1955 Ford Consul (EOTA-Series)

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1955 Ford Consul (EOTA-Series)

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Mileage~40,524 on clock
Transmission3- Speed Manual
Engine1.5-litre
LocationSwadlincote

AUCTION CLOSED

1955 Ford Consul (EOTA-Series)

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Introduction

Darren Rungasamy

Editor and Photographer

The British-built Consul set a precedent for comfort, style and competition.

The 1950s were recognised as a significant era for the development of the modern car. In line with the demand for new cars, the US were focused on producing sleeker designs, with more powerful engines, and innovative features. This shift had a positive effect for European manufacturers, more so for the US-owned Ford, which shared the wealth of development for British-built Ford models, albeit on a smaller scale.

The first generation of the Ford Consul and its larger-engined stablemate, the Zephyr, is the direct result of this. Released in 1951, it was the first British car to use a strong modern unibody construction. It was also the first Ford to feature independent suspension, and the Consul was powered by a new overhead valve 1.5-litre engine, with a hydraulic clutch operation. There's room for 6 inside and offered a genuine taste of Americana; bench seats and a stylish dashboard design. It was comfortable and handled well, which enabled the Consul to win the 1953 Monte Carlo rally in the process and became the first of a long line of British-built Ford rally cars.

This beautifully presented 1955 EOTA-series Ford Consul is finished in grey with a red interior. It has only had six registered keepers since new, with evidence of several long-term keepers. Likely to have received a detailed restoration in the past, it drives well and just needs a little bit of light recommissioning as it's not seen much use in recent years.

A great opportunity to maybe buy an original Consul at sensible money.

This listing was written from information supplied by Darren after meeting Dave 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.

Meet the owner

I only went in to buy one car, but ended up with a collection.

Dave is absolutely a petrol head, there is no denying that - his choice of cars range from a collection of "Fast Fords" spanning 5 decades, to modern supercars like Lamborghini Aventadors and luxury Rolls-Royces.

Dave is thinning down his collection now, and as the classics get much less use, they are coming to market for the first time in a long time. We've already sold a stunning 1993 Ford Escort RS Cosworth for him and now moving on to other cars in his collection that will be coming to market this year.

This particular car was acquired by Dave ~3 years ago and really hasn't seen much use, so it's the next in line for a new home.

Dave will be happy to answer any questions about the car in the comments section below.

Dave

Vehicle Owner

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Exterior
Interior
Mechanics
History
All Images

EXTERIOR VIDEO

Exterior

A solid structure with a clean body, this Consul is smartly presented.

Wheels and Tyres

The 13” body-painted steel wheels present well. There are minor signs of age on the hubcaps.

The front and rear of the car are fitted with Evergreen tyres with a spec of 155/80 - these are date coded from 2011 and have plenty of legal tread.

Please take a look at the photos and videos for a detailed view of the exterior of the Consul and a closer look at the wheels and tyres to make your assessment of their condition.

Bodywork

The underside is coated with an inhibitor, but it appears to be in good shape and reassuringly solid. The floor pan, suspension mounts, wheel wells and jacking points are clean. The engine bay is tidy; a deep clean could yield a rewarding result. The boot floor is in great shape.

The exterior presents positively, the panels are flush to the body, with reasonably even shut lines. All of the doors have a reassuringly solid closing action. The panels are free from damage - there just mild signs of age at the very base of some of the metalwork, mainly on the offside sill panel and a handful of minor blisters on the doors and bonnet, but overall we think it would not embarrass itself at a classic car event.

We've highlighted in more detail our observations through our high-resolution images and videos, so please take time to look through all the media files for a detailed view of what’s on offer, and for you to assess the condition of the car for yourselves.

Paint

The light grey paint finish has an even consistency and a positive lustre. There are a few minor surface marks on the panels. The main blemish is a large paint chip on the lowest section of the offside front wing, which has gone down to the base coat.

We also noted some exposed but small chips on the nearside sill and wing, and mild wear on the rear screen scuttle. Our overall opinion is that of a car with a pleasing paint finish and smooth gloss.

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

The glass is in good shape with decent seals.

The lights and lenses display well.

The chrome is generally in good shape - the bumpers, headlamp and rear light bezels and door handles have light pitting, but all are free from dent or significant corrosion damage.

The rear metal number plate light housing has a ding in it - this is the only negative aspect of the Consul's metalwork.

