Ford Ford Consul (granada Mark I Based) 1972–1975

Ford Consul (granada Mark I Based) 1972–1975 Featured Image
Ford Consul (Granada Mark I based)
70s Consul (10362664283).jpg
Ford Consul four-door saloon (1972-75)
Overview
Production 1972–1975
Assembly Cologne, Germany
Dagenham, United Kingdom
Body and chassis
Body style two-door saloon
four-door saloon
two-door coupé
five-door estate
Related Ford Granada Mark II
Powertrain
Engine
  • 1663 cc Essex V4
  • 1699 L Taunus V4
  • 1993 cc Pinto I4
  • 1996 cc Essex V4
  • 2294 cc Cologne V6
  • 2495 cc Essex V6
  • 2994 cc Essex V6
Transmission four-speed manual
automatic optional
Dimensions
Wheelbase 107 in (2,718 mm)
Length 180 in (4,572 mm)
Width 70 in (1,778 mm)
Height 54 in (1,372 mm)

The Ford Consul name was revived in April 1972 for the lower-priced, lower-specification variants of the newly introduced Ford Granada.

Developed jointly by Ford Britain and Ford of Germany, the cars were built in Cologne in West Germany and in Dagenham in the United Kingdom. Consul models can be identified by a two-panel cross-mesh grille as opposed to the horizontal chrome bar grille of the Granadas.

Consul, Consul L, and Consul GT models were offered and were available in two-door saloon, four-door saloon, two-door coupé, and five-door estate bodystyles. Unlike the previous Zephyr Estate, the Consul Estate was produced by Ford rather than by an outside contractor.

The 1663 cc Essex V4 and 1996 cc Essex V4 with 77 and 92 hp, respectively, and a 2495 cc Essex V6 with 118 hp (88 kW) were the power units offered in the UK. In addition, the Consul GT was powered by the 2994 cc Essex V6 engine providing 138 hp (103 kW). Because it was less well equipped than the similarly powered Granada, it was about 1 long cwt (110 lb; 51 kg) lighter and correspondingly quicker. This version has gained cult status due to its regular appearance in the original series of television show The Sweeney. In late 1974, the Essex V4 was replaced by the 2.0 litre Pinto engine.

In Germany, the Consul was offered with a choice of German-built Ford engines, starting with the 1699 cc Ford Taunus V4 engine familiar to drivers of the Ford Taunus 17M. The 2.0 litre straight-four and a 2.3 litre Cologne V6 were also available.

The Consul name was discontinued in late 1975 after the UK Court of Appeal ruled that Granada Group could not prevent Ford registering the name Granada as a trademark. The Granada name was then applied to all models.