5 and P6, Vauxhall dealers were busy shifting Crestas – but none of these had the cachet of Ford’s Zephyr and Zodiac. Maybe it was the Zephyr’s domination of the cult Z-Cars TV show, or perhaps it was that fabulous trans-Atlantic boxy styling; whatever it was, the Zephyr and Zodiac MkIII defi nitely cut a dash in Sixties Britain. While the MkIII Fords are now often overlooked, they perhaps make more sense in 2007 than they ever did. Spacious, comfortable, good to drive and easy to maintain, it’s only the occasionally patchy parts supply that lets the MkIII owner down. But look around and you can get pretty much anything you need to keep one ticking over, although fi nding a decent one may prove tricky. In a production run lasting four years, 291,899 MkIIIs were built – most of which have since rotted away. Good ones are now heavily outnumbered by dogs – but there are some real gems out there if you look.

History

It was in April 1962 that the Zephyr 4, Zephyr 6 and Zodiac were all introduced, in saloon form only. However, January of the following year there was also an estate offered; the conversion was by Abbott of Farnham but it was offered through Ford dealers. In September 1963, minor interior trim revisions were announced, and within a month a fl oor-mounted gear change joined the options list. From October 1964, a heater and windscreen washers became standard equipment on the Zephyr 4, then in January 1965 the Zodiac Executive joined the range. From August 1965, overdrive was no longer available on the Zephyr 4 then in January 1966 the square cut Mk4 Zephyr and Zodiac replaced the Mk3 cars.

Driving

The soft suspension and relatively long wheelbase ensure a cosseting ride, but these come at the expense of decently sharp handling. However, the steering is more precise than you’d expect while the brakes are well up to the job, thanks to the servo-assisted discs that were standard on all editions. There’s a world of difference though between the four and six-cylinder cars; the former feels rough and arthritic compared with the larger unit. It’s no wonder that the survival rate is greatest for the six-pot cars, because you really need a six cylinders in the nose if you’re to enjoy driving your Zephyr or Zodiac.

Prices

It’s the Zodiac that everyone wants, as it looks the nicest and has the most power. Although these are the most common derivative of the three, they’re also the most valuable; for a given condition they’re worth around a third more than Zephyr 4s. Restorations start at around £300-£500 whichever the model, while a decent Zephyr 4 is worth £1400. An equivalent Zephyr 6 is £1600 while a Zodiac would be worth £1900. Values creep up to £3000, £4000 and £5000 respectively for nice cars – but the best examples have been known to change hands for signifi cantly more. Despite their rarity, estates aren’t sought after and are worth a bit less than an equivalent saloon.

Improvements

T h a n k s t o i t s position in Ford’s pecking order, few improvements are needed. Fitting a Zodiac’s twin-pipe exhaust manifold to a Zephyr 6 is useful, and so is fi tting an overdrive gearbox if there isn’t one already. They’re not easy to find though; even unit of unknown condition will change hands at £400-500. Other than that it’s just a question of the usual upgrades such as halogen headlights, a Kenlowe fan and electronic ignition for greater usability and reliability.