76 Classic Car Mart Spring 2016
F
ord of Britain managed to temporarily
banish the post-war blues in 1950 when it
unveiled the unitary-built MkI four-cylinder
Consul and six-cylinder Zephyr Six to
much acclaim at that year’s London Motor Show.
Despite the upmarket Zodiac appearing on the
scene almost three years later to complete
the line up, by the middle of the decade these
curvaceous four-door Fords were starting to
look a little dated. To breathe new life into the
range, Ford once again turned to its Detroit-
based design studios for styling cues and the
result was the Thunderbird/Fairlane inspired MkII
Consul, Zephyr and Zodiac.
When the covers came off the new range
of large Ford saloons in 1956, the three new
dimensionally larger models quickly became
known as the Three Graces. The new Consul,
Zephyr and Zodiac were based on a slightly
longer wheelbase (107 inches) and retained the
MkI’s ground-breaking MacPherson strut front
suspension set-up along with the outgoing car’s
four- and six-cylinder OHV engine confi gurations.
In Ford speak, the new 1703cc Consul was
offi cially designated the 204E, while the 2443cc
six pot MkII Zephyr and Zodiac were both
referred to in the workshop as the 206E.
The transatlantic styling touches Colin Neal and
his team had included in the new MkII saloon's
design proved a major triumph with the buying
FORD’S THREE
GRACES
A touch of Detroit styling gave the MkII Ford
Consul, Zephyr and Zodiac a fresh, modern
look and the revitalised range even found
favour with the Royal Family.
Words: Iain Wakefi eld