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INTERIOR VIDEO

Interior

Spacious, comfy and cleanly presented, the interior is a visual treat in its style and simplicity.

Seats and Carpets

The red bench seats are presented with no significant wear or damage, just the expected creasing.

The carpets and mats are clean and dry.

Dashboard

The metal dashboard is in good shape with decent paint.

The dials and controls look good, with some signs of age on the buttons.

Some mild patches of age on the rear parcel shelf.

The door cards, headlining and interior trim are in good condition.

Steering Wheel / Gear Stick

The steering and column gear shifter are clean and the handbrake just has age-related wear.

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'ON THE ROAD' VIDEO

Mechanics

The engine is sound but would benefit from a service and routine investigation.

Engine and Gearbox

The engine started up after a second turn of the key and idled smoothly with no unwanted noises. There was a little black smoke when we asked Dave to press the accelerator, but this soon cleared after a few seconds - remembering the car hasn't been used for a while.

There were no warning lights flagged on the dashboard.

The engine is in good condition with minor signs of age in places, reflective of a car that has not seen much use in recent years. The hoses and ancillaries are in good shape, and there were no signs of fluid leaks on the day.

The Consul has a three-speed manual transmission with a column gearchange. Dave isn’t familiar with the ratios, but it appeared to change gears without any issues, and the clutch is reported to work without problems.

Suspension and Brakes

The car rides smoothly and provides a comfortable drive with no bangs or thuds from the wheel - it absorbed the corners without creaks or knocks.

The car's braking is about as good as you can expect for a post-war car; it stops without any unwanted noises and is free of wobbles. It would be advisable to give the system a once-over for peace of mind.

The Drive

Back in the day, the 1.5-litre engine was noted as a unit that used up-to-date technology, such as overhead valves and a hydraulic clutch. Although capable of reaching motorway speeds, performance is not a key factor in the Consul, but it is a robust and reliable car for its era.

We took the car out for a brief spin at low speeds, and it performed without any hesitation. The engine runs evenly; however, there were a few pops and bangs on acceleration - maybe a timing or fueling issue. The engine itself didn’t stall, and we didn’t hear any rattles or unwanted noises after the engine had warmed up.

The car felt lively on the move and handled evenly with no issues with the steering in terms of wobbles or knocks.

Electrics and Other

The car is fitted with a period Ekco radio and also has a period windscreen sun visor hood, but the previous owners have shown great restraint by not overloading it with accessories.

It comes with a spare head gasket and several handbooks.

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History and Paperwork

Just six registered keepers over 70 years - most owners have held onto the car for a long time.

Registered in Cornwall in August 1955, the original owner kept it for 16 years, then sold it to its new owner in Whitby in 1981. It appeared to have stayed with its second owner until the mid-2000s, when it was then kept by a succession of enthusiasts. Dave recently acquired it as part of a Ford collection.

Aside from several V5 documents and two old MOT certificates, there’s nothing to support the car's condition; it appears to have undergone a thorough and detailed but undocumented restoration. It has a current V5 and is MOT and road-tax exempt.

We’ve done all our usual seller checks including photo ID, V5 and also actioned a history check on the vehicle - this is a professional check operated by HPI that will highlight if the car has been previously stolen, recorded as being in an accident, or have any outstanding finance - note, this does not include a mileage history check.

We've summarised our own view on the car based on information gained from the seller in the listing above, however, 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 of 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 bids, as bids can't be retracted and form a binding contract if you win the car - just like a traditional auction house.

Service History

Date	Type	Mileage
13-10-2003	MOT	38,875
27-07-1991	MOT	37,854

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Key Details

ModelConsul
Transmission3-Speed Manual
Reg. Date22-08-1955
CC1508
Mileage~40,524 on clock
ColourGrey
Interior ColourRed
Chassis #EOTA-203335
MOTLast Exp: 13-10-2003
MOT ExemptYes
Road Tax ExemptYes
HPi ClearYes - All Clear
Former Keepers6
Tyre BrandEvergreen
Tyre Age2011
LHD or RHDR
VisitedYes
Sale TypePrivate
Owned~3 Years
Key FeaturesOriginal and Smartly Presented
Vehicle Registration889 FMP
Fuel TypePetrol
Body Type4 door saloon
Auction ID3141

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Vehicle Location

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Seller : UDave

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