What was the Ford car in 1950 to 1972?

It was the Ford Zephyr — a large family/executive car built by Ford of Britain from 1950 to 1972. Spanning four generations, the Zephyr sat above the four-cylinder Consul and alongside the plusher Ford Zodiac, becoming one of Britain’s best-known postwar cars before being replaced by the Ford Consul/Granada in 1972.

Overview of the Ford Zephyr

Introduced as part of Ford’s postwar modernization, the Zephyr offered six-cylinder performance and spacious accommodation at mass-market prices. It shared much engineering with the smaller Consul while offering more power, comfort and status. Over time it evolved from the Zephyr Six (Mk I) into distinct four- and six-cylinder lines (Zephyr 4 and Zephyr 6), with the upmarket Zodiac and later Zodiac Executive positioned at the top of the range.

Generations and key milestones (1950–1972)

The following list outlines the Zephyr’s four generations and highlights how the model changed across two decades of British motoring, from engineering innovations to shifts in styling and market positioning.

• 1950–1956: Zephyr Six (Mk I). Launched alongside the Consul, the Zephyr adopted unitary construction and MacPherson strut front suspension — advanced for its class. Offered mainly as a saloon, with convertible and estate options (the latter often via coachbuilders).
• 1956–1962: Zephyr (Mk II). Sharper, transatlantic-influenced styling and a roomier body. The range broadened with the more luxurious Zodiac derivative; late-model “Lowline” cars (1959) gained a lower roof and detail updates.
• 1962–1966: Zephyr (Mk III). Cleaner, more modern design and clearer model separation into Zephyr 4 (four-cylinder) and Zephyr 6 (six-cylinder). The Zodiac and later Zodiac Executive served buyers seeking more luxury and equipment.
• 1966–1972: Zephyr (Mk IV). A major mechanical shift brought new Essex V4 (Zephyr 4) and V6 engines (Zephyr 6, Zodiac), plus independent rear suspension — unusual for a mass-market British Ford. The line culminated in 1972, succeeded by the Consul/Granada.

Together these iterations kept the Zephyr competitive against rivals such as the Vauxhall Cresta, Humber Hawk and, later, the Rover and Triumph 2000-series, while steadily moving Ford upmarket in Britain and key export markets.

Position in Ford’s lineup and global reach

The Zephyr anchored Ford of Britain’s upper range: more substantial than the Consul and a step below the Zodiac/Executive in luxury. It was sold widely across the Commonwealth and assembled in several markets from kits, notably in New Zealand and South Africa, helping Ford maintain a strong presence in right-hand-drive territories. In the UK, Zephyrs and Zodiacs were a common sight in police fleets — a connection made famous by the 1960s TV drama “Z-Cars.”

Notable features and innovations

Across its lifespan, the Zephyr introduced or popularized several technologies and features for British mass-market cars, contributing to its reputation as a practical yet forward-looking model.

• Adoption of MacPherson strut front suspension (early models), improving ride, handling and packaging.
• Unitary (monocoque) construction, reducing weight and improving rigidity versus traditional body-on-frame designs.
• Progressive powertrains: from robust inline-fours and sixes to the later Essex V4/V6 engines, with manual, overdrive and automatic gearboxes available.
• Independent rear suspension on the Mk IV, offering better ride and road holding than many contemporaries.
• Broad body-style availability over time, including saloons, factory convertibles in early generations and estate variants via coachbuilders.
• Strong fleet and official-use presence, reinforcing Ford’s image for durability and serviceability.

These attributes helped the Zephyr bridge the gap between everyday family transport and executive motoring, laying groundwork for the more cosmopolitan Granada that followed.

Legacy and successor

Production of the Zephyr and its Zodiac counterpart ended in 1972, making way for the Ford Consul/Granada line, which consolidated Ford’s European upper-medium/executive offerings. The Granada built on the Zephyr’s formula with more contemporary styling, refined dynamics and a wider European focus, while the Zephyr’s nameplate — synonymous with postwar British motoring — was retired.

Common confusions and related models

The Zephyr is often conflated with the American-market Ford models of the same era, but it was engineered and produced by Ford of Britain for the UK and export markets. It also sat within a family: Consul (entry), Zephyr (mid/upper) and Zodiac (premium). After 1972, the UK used the Consul badge on lower-trim Granada models for a period before adopting Granada across the range.

Sources and verification

The following sources are widely used by historians and enthusiasts to verify dates, specifications and model evolution for the Ford Zephyr.

• Ford Motor Company (UK) historical publications and product brochures
• British Motor Museum archives and vehicle records
• Contemporary road tests and reviews in Autocar and The Motor
• RAC and DVLA registration and type-approval data (period records)

Taken together, these sources corroborate the Zephyr’s production run from 1950 to 1972, its generational breakpoints and its role within Ford’s British and export lineups.

