1954 Ford Zephyr Zodiac Saloon
Advanced engineering distinguished Ford of Britain’s flagship model when it debuted at the London Motor Show in autumn 1953.
The Zephyr Zodiac (also known as the Zodiac Mark I) was the upmarket version of the Zephyr, serving as the luxury variant in Ford’s already sophisticated Consul/Zephyr range.
The Zodiac’s distinctive two-tone paintwork immediately distinguished it from lesser models, complemented by whitewall tires, fog lamps, spot lamps, and reversing lights as standard equipment. The extensive list of standard fittings included a heater, windshield washers, leather upholstery, a clock, wing mirrors, and a cigarette lighter.
Power came from a 2,262 cc (138 cu in) overhead-valve six-cylinder engine producing 71 bhp. To compensate for the additional weight, the Zodiac featured a higher compression ratio (7.5:1 instead of the standard 6.8:1) and its top speed was 84 mph, as opposed to 80 mph for the regular Zephyr.
The chassis featured MacPherson strut independent front suspension (a first for mass-produced British cars), hydraulic drum brakes, and a 12-volt electrical system.
A three-speed manual transmission with a column-mounted shifter completed the drivetrain. Production continued until 1956, when the Mark II range replaced these pioneering designs.
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