page_title: Ford Zephyr
section_title: Zodiac Mark III
hierarchical_section_title: Ford Zephyr / Mark III / Zodiac Mark III
caption_attribution_description: English: Ford Zodiac MkIII (213E) was introduced in 1962 and produced until 1966. Roy Brown's design for the huge body looked radically different from the outgoing MkII, but in fact underneath it differed little.
context_page_description: The Ford Zephyr is an executive car that was manufactured by Ford of Britain from 1950 to 1972. The Zephyr, and its luxury variants the Ford Zodiac and Ford Executive, were the largest passenger cars in the British Ford range from 1950 until their replacement by the Consul and Granada models in 1972.
  Initially the four cylinder version was named Ford Consul but from 1962 both four- and six-cylinder versions were named Zephyr.
context_section_description: Model numbers 213E, 214E
  The Zodiac was an upmarket version of the Zephyr 6, but differed considerably from that model by the limousine-type rear doors, sharper roofline (with narrower C-pillar) and tail, unique grille (four headlights instead of two), exclusive bumper bars, plusher seating, and up-market upholstery, dashboard and interior fittings. A choice of individual or bench front seat was available trimmed in leather or cloth. The front doors and bonnet panels were shared with the Zephyr 6. The Executive version had extra luxury fittings again. The 2553 cc single-carburettor six-cylinder engine was improved internally to increase the power output to 109 bhp and a new four-speed all synchromesh transmission with column change was fitted. The brakes, servo assisted, use discs at the front and drum at the rear.
  A Mk III saloon tested by the British The Motor magazine in 1962 had a top speed of 100.7 mph (162.1 km/h) and could accelerate from 0-60 mph (97 km/h) in 13.4 seconds. A touring fuel consumption of 22.6 miles per imperial gallon (12.5 L/100 km; 18.8 mpg‑US) was recorded. The test car cost £1070 including taxes on the UK market.
  Ford New Zealand built the Zephyr 4 and 6 as well as the Zodiac locally from CKD kits, offering only the bench front seat option finished in vinyl. Automatic transmission, introduced late in the life of the Mk II, was again available but was a rare factory option as most buyers chose manual. As well as the 'Zephyr 6', Ford NZ built a six-cylinder 'Zephyr Special' with a lower equipment level and deletion of the boot lid trim strip and other exterior brightwork which was sold to fleet operators such as the government. The big Fords were unusual in having four-speed manual gearboxes when rivals, including Ford's own Falcon, had only three speeds. Building the top luxury Zodiac model locally again also gave Ford a supply advantage over key rivals such as Vauxhall whose upmarket Cresta was only ever sold fully imported and much harder to obtain than the locally assembled Velox.
caption: Ford Zodiac Mark III saloon (213E)
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