Pete05
Premium
- 7,080
- Melbourne, Australia
The Mk.III Zephyr was introduced in 1962 which saw and end to the 1950's style Consuls, Zephyrs and Zodiacs - which had been amongst the best loved British family saloons of their time. Arguably the Mk.III Zephyr's biggest claim to fame was that it was the first car assembled in Australia to have curved glass side windows, an innovation aimed to provide passengers with more elbow and hip room.
The concave radiator grille which incorporated the headlamps, gave an individual touch to the front aspect of the car. At the rear end, the angling of the taillights, matched by the opposing angle of the rear window, was very unusual.
Although a completely new model, the Mk.III did share many of the Mk.II's mechanicals. But things were improved with the engine refined and producing an extra 20bhp. Road testers in 1962 were immediately impressed by the road holding qualities, manoeuverability and acceleration.
The design may have been entirely new, but to our eyes it still retained a conservative flavour. But despite the conservativeness, the Zephyr was at last a driver's car and would impress with it's power, direct controls, light recirculating-ball steering, front disc brakes and the fact that it was responsive and roadworthy. Dimensionally the body remained almost unchanged except that it was 1.5" longer than the previous model and 5" lower but not at the expense of ground clearance.
The Mk.III's had, for the time, a highly developed 6 cylinder OHV engine with a 155.8 cu in (2553cc). The compression ratio of 8.3 provided 106bhp at 4750rpm. The extra power was a result of refinements to the manifolds, ports and valves which, in turn, contributed to improve gas flow. Better still, the engine's excellent economy (up to 30mpg) didn't suffer as a result of the improved performance.
Apart from the extra horses on tap, the most important mechanical feature of the Mk.III was it's new 4 speed gearbox with synchromesh on all forward ratios. All the ratios were well chosen, with third gear giving nearly 80mph. A top speed of 95mph was possible with 100 possible if the engine was in perfect tune and no headwind.
ENGINE
Displacement: 2553cc / 155.8ci
Bore x Stroke: 3.25" x 3.13"
Compression ratio: 8.3:1
Horsepower: 106 at 4750rpm
Torque: 134 lbs/ft at 2000rpm
Electrical system: 12 volt
Fuel tank capacity: 121 gallons
Tyres: 13 x 6.40
Brakes: front disc, rear drum
Front Suspension: MacPherson strut, independent coil spring
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 107"
Ground clearance: 6.8"
Front track: 53"
Rear track: 52"
Length: 180"
Height: 57.5"
Width: 69"
Weight: 2740 lbs
PERFORMANCE
0-30mph: 4.5
0-40mph: 6.4
0-50mph: 10
0-60mph: 13.6
0-70mph: 18.8
0-80mph: 25.4
1/4 mile: 19.4
#5D driven to 2nd place in class by Geoff Russell & John Reaburn going through McPhillamy Park during the Bathurst 500 in 1963.
Here it saves on LF tyre wear dropping into The Dipper.
http://shannons.com.au/club/news/ford-zephyr-mark-iii-the-ford-that-could-have-beaten-holden/
http://shannons.com.au/club/news/fo...alcon-that-should-have-won-the-armstrong-500/
http://www.uniquecarsandparts.com.au/car_info_ford_consul_zephyr_zodiac.htm
http://www.uniquecarsandparts.com.au/car_info_ford_zephyr_mk3.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Zephyr
The concave radiator grille which incorporated the headlamps, gave an individual touch to the front aspect of the car. At the rear end, the angling of the taillights, matched by the opposing angle of the rear window, was very unusual.
Although a completely new model, the Mk.III did share many of the Mk.II's mechanicals. But things were improved with the engine refined and producing an extra 20bhp. Road testers in 1962 were immediately impressed by the road holding qualities, manoeuverability and acceleration.
The design may have been entirely new, but to our eyes it still retained a conservative flavour. But despite the conservativeness, the Zephyr was at last a driver's car and would impress with it's power, direct controls, light recirculating-ball steering, front disc brakes and the fact that it was responsive and roadworthy. Dimensionally the body remained almost unchanged except that it was 1.5" longer than the previous model and 5" lower but not at the expense of ground clearance.
The Mk.III's had, for the time, a highly developed 6 cylinder OHV engine with a 155.8 cu in (2553cc). The compression ratio of 8.3 provided 106bhp at 4750rpm. The extra power was a result of refinements to the manifolds, ports and valves which, in turn, contributed to improve gas flow. Better still, the engine's excellent economy (up to 30mpg) didn't suffer as a result of the improved performance.
Apart from the extra horses on tap, the most important mechanical feature of the Mk.III was it's new 4 speed gearbox with synchromesh on all forward ratios. All the ratios were well chosen, with third gear giving nearly 80mph. A top speed of 95mph was possible with 100 possible if the engine was in perfect tune and no headwind.
ENGINE
Displacement: 2553cc / 155.8ci
Bore x Stroke: 3.25" x 3.13"
Compression ratio: 8.3:1
Horsepower: 106 at 4750rpm
Torque: 134 lbs/ft at 2000rpm
Electrical system: 12 volt
Fuel tank capacity: 121 gallons
Tyres: 13 x 6.40
Brakes: front disc, rear drum
Front Suspension: MacPherson strut, independent coil spring
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 107"
Ground clearance: 6.8"
Front track: 53"
Rear track: 52"
Length: 180"
Height: 57.5"
Width: 69"
Weight: 2740 lbs
PERFORMANCE
0-30mph: 4.5
0-40mph: 6.4
0-50mph: 10
0-60mph: 13.6
0-70mph: 18.8
0-80mph: 25.4
1/4 mile: 19.4
#5D driven to 2nd place in class by Geoff Russell & John Reaburn going through McPhillamy Park during the Bathurst 500 in 1963.
Here it saves on LF tyre wear dropping into The Dipper.
http://shannons.com.au/club/news/ford-zephyr-mark-iii-the-ford-that-could-have-beaten-holden/
http://shannons.com.au/club/news/fo...alcon-that-should-have-won-the-armstrong-500/
http://www.uniquecarsandparts.com.au/car_info_ford_consul_zephyr_zodiac.htm
http://www.uniquecarsandparts.com.au/car_info_ford_zephyr_mk3.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Zephyr
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