Practical Classics Ford Zephyr

[Exiled_Tat_Gatherer]

As above - a 'Whatever happened to?' thread could prove an eye opener.......... I'm sure owners clubs could help out a bit.

I still have those PC mags stashed in my folks loft somewhere - was an avid reader of the restorations.

[solid61]

  On 05/03/2018 at 12:32, mercrocker said:

These things rarely got repaired properly - a rust-prone and troublesome sill and B post section design transformed into a convertible away from the main factory and then sent mainly to live in a damp, salty environment does not give decades of corrosion-resistance..... I have seen one undergo a proper restoration and its an eye-watering amount of time and money to get right.   A £500 number plate isn't going to make a dent in it....

very true,I saw this car not long after it was restored and not wishing to sound like a know it all you could see it wasnt in it for the long run,these cars are very hard to get right,no disrespect to anyone but it was a poor old thing to start with.

[flat4alfa]

  On 05/03/2018 at 15:55, Exiled_Tat_Gatherer said:

As above - a 'Whatever happened to?' thread could prove an eye opener.......... I'm sure owners clubs could help out a bit.

I still have those PC mags stashed in my folks loft somewhere - was an avid reader of the restorations.

 

There are a few threads scattered about, here is one

http://autoshite.com/topic/22077-practical-classics-rover-sd1-project/

 

The place where current and past staffers pop in is practicallyclassic forum

[neil1971]

  On 05/03/2018 at 15:48, danthecapriman said:

In a similar vein, does anyone remember or have pics of the Triumph 2000 saloon PC restored similar to the Ford Zephyr?

 

I have it on good authority it was banger raced a few years ago, but I don’t remember seeing it when it was restored.

 

Can you remember roughly when it featured, I've got a load of PC mags in the garage so may be able to post them up

 

  On 04/03/2018 at 22:27, 59Impala said:

The Zephyr is alive and well and on one of it's owner's private plates, the number of which escapes me. It is now pale blue and has had lot of work done to it but as I'm not the owner I'm not at liberty to disclose all that was done. It is very very nice and lives with the owner's equally stunning Zodiac saloon and by sheer chance his Silver Cloud! Another small coincidence is that when Practical Classics gave the Zephyr away in a competition it was won by a couple of chaps who lived in Welling which is where I also used to live and where a specialist in the big Fords also lived. 

 

Thank you, glad it's still around and in good hands

[danthecapriman]

  On 05/03/2018 at 18:12, neil1971 said:

Can you remember roughly when it featured, I've got a load of PC mags in the garage so may be able to post them up

I think it was back in the 90’s. I seem to think it was green? I can vaguely remember reading about it, then a few years back I was looking at banger racing pics and it turned out one of the 2000’s on the classic banger meetings was this very car.

 

 

I had all the old issues of PC right from number 1 but they got damp in storage and ended up rotting so I had to bin them.

[NorfolkNWeigh]

  On 05/03/2018 at 15:48, Exiled_Tat_Gatherer said:

I'm intrigued too now - you're telling me that RR had extensive work previously?

No, just that it too cost £30k in the 90's. ie when it was new, it's a long time ago and plenty of time to rust away.

[captain_70s]

Ford Zephyr, general lifespan of 8-12 years. Even it was restored to as new condition in the 90s I reckon 20 years of use would see it needing work again unless it is seriously mollycoddled...

[Squire_Dawson]

They are a nice, large old car. Definitely one worth keeping.

[richardthestag]

  On 05/03/2018 at 12:34, NorfolkNWeigh said:

So did this...image.jpeg

 

looks like a CSK, wheels, dash and colour would suggest so plus high level fuel tank release etc 

 

the value of these things went a bit mad, suspect it was given a make over, see my resto thread for how bad they actually get

[mercrocker]

  On 05/03/2018 at 21:36, captain_70s said:

Ford Zephyr, general lifespan of 8-12 years. Even it was restored to as new condition in the 90s I reckon 20 years of use would see it needing work again unless it is seriously mollycoddled...