Summary

The Ford car produced from 1950 to 1972 was the Ford Zephyr. Built by Ford of Britain across four generations, it progressed from an advanced postwar saloon into a full-fledged executive contender, sharing the stage with the premium Zodiac and ultimately yielding to the Ford Consul/Granada. Its blend of innovation, practicality and broad-market appeal made it a cornerstone of British motoring in the postwar decades.

What Ford car was produced between 1950 and 1962?

Ford produced a wide range of cars between 1950 and 1962, including models like the Fairlane, Thunderbird, Galaxie, and Edsel in the United States, and vehicles such as the Consul, Zephyr, and Popular in the United Kingdom and other global markets. Other vehicles produced during this period were the Ranchero and the Australian-built Falcon.
 
United States Models

• Fairlane: Opens in new tabIntroduced as a full-size car in 1955, it was redesigned as a mid-size car in 1962, continuing the line of production for the new model year. 
• Thunderbird: Opens in new tabA popular model known for its glamorous and elegant style, it was introduced in the 1950s and remained in production. 
• Galaxie: Opens in new tabFord’s full-size model, introduced in 1958 for the 1959 model year, competed with Chevrolet’s Impala and Pontiac Bonneville. 
• Edsel: Opens in new tabA new brand launched in 1957 and sold by the Mercury-Edsel-Lincoln Division, featuring innovative safety features and remote trunk-opening. 
• Ranchero: Opens in new tabIntroduced in 1957, this utility vehicle continued to be produced for many years after. 

Other Global Models

• Consul: A British-produced model, initially offered as a four-cylinder version of the Zephyr line before its own replacement in 1972, with different generations in production. 
• Zephyr: This executive car was produced in the UK from 1950 to 1972 and was the largest passenger car in the British Ford range. 
• Popular: A model produced in the UK, with a new version introduced in 1959 and continuing until 1962, utilizing a strengthened Anglia body shell and a 1172cc engine. 
• Prefect: A model with local assembly in various countries, including Ireland where the Cork plant continued assembly until 1962. 
• Ford Cortina: A new range of compact cars that began production in the UK in 1962. 

What cars did Ford make in 1950?

The main 1950 Ford models included the Custom and Custom Deluxe, which were available in various body styles like the two-door, four-door, coupe, and station wagon. Other 1950 models were the Deluxe, Crestliner, and the F-Series trucks, particularly the F1 pickup.
 
Popular 1950 Ford Passenger Cars

• Ford Custom and Custom Deluxe: These were two trim levels within the standard Ford car line. 
• Body Styles: Available in various options, including: 
  • Two-door sedans 
  • Fordor (four-door) sedans 
  • Coupes 
  • Convertibles 
  • Ranch Wagon and Country Squire (station wagons) 
• Specialty Models: The Crestliner was a deluxe Tudor (two-door) with distinctive two-tone paint and vinyl roof treatments. 
• Ford Deluxe: A base model offered in a similar range of body styles to the Custom. 

1950 Ford F-Series Trucks

• The Ford F-Series was introduced for 1950, marking a new era of truck design for Ford. 
• The most common model was the F1 pickup. 
• This first generation of the F-Series was often called the Ford “Bonus-Built” trucks. 

What model was the Ford car between 1963 and 1970?

Ford Consul Corsair
The Ford Consul Corsair (later known simply as the Ford Corsair), manufactured by Ford UK, is a midsized car that was introduced at the London Motor Show in October 1963 and available as either a saloon or estate from 1964 until 1970.

What were the Ford models in the 1970s?

Ford produced a wide range of models in 1970, including popular passenger cars like the Mustang, Maverick, Torino, Thunderbird, and Fairlane. The company also offered trucks and SUVs such as the Bronco, F-Series (including the F100), and Econoline vans. Several models were available in different body styles and trim levels, such as the Mustang Mach 1, Torino Cobra, and various Ranchero and LTD configurations. 
Here is a breakdown of some key 1970 Ford models:
Cars & Coupes

• Mustang: The iconic pony car was offered in various trims, including the performance-oriented Mach 1. 
• Torino: A popular mid-size car available as a coupe, and in performance versions like the Cobra GT. 
• Maverick: A new compact car introduced in 1970. 
• Fairlane: A sedan and coupe model, often featuring the 500 trim. 
• Falcon: Another compact car offered in different versions. 
• Thunderbird: A luxury car known for its styling. 
• Custom: A line of full-size sedans and coupes. 
• Custom 500: A version of the full-size Custom line. 
• Galaxie 500: Another full-size sedan offering. 
• LTD: A line of full-size luxury cars, including the LTD Brougham and Country Squire wagons. 

Trucks & Vans

• Bronco: The first-generation Bronco was introduced for 1970, available as a wagon or pickup. 
• F-Series: Ford’s full-size truck line, including models like the F100. 
• Ranchero: A unique “muscle car” pickup available in various trim levels. 
• Econoline: Ford’s lineup of vans, including the E100, E200, and E300 models.