In April 1962 Ford finally called a halt on the Mark II versions  Consul/Zephyr/ Zodiac range which had been in production since the mid- Fifties and had begun to take on a decidedly dated look.

Their replacements,  the Ford Zephyr /Zodiac Mk III  were released along with the entry level veresion Consul which Ford, in their wisdom, had decided to name the Zephyr 4.

The model’s wheelbase had stretched yet again — at 107in it was seven inches longer than the very first Consul of 1951 — and for the first time shared with the six-cylinder-engined cars.

The zephyr/Zodiac's cabin was even more spacious than before, while the vehicle’ s weight had crept up - by another 551b.

These new additions, while having undergone dramatically restyling although still fitted with their predecessor's mechanical components and basic chassis design.

The Zephyr 4 was still powered by the same four-cylinder 1,703 cc (104 cu in) engine from the  Consul 375 teamed with a four-speed manual gearbox, although now with synchromesh on all ratios.

Those who wanted a more effortless ride could opt for overdrive or automatic transmission.

With a heftier price tag, the six-cylinder  2553 cc engined versions of the Mk  III,  the Zodiac and Zephyr were at once more characterful, more powerful and more appealing than the Zephyr 4 (ex-Consul) derivative.

Although these cars shared their wheelbase and basic body shell with the Zephyr 4, they had distinctly different noses — the Zodiac's having a prominent prow and four headlamps as well as more sumptuous passenger cabins.

The Zephyr 6 had the same four-light "greenhouse" as the Zephyr 4, while the Zodiac had a unique "greenhouse" with a different rear cabin profile and a rear quarter window behind that.

A five-door estate car derivative was available on both types from late 1962 — all of them (including the Zephyr 4 version) using Zodiac rear doors and having lift-up tailgates produced in glass fibre.

In January 1965 Ford announced the release of Zodiac Executive, the first of its series of better appointed "E" cars which came fitted with radio, auxiliary lamps, seat belts, driving mirrors as well as a whole new trim and colour schemes as standard.

A bestseller in its class, the Zephyr/Zodiac combination was not a car for the enthusiasts, although fleet operators much preferred it, as it offered a lot of car for the money, while not overly expensive to run regarding fuel consumption while inexpensive to maintain.  

Through time the Ford Zephyr/ Zodiac have gained a following among collectors, not so much for their performance or eye-appeal but more for their early Sixties glitz.