Description

1962 Ford Consul Classic

Rare four-door: quirky and fun; very smart

Looking remarkably like a big Ford Anglia or a miniature Galaxie, the Consul Classic was designed in the late 1950s but didn't enter production until 1961 because the Dagenham plant was working flat-out trying to keep up with demand for the new Anglia.

Initially available with a 1,340cc engine, this was soon upgraded to a 1,498cc Kent engine driving through a four-speed all-synchro gearbox. The car had front disc brakes with independent front suspension using Macpherson strut units and at the rear the live axle used semi elliptic leaf springs. A contemporary road tester was impressed, noting that "probably the most impressive thing about the Classic is its road holding". It also had an exceptionally large boot with a high-lift sprung lid that made it an ideal car for family holidays.

Despite a top speed of 80mph and 35mpg economy, it was a slow seller by Ford standards, mainly due to its controversial styling and just 111,000 were sold before it was replaced by the equally quirky Corsair in 1963. Today only around 280 Consul Classics are thought to survive, very few of these being in four-door form, which makes this a rare car indeed.

The vendor acquired it in 2020 to join his rather large collection of vehicles, but has decided to sell a few to make some space for a 'big one'...

It was in the same lovely order that we see to day when it drove into his garage for the first time, having had a interior retrim/refurb in 2015 and a fuel system overhaul in 2019 which included a refurbished tank and a new Weber carb.

The car presents very well and is every bit as nice as it looks in the photos. It is described by the vendor as driving well and looks excellent value for a quirky and practical Ford. There is a handbook on file and several old MOTs, the most recent dating from 2016 which showed no advisories.

For more information - contact matthew.parkin@brightwells.com