For those interested in old cars.

[Oldddudders]

Am I right in thinking........[no, maybe not a good idea?].......that the Ford Consul Classic had thicker steel than the mk1 Cortina?

 

That was true across other ranges. My parents' neighbour had a new P6 Rover in 1965. In 1973 he traded it in for an identical colour updated P6, and found the metal was much thinner. 

[BernardTPM]

Talking of more steel, here's a 1967-8 Zephyr V6 I photographed back in 1987. Beasts like this were quite rare by then.

 

 

 

[PhilJ W]

Am I right in thinking........[no, maybe not a good idea?].......that the Ford Consul Classic had thicker steel than the mk1 Cortina?

The 105E Anglia used far less steel than the 100E and it showed. The 107E Prefect (100E with the 105E engine/gearbox) had a worse performance than its side valve predecessor.

[The Stationmaster]

There was a definite move in parts of the UK car industry (?all the majors) in the early 1970s to reduce the thickness of steel used in bodywork and floor pans.  This meant that the constituent parts of the steel 'mix' had to be changed to avoid the press tools damaging the metal as it was pressed - Llanwern went through a spell with Vauxhall of having steel sent back because it was deforming or being holed by the press tools because although it was to specified gauge the original composition and pressure on the strip rolling line was being maintained.  In the end some of the rolling pressures were altered but the composition and treatment of the steel also had to be altered and Vauxhall had to redesign some tooling to avoid excessive pressure in certain areas as the panels were pressed.

[PatB]

Talking of more steel, here's a 1967-8 Zephyr V6 I photographed back in 1987. Beasts like this were quite rare by then.

 

Z1.jpg

 

Z2.jpg

 

Z3.jpg

They'd pretty much all gone round our way by 1980. There was a bloke who ran the general store in the next village who used them in lieu of a van but by the end of the 70s he'd switched to PC Crestas because they were (marginally) more common.

[Rugd1022]

The 'how old does a car have to be to be considered old' thing is definitely very different today, a few months ago I went with a mate to have a look at a 2004 Maserati Quattroporte, the only thing giving its age away was the registration number, it looked brand new, even with over 90k miles on the clock. The steering wheel, switchgear, pedals and seats looked as good as new too, remarkable for a fourteen year old car.

[Jol Wilkinson]

They'd pretty much all gone round our way by 1980. There was a bloke who ran the general store in the next village who used them in lieu of a van but by the end of the 70s he'd switched to PC Crestas because they were (marginally) more common.

I have never seen a Mk4 Zephyr/Zodiac at any of the local classic car events although the Mk3's are more frequently seen, as are Cresta PC's.

[PhilJ W]

A lot of the stronger built classics ended up in demolition derby's. A good case in point is the A55/Oxford Farina saloons many of which ended that way.

[Oldddudders]

I have never seen a Mk4 Zephyr/Zodiac at any of the local classic car events although the Mk3's are more frequently seen, as are Cresta PC's.

 

My recollection is that they were not highly regarded beyond being motorway cruisers. Multi-storey car parks were not their happiest environment. The Mk 3, by contrast, was a fun sort of car, at least in 6 and Zodiac versions, if a trifle boatamatic.

[peanuts]

The 'how old does a car have to be to be considered old' thing is definitely very different today, a few months ago I went with a mate to have a look at a 2004 Maserati Quattroporte, the only thing giving its age away was the registration number, it looked brand new, even with over 90k miles on the clock. The steering wheel, switchgear, pedals and seats looked as good as new too, remarkable for a fourteen year old car.

just purchased a 56 plate jaguar s type 2.7 td V6 95k on clock and it is mint leather interior is near perfect as is all the switch gear with the exception of the parking sensors everything works as it should .i think back to cars bought late 80s that were of a similar age and they would be in a poor condition and near life expired

[MJI]

My recollection is that they were not highly regarded beyond being motorway cruisers. Multi-storey car parks were not their happiest environment. The Mk 3, by contrast, was a fun sort of car, at least in 6 and Zodiac versions, if a trifle boatamatic.

 

My dad bought one for towing a boat, very unreliable. But still a nice car for a Ford.

 

2.5l V6

 

I remember it had rear discs with rod through caliper for hand brake.

 

They of course leak.

just purchased a 56 plate jaguar s type 2.7 td V6 95k on clock and it is mint leather interior is near perfect as is all the switch gear with the exception of the parking sensors everything works as it should .i think back to cars bought late 80s that were of a similar age and they would be in a poor condition and near life expired

 

These are disappearing quickly as engine donors for Discovery 3s for when they snap their cranks.

 

Pity really but someone should have built a better designed engine.

[alastairq]

AAaah!  The 'flight-deck' Fords...I think I did prefer their predecessor, from a driving viewpoint.

 

I noticed the change in steel thickness when I started having to be selective as to where to put my hands when bump starting.......   

