Description

1955 Ford Zephyr Six Mk1 Convertible

Current owner since 1991; older restoration including rebuilt engine and overdrive gearbox; power hood; stainless steel exhaust

First shown at the 1950 Earls Court Motor Show, the Ford Zephyr Six shared its silhouette with two other models, falling between the four-cylinder Consul and the slightly more upmarket Zodiac. Together, the trio became known as the Three Graces, with clean, simple styling characteristic of the Festival of Britain era. Billed as Five-Star Cars on account of the quimtet of areas they pushed the boundaries, they boasted independent front suspension, oversquare ohv engines and monocoque construction - all firsts for Ford. 


Powered by a six-cylinder 2,262 cc engine producing 68bhp, the Zephyr Six could hit 80mph with ease and cost a modest £842 at launch. Suspension was by coil springs at the front and a live axle with half elliptic springs at the rear. A big success with the buying public, it also boxed far above its weight in competition – in 1953 a Zephyr Six driven by Maurice Gatsonides famously won the Monte Carlo rally, pushing a Jaguar Mk VII into second place in the process.
First registered in March 1955, this rare drop-top Zephyr Six is perhaps the most desirable variant of all - no Zodiac Convertible was ever offered. It is fitted with a power hood which must have been a real show-stopper at the time and still works as it should following an overhaul of the hydraulics by F Mussons & Sons of Romsey (the vendor stressing that only hydraulic oil is to be used in the hood mechanism, not brake fluid).
In the current ownership since 1991, it has always been well-looked-after, including a full body restoration by Romsey Restorations of Hampshire in c.1998 when the colour was changed from red to white. The original engine has also been reconditioned by Gosmays of Romford and we can confirm that it starts easily and runs very sweetly indeed. The gearbox has been reconditioned by Mick Johnson of the Consul, Zephyr, Zodiac Club and a new Laycock overdrive and modified main shaft (supplied by Dan Force of Leominster) have also been fitted.
The differential was overhauled by Hanover Transmissions of Aldershot incorporating a new crown-wheel-and-pinion supplied by Vic Pell of the Consul, Zephyr, Zodiac Club. The steering mechanism was reconditioned by Golden Days Motors of Norwich and fitted by Crest Services of Southampton. New front suspension struts and springs and other parts have also been fitted, along with a stainless steel exhaust custom-built by Boes of Hucknall. The vendor advises that the brake hydraulics are currently filled with silicone brake fluid and should not be mixed with Dot 4 or 5 .
Very sparingly used during the current 30-year ownership, the car was treated to an extensive recommissioning in October 2018 by Kevin Dipchan of Hooe, Kent at a cost of £5,785 including new rear springs, reconditioned propshaft, new battery, 5 whitewall tyres plus much else besides, flying through its MOT shortly afterwards with no advisories recorded.
As you can see in the photos, it looks to be in very good order throughout, both above and below, and has been runningly beautifully as we have moved it around on site. We are told that it comes with a good file of invoices to document all the work carried out but, at the time of cataloguing, we had yet to receive these in the post although we do have various workshop manuals that came with the car.
For more information contact James on 07970 309907 or email james.dennison@brightwells.com