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Closed Auction- Unsold

1954 Ford Zephyr

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  • Mileage~81,765
  • TransmissionManual
  • Engine2.2L
  • LocationCaterham

AUCTION CLOSED

1954 Ford Zephyr

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Video #2

Introduction

Alan Stuart
Professional Consigner

Ford found itself in the enviable position in post-War years with its approach to British motoring, combining simple engineering, spacious bodies and lovely styling.

The Mark I Ford Consul and Zephyr models were first displayed at the Earls Court Motor Show in 1950. They were the first mass-produced British cars to use the MacPherson strut independent front suspension, which is still widely used today. Manufactured by Ford Britain from 1950 until 1972, the Zephyr was one of the largest passenger cars in the Ford range from 1950 until their replacement by the Consul and Granada models in 1972.

The convertible version was produced by 'Carbodies' a coach-building business from Coventry, and has a power-operated hood, six-cylinder engine producing ~68BHP and had a 0-60 time of under ~20 seconds from factory. Although it hadn't been designed with competition in mind, a mildly modified Zephyr driven by the experienced Dutch racing driver Maurice Gatsonides, won the 1953 Monte Carlo Rally outright! First registered in 1954, this Zephyr comes to market after being imported back from Australia following its previous ownership overseas. Presented in a lovely overall condition, the Ford is completed by its hydraulic soft-top following its conversion by 'Carbodies'. Not only this, but the car offers an upgraded retro-fitted radio, great looking driving lamps and beautiful interior cabin area. This car is absolutely ready to be cherished by its future owner as it has been all through it's life.

This listing was written from information supplied by Alan after meeting Ron the owner, and having visited and photographed the vehicle.

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Secure Auctions

We verify all our sellers and buyers to keep our community safe whilst also providing the highest levels of website security.

Full Transparency

8 out of 10 people that buy cars via our service don’t feel the need to visit due to the transparency and thoroughness of our listings.

Vehicle Delivery

We're there every step of your buying journey and will even arrange pick-up and delivery of your new vehicle.

Video #2

Meet the owner

A very popular motor at classic car shows, the Zephyr does everything right in terms of it's charm and ability to attract attention.

Having owned a Zephyr in his younger years, Ron knew he had to own one again when he saw this one advertised. "My love of classic cars always keeps me busy, I saw my Zephyr advertised in Australia, a pretty fair way away to buy a car but I knew this one was for me". Contacting the seller directly, Ron was updated a little more on the story behind the Zephyr where the former owners father had owned the car since new, "The previous keeper had been handed down the car to him by his dad as unfortunately, age had restricted his Father's driving ability". The car came to market as the former keeper didn't have the same automotive interests as his dad which is where the sale came up for Ron. After exchanging pictures of the car and info Ron agreed to buy it, and was not disappointed when it arrived. Remaining largely unchanged apart from the brake servo and wheel cylinders to assist braking, the car has been unaltered in its current ownership.

With age being a big factor in Ron's ownership of the car, the time has ultimately come for him to part ways with it, "I am selling it now as it needs to be shown off and used more. It can't just be sat in a heated garage and not being enjoyed as its too good for that kind of life" Should any be required, Ron will be happy to answer any questions on the the car in the comments section below.

Ron
Vehicle Owner

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EXTERIOR VIDEO
Video #2

Exterior

A unique design, less seen on the roads these days, the innovative folding roof gives this classic a new dimension.

Wheels and Tyres

The Zephyr is fitted with a set of 13" wheels with chrome centres. These are in good condition with the chrome sections looking great and boasting a real shine to them. Looking at the detail, there were a few observations of markings and rust spots on the inner edge which may be worth a closer look by the future owner. However, given these wheels are likely original, we didn't have any major concerns about these.

The car is complete with a set of lovely whitewall Atlas SC890 A/S tyres with a spec of 13x165. Both front and rear tyres matched with the same tread spec although we didn't note any date codes on these. The condition of tyres looks great overall with no obvious cracking. Please take a look at the photos and videos for a detailed view of the exterior of the Ford and a closer look at the wheels and tyres.

Bodywork

The Zephyr is one of the rarer examples of a 'Carbodies' coach building team conversion to a convertible model. An interesting note are the locking pins located on either doors giving the Ford additional body support as a result of the bodywork conversion from the original spec. Looking much closer at the detail, we noted a few signs of surface rust on the edge of the boot closure section located behind the rear tail light although this didn't appear to be structural in its appearance.

