Ford Consul Classic

Make:	Ford
Production period:	1961 to 1963
Class:	Motor Car
Body versions:	saloon
Doors	2 and 4 door
Engines:	Petol: 1.35-1.5 litres
Top speed	85.0 mph, 136.8 km h (1.5L)
Length:	170.77 in, 4338 mm
Width:	65.20 in, 1656 mm
Height:	56.35 in, 1431 mm
Wheelbase:	99.00 in, 2515 mm
Dry weight:	2049 1b, 929 kg

The Ford Consul Classic was a car sold by Ford Britain in the early part of the 1960s.

History

The Ford Consul Classic or Ford Consul 315 (the export version that was also sold in New Zealand) was a mid- size car Ford England produced from 1961 to 1963. The engine code was 109E or 116E It was available in two or four door saloon form.

Mechanically, the Consul Classic matched the popular Ford Anglia, with slightly larger Kent engines with 1340 cc. This four-cylinder pre-crossflow Kent engine was later replaced in 1962 by a 1,498-cc engine with five-bearing crankshaft with 1 Zenith 33 VN downdraft carburettor along with new improved gearbox with synchromesh on all four forward gears. Like the Anglia, the Consul Classic had a rear window inclined towards the direction of travel to give a faster look. The vehicle dimensions differed significantly, however; the wheelbase was 21.5 cm larger than that of the Anglia. 

PERFORMANCE: 1.5L

• Engine Capacity 91.62 cu in, 1498 cu cm;
• Fuel Consumption 34.4 m imp gal, 28.7 m US
• Max Speed 85.0 mph, 136.8 km h
• max power (SAE): 59.5 hp at 4600 rpm
• max torque (DIN): 11.2 kgm at 2300 rpm
• max number of engine rpm: 5000
• specific power: 39.7 hp/l
• power-weight ratio: 34.4 1b 15.6 kg/hp
• acceleration: standing 1/4 mile 21.6 (0 —80 km/h) 15 sec

The vehicles had front disc brakes and a fully synchronized four-speed gearbox in the 1.5-l version There was a choice of floor-mounted or column-mounted gear change. The front wheels were independently suspended by MacPherson coil spring damper struts, lower wishbones, anti-roll bar, telescopic dampers, while the powered rear rigid axle was guided by semi-elliptical springs,the distribution of weight was 50.7 % to  front axle, and 49.3 % to rear axle. The Consul Classic (315) was also based on the hardtop 2 door coupe Consul Capri (335) the first with the Capri name built from 1961 to 1964.

After only a short production in 1963, the Consul Classic was replaced by the Ford Corsair, a total of only 111,225 copies were built. Even more rare 17 of them, by the Ford dealer "Hughes Limited" in Nairobi in Kenya converted to 2 door station wagons.