LIFE AT THE TOP – SEVEN EXECUTIVE FORDS

For over ten years, the ‘E’ or ‘Executive’ badge on a British Ford denoted living the high life – cigars, unlimited Luncheon Vouchers and dining at the Angus Steak House every Friday. So which of these very magnificent seven would you choose?

1965-1966 – 'Executive Zodiac' Mk. III

The time is January 1965, and Ford GB has launched a new model that was “specially prepared and appointed to meet the needs of Britain’s top men” – i.e., it was ideal for estate agents with Jaguar Mk. X aspirations but a slightly more limited budget. At £1,315 1s 10d, the ‘Executive Zodiac’ cost £287 more than the standard model, but the equipment did include hide upholstery, Borg Warner Type 35 automatic transmission, fog and spot lamps and wing mirrors. That was not all, as the cabin featured a radio, front seat belts, a centre console and separate front seats with reclining backrests. Only around 200 examples left the factory, but they started the tradition of British ‘executive’ Fords. Autocar believed the Mk. III had “a prestige image somewhat above the ordinary run-of-the-mill” - and it was the type of car that Arthur Daley circa 1965 would have regarded as the ultimate in style.

1966-1972 - (Zodiac) Executive Mk. IV

When Ford unveiled the Zephyr/Zodiac Mk. IV in April 1966, the flagship was ‘The Executive’. Here was a car in which “Luxury can truly be taken for granted” – namely, leather seats, automatic transmission, PAS, inertial reel front belts, a sliding roof, fog lamps and a radio. Your dealer could also boast of the new 3-litre V6 engine and how this was the first British Ford with all-independent suspension. At £1,567, the ultimate Zodiac was not cheap, but this was still a comparatively modest sum for the nearest Dagenham came to producing a scaled-down Lincoln Continental. Motor thought it looked “imposing (if not pretentious)” – precisely what the typical Ford Executive driver wanted from their car.

1967-1970 - Corsair 2000E

“Slip into something elegant”, urged Ford in January 1967, as their showrooms now had an alternative to the Rover P6 and Triumph 2000. Not only did the Corsair 2000E feature cut pile carpeting that “would look luxurious in a penthouse”, but also a dipping mirror, a wood veneered fascia, reversing lamps, a rev counter and a cigar lighter. There was even a vinyl roof - a ‘first’ for a post-war British Ford - and an MW/LW radio included in the £1,107 18s 4d price. Some motorists found the 2-Litre V4 engine somewhat unrefined, but the 2000E was £150 cheaper than the Triumph and £350 less expensive than the Rover. Car paid it a rather back-handed compliment – “made a success of the Corsair at last” – while this hilarious cinema advertisement is best described as “uber-1960s” - Ford Corsair Car Cinema Ad 1967 - YouTube

1967-1970 - Cortina 1600E

“You’re driving along in your spanking new Cortina 1600E, and your wife starts nagging you, so you suggest she reclines her seat and before long she’s dozed off…”. Automotive publicity has mercifully changed since the late 1960s, but this was a Ford too good to be marred by the sales copy. The 1600E debuted in October 1967, and for £982 2s 1d, you gained a combination of the GT’s rear axle and engine, the Corsair 2000E’s gearbox and the Cortina Lotus’s rear leaf spring suspension and stiffer spring and damper settings. Add a generous degree of extra equipment, including Wipac 562 auxiliary lamps, and you have a sports saloon du jour. Motor Sport’s editor complained, “I do not think a wooden interior decor looks right in a modern ‘tin’ saloon”, but Motor perfectly described the 1600E as an “Enjoyable extrovert”.

1970-1972 - Capri 3000E

The Capri made its bow in January 1969, and 14 months later, Dagenham proudly announced the ultimate derivative of “the fastest production line cars ever to be marketed by Ford of Britain”. Yes, with the 3000E, “All around you are the symbols and substance of prestige motoring” – namely, a heated rear window, a radio), cloth upholstery and that all-important vinyl roof. By 1971, the price, including optional automatic transmission, was £1,751 – expensive but not unreasonable for a car almost guaranteed to turn heads in Acacia Avenue. One Autocar writer thought the 3000E had “a sold, unburstable feel”, and today it is one of the most exclusive Capri Mk. Is; production lasted only until September 1972, when the GXL replaced it.

1973-1975 - Escort 1300E

The twilight of the Escort Mk. I was marked by the 1300E. Ford’s sales director Sam Toy told Advanced Vehicle Operations to create an up-market version that used as many existing parts as possible. The result was the 1300E which debuted in March 1973, with a four-door version following in early 1974. The body and suspension were from the 1300 Sport, while the 1,297cc engine was from the GT. The central selling point was that for just £1,271, you too could benefit from a wood-veneered fascia, fabric trim, fog lamps and wheels that were “sporty and elegant”. Best of all, the colour choices ranged from “Purple Velvet” and Venetian Gold” to “Amber Gold”.

1973-1976 - Cortina 2000E

‘Executive’ Cortina enthusiasts would have to wait until autumn 1973 when the 2000E Mk. III replaced the GXL. The past three years saw prices of the 1600E remain high, and Dagenham envisaged the new version as its heir. As well as the mandatory radio, the fittings included a new instrument panel surrounded by genuine wood, the essential radio set, a centre console with a clock, and Savannah cloth trim befitting the £1,638 price tag. Car regarded the 2000E’s “prestige image” as having been achieved “with commendable taste and restraint”. Or, as one advertisement bluntly put it – “Now will you please stop writing to us about the old 1600E”.

The following year saw the advent of the Ghia-badged Capri Mk. II and Granada, which seemingly marked the end of the British ‘Executive Fords’. The Cortina with “carpet that extends up to the doors” was apparently a noble swansong - until the debut of the Orion 1600E and the Sierra Sapphire 2000E. But that is another story…