Shut lines and panel gaps look good and we could see no visible distortion to the panels. Both doors and boot sections open and close well, exactly as you would expect from the quality on show here. We've highlighted in more detail our observations through our hi-resolution images and videos, so please take time to look through all the media files for a detailed view at what’s on offer, and for you to assess the condition of the car for yourselves.

Paint

A lovely coat of blue paint shows well over the panelling, we did note a few signs of micro blistering but given the age of the car, nothing that really concerned us looking over the flat sections. We observed that the boot section showed its age a little in the light but again, not an area of real issue.

We've taken high resolution images and videos of the car for you to assess the condition of the bodywork for yourselves. The images are taken from a few different angles to show off the car as you would see it if you were standing there for yourselves. So please take the time to fully assess these high resolution images and videos of the car, for you to make up your own minds about the condition of the paint.

Glass and Trim

Windscreen, manually operated windows and side mirrors all appear in great condition and we could see no sign of scratching or chips on the main glass sections. The chrome bumpers, grille, door, boot handles, and window surrounds all look in great condition too.

A great feature we noted was the beautiful chromed aeroplane ornament sitting proudly on the bonnet front, epitomising the aviation travel of the time. Front driving lamps are working well on their high beam mode and without an issue noted. The seals look good around the exterior and in line with the rest of the condition of the car.

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INTERIOR VIDEO
Video #2

Interior

If you're in the market for a roomy, relaxing and remarkable British classic, look no further than the Ford Zephyr.

Seats and Carpets

The seats and carpets show really well in the cabin area and present a very inviting position to be in as a driver or passenger. The seats themselves look like they've not had much use which brings a welcoming and comfortable setup to the interior. We noted no concerning issues with wear, tear or rips on these which is reflected in the rear seats also.

We've captured high-resolution photos and a full interior video tour through the car. This covers off the angles inside the car for you to review and appreciate the condition of what's on offer here in our interior review section.

Dashboard

The blue fronted dash appears in good shape with no major marks or scratches to report. There were a few minor notes of cracking to the paint finish but given this car is nearly ~70 years old, not an area of real concern. Mileage counter showed with ~81,765 miles at the time of our visit. The central dash area showed the speedometer, mileage counter and fuel gauge displaying well and without issue, we noted no warning lights or observed scratches or marks on these sections.

Our interior gallery section takes you over some closer images of the Zephyr's dashboard, head over and see the car's interior in finer detail.

Steering Wheel / Gear Stick

In line with the rest of the interior, the steering wheel and gear stick are in good condition, showing very little signs of wear. The chrome support section was a nice touch to the drivers setup. An interesting feature is the indicator stalk located on the centre of the steering column.

Looking over the gearstick, the lever looked in great shape, functioned nicely and showed without major wear or tear concerns. In summary, a great place to take in the road ahead. Again, we've captured high-resolution photos for you to review and appreciate the condition of the interior in our gallery section.

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'ON THE ROAD' VIDEO
Video #2

Mechanics

The Zephyr was a revelation on the road for it's time, with the first production of MacPherson strut front suspension and the added benefit of a 2.2L engine.

Engine and Gearbox

We noted no issues on the start up of the car with the engine and exhaust running smoothly when we visited. The car drives well with it's 3 speed manual gearbox functioning without concern.

A key note for the Ford, is that the car operates using a double clutching method. Although perfectly smooth, the clutch method requires a little more attention than a more modern car, as this is a little different to more conventional motoring. Even though the Zephyr is a classic and approaching it's ~70th birthday, the car starts up without hesitation across all 6 of it's cylinders.

Take a look at the car and engine section which we've highlighted in the cold start section of the mechanical review video. We take the Zephyr out on a short drive and go into further detail about its mechanics, taking it out on some local roads to get a better sense of what this car is all about.

Suspension and Brakes

On the drive out, the current owner Ron took us around some local roads, we heard no knocks, bangs or unwanted noise from the suspension and overall the car performed as to be expected with no observed issues. Ron mentions the brakes function with the kind of stopping power you'd expect from a car of this era and the suspension provides an enjoyable journey.

The drum brakes were shown to be working as to be expected and felt to have no pull or vibrations that stood out to us, bringing the car to a stop without a problem. The brake cylinders have been changed on all four corners of the car previously and operate well. The ride and suspension feel wasn't a concern for us whilst out on the ride, with the handling performing in line with the car's history in mind.

