1961 Ford Consul MkII 375 De Luxe Saloon

• The Ford Consul in its ultimate form
• Front disc brakes
• Three-speed column-change manual gearbox
• Requires re-commissioning

Launched at the 1950 Motor Show, Ford's Consul and Zephyr Six broke new ground for the Dagenham firm. Both models were of unitary construction and featured overhead-valve engines, three-speed synchromesh gearboxes and MacPherson strut independent front suspension. In the Ford tradition they were keenly priced: at £470 the Consul was roughly 8% cheaper than the rival Morris Oxford. The Autocar remarked that the newcomers combined "typically Ford low-cost motoring with new luxury and performance". Together with the range-topping Zodiac, the Consul and Zephyr were totally redesigned for 1956, emerging in Series II guise larger than before and benefiting from engines of increased displacement, in the case of the Consul's four-cylinder unit, to 1.7 litres. Needless to say, these new engines were also more powerful, enabling overall gearing to be raised for more relaxed cruising, while the brakes were up-rated accordingly. The key-operated combined ignition/starter switch was a 'first' for a British car. As well as the four-door saloons, the range included a two-door convertible, while coachbuilder E D Abbott of Farnham offered a shooting break conversion as it has with the MkI. Two-tone paintwork and an equipment level approaching that of the Zodiac distinguished the Consul De Luxe on its arrival in October 1957.
Introduced in February 1959, a major facelift saw the MkII range emerge in 'Low Line' form, with a roof 1½" lower than before. There were also numerous detail styling changes both inside and out, prompting Ford's publicity department to declare 'Everything's New!'. Front disc brakes became an option in September 1960 and proved so popular that they were standardised in May 1961. Consul production ceased in 1962 on the introduction of the Cortina.
Finished in green with a white roof, this Consul MkII 'Low Line' comes with sundry bills; a quantity of expired MoTs and tax discs; a workshop manual; a current V5C Registration Certificate; and copies of old registration documents recording the names of previous owners. The Consul was originally acquired for the Bishop Collection in 2014 before being sold approximately 2 years later. However in 2021 the car was repurchased for the collection, where it has been maintained by the in-house mechanic. Re-commissioning will be required before the car returns to the road. Sold strictly as viewed.