The Ford Corsair Owners Club

Corsair History
Consul Corsair Technical Data
Corsair V4 Technical Data

Corsair History  (1963-70)

Consul corsair 1500 and 1500GT

During the development of the Cortina, it got obvious that the Classic was to expensive to produce for its market sector. As the Cortina was a little too downmarket to replace the classic, a replacement was neede.
    Well, the Corsair came in. It was a partly double skinned version of the Cortina floorpan, lengthened by 3 inches just in front of the rear wheelarches. Longer front and rear sections also came in. That gives the Corsair an overall length of  14 feet 9 inches, in comparism to the Cortina  with 14 feet 2 inches.
        The front windscreen and pillar section, and the slightly lengthened inner wings are identical with the Cortina, totally new front wings and bonnet, broader rear quater pillars came in, where as the roof and upper door sections where similar to the Cortina.

       The look of the Corsair reminds very much of the american Ford Thunderbird.

       A base model was produced, without a heater, most of these cars where exported. 
As not many of them sold, these cars without a heater are very rare nowadays. The deluxe model featured a bench front seat and coloumn gear change. Optional where front bucket seats with floor gear change and an automatic version.

      Engine: the well known 1500  "Kent" engine, as used in the Cortina, was fitted.

       The GT version featured the 1500 Gt engine, with an extra 19 bhp. Also bucket seats with floor gear change as standard, Gt badges, stiffer suspension, a center console, a rev counter, an oil pressure gauge and an am meter.

       Models available:
        standard
        deluxe 2 door/4 door
        GT 2 door/4 door
        convertible

Corsair V4

 late in 1965 the V4 version of the Corsair came in to replace the Consul Corsair.

        A slightly different patern for the headlining and the door panels, round instruments,  and some other small differences can be noticed. 
        The controversal V4 engine produced more power than the 1500,  but was well known for its lack of refinement, despite the balancing shaft.

     In 1966 Abbott of Farnham introduced the estate car, built on the saloon car, and a convertible was introduced. Even rarer cabriolets came on the market, 2 + 2 seaters with the hood "hidden".

    After 1967 the 2000 and the 2000E replaced the 1700 and the Gt.  The 2000E was a very luxurious car with reclining seats, wooden dash, reversinglights, and many other features. The uprated 2,0 V4 made a top speed of 100 mph possible. Quite fast for a 1968 family saloon.

   Models:
   deluxe 1700 V4 2 door/4 door
   GT 2000 V4  2 door/4 door
   estate deluxe 2000 V4 4 door
   estate GT 2000 V4 4 door
   convertible
   cabriolet

    The Corsair production ended in 1970, the Cortina Mk III replaced the Corsair.