The Drive

An ability to cover plenty of miles in comfort is one of the Zephyr’s biggest plus points, with a smooth ride and secure handling giving the driver confidence on the road. Bearing in mind the car has no power steering, slow speed manoeuvres are a little heavy but once its in motion, shows no concern with its handling.

Electrics and Other

Electrical components are relatively minimal on the car given that it's a 50's classic, but did include a speedometer, mileage counter and fuel gauge which were all functioning without concern. The Ford is also retro-fitted with an AM/FM radio although we were unable to fully test this on our visit out to the car.

The car's hydraulic soft top roof worked very well and opened and shut quickly without struggle mechanically. Ron let us know that he has had no issues with the electrical elements on the car and to the best of his knowledge, everything was working as it should do.

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Video #2

History and Paperwork

Produced in Britain but then exported to Australia, the Zephyr benefits from additional features like the hydraulic soft-top.

Originally built in the UK, the car experienced life overseas having been owned by a keeper from Australia, the car was handed down to the previous keeper's son who although not a car enthusiast, drove the car in and around Sydney.

Following Ron, the current owner's, interest and purchase of the car, the Ford was shipped from Australia back to the UK through customs at a cost of over ~£700. The car has been kept in its current ownership remaining largely unchanged, except for its brake servo and wheel cylinders updates, for the last ~6 years.

The Zephyr has had a few different registration plates during it's ownership which we've noted in our paperwork gallery section. Should there be any questions required, Ron would be happy to answer these in the section below.

We’ve done all our usual seller checks including photo ID, V5 and also actioned a HPi check on the vehicle.

We've summarised our own view on the car based on information gained from the seller in the listing above, however, and as you can see, we go to great lengths to photograph and video the car in hi-resolution detail - this has been done for you to make your own assessment from the comfort of your sofa. So please sit back, have a cuppa and take your time to review everything on this listing in order to make your own assessment on the vehicle's condition. Viewings are also welcomed with all our listings, so please get in touch with us to arrange a suitable time - we just need to speak to you first and receive a valid photo ID before confirming.

If there's anything you're unsure about, no matter how small, then please first ask the owner in the comments area below before placing your bid/s, as bids can't be retracted and form a binding contract if you win the car - just like a traditional auction house. Please note, the car may be in daily use, so the mileage may increase from that shown here - you can request an update check with us after you register your interest.

Service History
Date Type Mileage
31.03.2020 MOT
18.10.2016 MOT 81,765
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Key Details
  • ModelZephyr
  • TransmissionManual
  • Reg. Date01.04.2017 in UK
  • CC2,262
  • Mileage~81,765
  • ColourBlue
  • Interior ColourBlue
  • Chassis #E0TTA101641
  • Engine #E0TTA101641
  • MOT ExemptYes
  • Road Tax ExemptYes
  • HPi ClearYes
  • Former Keepers0 registered in UK
  • Tyre BrandAtlas
  • LHD or RHDRHD
  • VisitedYes
  • Sale TypePrivate
  • Owned~6 years
  • Key FeatureHydraulic soft-top
  • Auction ID1392
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VIEW ALL
Video #2

All Images

Exterior

Interior

Mechanics

History and Paperwork

All Videos



Vehicle Location

Caterham

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Auction Closed

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This car didn't meet its reserve price and may soon be available as a private sale - please contact us for more information.

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Ask Questions
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privatetony
Member
privatetony

I have only just seen your car for sale, I do like the look and would be interested at having a view tomorrow morning if possible. It looks like you live in Caterham, I am not to far away in Kingston upon thames. I already own a zodiac mk2. Thanks Tony

10 months ago
RonR
Author
RonR

Sorry for the late reply, happy for you to view the car tomorrow, my number is 07xxx please give me a call at your convenience regards Ron .

10 months ago
benzephyrsix
Member
benzephyrsix

Hello Ron
Looks a lovely example.
In places it looks to have been painted..?
Has the car undergone heavy restoration in its life do you know? Any welding/ panel work been done do you know?

10 months ago
RonR
Author
RonR

Hi, in answer to your question I have not done any welding/panel work or painting myself, the person I purchased the car from assured me that he had not done any, you are very welcome to view the car if you would like to. Regards Ron

10 months ago
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Vehicle Location

Caterham

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