[Rugd1022]

The only thing which stopped my mate buying the aforementioned Maser QP was the very high clutch wear, which meant a relatively large bill looming ahead and making the purchase go over his original budget - he's since realised that going for a later 2007 onwards version with the fully automatic ZF 'box is the better option, at the same (or similar) price to the earlier car + a new clutch. The 2007 cars are now hitting the bottom of their depreciation curve and even at eleven years old make a good buy, if you find the right one with full service history. 

 

Edit : postie's just been, another Lancia book from Amazon has just dropped onto the door matt!

Edited October 23, 2018 by Rugd1022

[BernardTPM]

They'd pretty much all gone round our way by 1980. There was a bloke who ran the general store in the next village who used them in lieu of a van but by the end of the 70s he'd switched to PC Crestas because they were (marginally) more common.

Yes, which is why I was so surprised (in 1987) to find this one round the corner; i went back and got my camera out especially.

 

I have never seen a Mk4 Zephyr/Zodiac at any of the local classic car events although the Mk3's are more frequently seen, as are Cresta PC's.

 

My recollection is that they were not highly regarded beyond being motorway cruisers. Multi-storey car parks were not their happiest environment. The Mk 3, by contrast, was a fun sort of car, at least in 6 and Zodiac versions, if a trifle boatamatic.

 

AAaah!  The 'flight-deck' Fords...I think I did prefer their predecessor, from a driving viewpoint.

Yes, though they were reasonably common when curent they disappeared surprisingly rapidly for Ford during the latter part of the 1970s. The specification on paper looked good - new V engines, all round independent suspension and disc brakes front and rear but somewhere along the way they lost the plot. Still, that extra-long front bonnet looked in better proportion in the stretched, limousine versions. You did sometimes see still those in the '80s at funerals.

[PhilJ W]

Yes, which is why I was so surprised (in 1987) to find this one round the corner; i went back and got my camera out especially.

 

 

 

Yes, though they were reasonably common when curent they disappeared surprisingly rapidly for Ford during the latter part of the 1970s. The specification on paper looked good - new V engines, all round independent suspension and disc brakes front and rear but somewhere along the way they lost the plot. Still, that extra-long front bonnet looked in better proportion in the stretched, limousine versions. You did sometimes see still those in the '80s at funerals.

Another demolition derby favourite especially the limo's and hearses. And the later Mk.1 Granadas are rare now.

[Southern Steve]

Can't recall the last time I saw a Granada Mk 3 on the road either, and Ford sold a lot of those!

[peanuts]

My dad bought one for towing a boat, very unreliable. But still a nice car for a Ford.

 

2.5l V6

 

I remember it had rear discs with rod through caliper for hand brake.

 

They of course leak.

 

These are disappearing quickly as engine donors for Discovery 3s for when they snap their cranks.

 

Pity really but someone should have built a better designed engine.

shame as they realy are a lovely drive long trips have gone from being a chore in the Berlingo to being an outright pleasure in the Cat just purrs along steady 30mpg for commuting 46mpg  on a long motorway cruise 

[Chrisr40]

Can't recall the last time I saw a Granada Mk 3 on the road either, and Ford sold a lot of those!

If the banger boys have their way you never will sadly

[russ p]

There is a compound next to the railway near snailwell full of Granada's and Sierras all for bloody banger racing. Some of them look like they were cherished until recently... A crying shame!

[Rugd1022]

There is a compound next to the railway near snailwell full of Granada's and Sierras all for bloody banger racing. Some of them look like they were cherished until recently... A crying shame!

 

Until fairly recently there were two Mk2 Grannies in the compound at the site of the former Elmthorpe station on the Nuneaton - Leicester line, they were in very good nick from what I could see, I suspect they may have gone the same way.

Edited October 23, 2018 by Rugd1022

[BernardTPM]

There's at least one Mk.III Granada hatch round my way still in use, though it's a bit of a lone beast now.

[russ p]

Until fairly recently there were two Mk2 Grannies in the compound at the site of the former Elmthorpe station on the Nuneaton - Leicester line, they were in very good nick from what I could see, I suspect they may have gone the same way.

I've never noticed those but I suspect you may be right

[PatB]

MrsB's last car before leaving the UK was a D-reg Sierra 1.6L. Frankly, being bangered would have been too kind a fate. Possibly the worst UK Ford I've ever experienced. And that's coming from someone who quite likes Mk3 Escorts.

[alastairq]

In a nearby village, is a property...[with a very high hedge] on whose driveway are parked a number of what look like FWD Escorts of later marks.....all covered in slime, and which do not seem to have moved for a number of years.  I am reluctant to excite the curtain-twitchers in the village by stopping and taking a 'closer' look......One day, someone will 'discover' a hoard of 'classic' Escorts.......   

[Hobby]

Can't recall the last time I saw a Granada Mk 3 on the road either, and Ford sold a lot of those!

 

The Scorpio, ugly looking thing... There's one round the corner from us he uses to tow his caravan with.