  

Have to disagree slightly.   The average age of a Mk2 in the early 80s was 25 years.   There were hundreds of them about back then, many in fine fettle and on their original engines.   Its the time when restoration became necessary that the extent of the tinworm became apparent and as I alluded to earlier, not always properly repaired.    They are a classic case of being run by people with more enthusiasm than cash....Properly repaired they should last indefinitely with careful ownership.    

[solid61]

  On 06/03/2018 at 20:08, mercrocker said:

Have to disagree slightly.   The average age of a Mk2 in the early 80s was 25 years.   There were hundreds of them about back then, many in fine fettle and on their original engines.   Its the time when restoration became necessary that the extent of the tinworm became apparent and as I alluded to earlier, not always properly repaired.    They are a classic case of being run by people with more enthusiasm than cash....Properly repaired they should last indefinitely with careful ownership.

 

funny you should mention mk2 numbers in the early 80s,i was on the mk2 owners club poole harbour run circa 1980/81 in a lowline consul (538 peg) and there must have been over 100 cars on poole harbour that day,many of them being run on enthusiasm and definately not lots of cash,the mk2 london to brighton in the early 80s had many more cars on it and was a great sight going down the m23,you would never get the same numbers again,great times to be a mk2 fan,the club was well organised with also a monthly meet at stanwell village near heathrow,i dont know what happens these days but you can bet it wont be as much fun as then.

[lesapandre]

  On 06/03/2018 at 21:31, solid61 said:

funny you should mention mk2 numbers in the early 80s,i was on the mk2 owners club poole harbour run circa 1980/81 in a lowline consul (538 peg) and there must have been over 100 cars on poole harbour that day,many of them being run on enthusiasm and definately not lots of cash,the mk2 london to brighton in the early 80s had many more cars on it and was a great sight going down the m23,you would never get the same numbers again,great times to be a mk2 fan,the club was well organised with also a monthly meet at stanwell village near heathrow,i dont know what happens these days but you can bet it wont be as much fun as then.

It's a funny thing but a good point made - when some of us were young (70's or 80's) classic cars were often from the 50's, old but in reality they were only 20-30 years old. Made out of thicker metal, often overengineered and made in largish numbers they survived well ...until they needed major bodywork. They also seemed very old-fashioned in the era of the VW Golf. I had an Ausin A35  and a Mercedes 220S in 1980 - they looked and seemed antique then but were in fact only 21 years old. They drove like a cars from another era. Yet my current Mercedes 124 is now 28 years old and to me doesnt feel antique  - may of course just be my age!

[lesapandre]

It also doesnt attract the same attention that say 'old car'.

[mercrocker]

  On 06/03/2018 at 21:31, solid61 said:

,the mk2 london to brighton in the early 80s had many more cars on it and was a great sight going down the m23,you would never get the same numbers again,great times 

 

Sorry to take your post slightly out of context but yes...couldnt agree more.  I had Mk3s throughout the 80s and tagged along on quite a few of those Brighton runs.   Just turn up and tag on - absolutely brilliant.   No facebook, no apps, no satnav - just follow that Mk2!

[lesapandre]

The other thing was that 'cooking' 50's cars were pretty cheap in relation to car costs generally. My A35 was £150 drive away in 1979. So often less well -heeled owners had cars that once big bills came in they were not repaired.

[solid61]

  On 06/03/2018 at 22:03, mercrocker said:

Sorry to take your post slightly out of context but yes...couldnt agree more.  I had Mk3s throughout the 80s and tagged along on quite a few of those Brighton runs.   Just turn up and tag on - absolutely brilliant.   No facebook, no apps, no satnav - just follow that Mk2!

Just to add,no speed cameras,not much traffic,no parking restrictions,just a good bunch enjoying the old cars,just about anything was welcome to join in,i followed it in a pb cresta one year !!!

[neil1971]

Was this the one, I don't have all the PC mags and don't think I have one with the car finished unfortunately but this is from March 1993.

 

Can you remember who raced it and where, they were always popular at Mildenhalll Pre '70?

 

 

 

I think it was back in the 90’s. I seem to think it was green? I can vaguely remember reading about it, then a few years back I was looking at banger racing pics and it turned out one of the 2000’s on the classic banger meetings was this very car.


I had all the old issues of PC right from number 1 but they got damp in storage and ended up rotting so I had to bin them.