Der '''Ford Consul''' war ein oberen Mittelklasse Anfang der 70er.

== Ford Consul in der britischen Mittelklasse (1950−1962) ==
===Ford Consul I (1950−1956)===
Die britischen Ford-Werke präsentierten 1950 einen neuen Mittelklassewagen. Er hatte, erstmals bei Ford in Europa, eine moderne Pontonkarosserie sowie einen ebenfalls neu konstruierten Motor mit 1500&nbsp;cm³ und 48&nbsp;PS (36&nbsp;KW). Bemerkenswert war auch seine innovative Radaufhängung, die vom amerikanischen Ingenieur Earl S. McPherson entwickelt wurde: die McPherson-Achse. Sie beinhaltet zwei Neuerungen: Einen Rad führenden Stabilisator und das McPherson-Federbein. Dieses vereint Stoßdämpfer und Schraubenfeder zu einem platzsparenden Bauteil, welches ebenfalls Rad führende Aufgaben übernimmt. Diese Federbein-Konstruktion hat sich seitdem weltweit durchgesetzt, während Rad führende Stabilisatoren heutzutage in der Regel jedoch nicht mehr verwendet werden.

===Ford Consul II (1956−1962)===
thumb|Ford Consul II
1956 präsentierte Ford eine neue Generation des Consul mit der internen Bezeichnung 204E. Er hatte eine dem Zeitgeschmack entsprechende modernere Karosserie und einen auf 1700&nbsp;cm³ und 60&nbsp;PS (44&nbsp;KW) vergrößerten Motor. Er wurde, wie auch das Vorgängermodell, nicht in Deutschland angeboten. Eigenartigerweise entwickelte Ford Deutschland mit dem 17M&nbsp;P2 einen eigenen Wagen in exakt gleicher Größe, der mit dem englischen Modell nicht identisch war.

Mit dem nächsten Modellwechsel 1962 verschwand der Name "Consul" aus der britischen Mittelklasse. Das Nachfolgermodell ist der Ford Cortina.

===Ford Consul 315, Typ 110E===

''siehe Hauptartikel: Ford Consul Classic''<br>

Es handelt sich hierbei um ein aus Großbritannien u.a. in die Schweiz importiertes Fahrzeug von 433,8 cm Gesamtlänge, welches mit seiner eigenartigen Karosserieform und der nach innen gestellten Heckscheibe Anfang der Sechszigerjahre relativ selten beobachtet wurde. Vier große Scheinwerfer leuchteten die Straße bereits damals gut aus. Der 1340 ccm-Vierzylinder-Motor hat gemäß Prospekt eine Leistung von 57&nbsp;PS bei 5000&nbsp;U/Min. Über ein synchronisiertes Viergang-Handschaltgetriebe, welches am Lenkrad betätigt werden musste, wurde die Kraft auf die Hinterräder übertragen. Das fahrbereite Gewicht ist mit 918&nbsp;kg angegeben.

{| border=0 align=right
|-
|{{Infobox Automobile
| name         = Ford Consul
| image        = 250px|Ford Consul II convertible, date unknown
| manufacturer = Ford of Britain
| production   = 1951–1962; 1972–1975
| predecessor  = Ford Pilot
| successor    = Ford Cortina
| class        = 
| height       = 
| weight       = 
}}

The '''Ford Consul''' is a car manufactured by Ford in Britain.  

Between 1951 and 1962 the Consul was the stablemate of the more powerful Ford Zephyr.  It was replaced in 1962 by a new 4-cylinder Zephyr, and the new Ford Cortina.  The Consul name reappeared from 1972 to 1975 as a replacement to the Zephyr range and shared a body with the more luxurious Ford Granada Mk I. 

The Ford Classic and the Mk I Cortina were originally named the 'Ford Consul Classic' and the 'Ford Consul Cortina'. 

==Ford Consul (1951–1956)==
{{Infobox Automobile generation
| name         = Ford Consul
| image        = 250px|Ford Consul MkI
| production   = 1951–1956<br>227,732 produced.<ref name=AZ1945-70></ref>
| successor    = 
| body_style   = 4-door saloon, estate car, convertible.
| engine       = 1.5 L   Straight-4
| width        = <ref name=BritishCars></ref>
| wheelbase    = <ref name=BritishCars/>
| length       = <ref name=BritishCars/>
}}
The Consul was first shown at the 1950 London Motor Show and was the start of Ford of Britain's successful attack on the family saloon car market and replaced the larger-engined V-8 Pilot which had only been made in small numbers. It was given the Ford code of EOTA. Most cars were 4 door saloons with body design by George Walker of the parent United States Ford company but a few estate cars were made by the coachbuilder Abbott. From 1953 a convertible conversion by Carbodies became available. The body was reinforced by welding in a large X-frame to the floor pan. Unlike the larger Zephyr the hood had to be put up and down manually.

It was also the first car they built with up-to-date technology. The new 1508&nbsp;cc  <ref name=Motor1953/> engine had overhead valves and hydraulic brakes were used but a three-speed gearbox with synchromesh on second and top was retained. They were also the first production cars to use the now-common suspension, and was the first British Ford with modern unibody construction.

There is a bench front seat trimmed in PVC and the handbrake is operated by a pull lever under the facia.  The windscreen wipers use the antiquated vacuum system. The instruments, consisting of speedometer, ammeter and fuel gauge, are positioned in a housing above the steering column and there is a full width parcel shelf on which an optional radio could be placed.

A car tested by The Motor magazine in 1953 had a top speed of  and could accelerate from 0- in 28 seconds. A fuel consumption of  was recorded. The test car cost £732 including taxes.<ref name=Motor1953></ref>

<gallery>
Image:Ford_Consul_MkI_head.jpg|wide-mouthed Consul
Image:Ford_Consul_MkI_rear.jpg|Ford EOTA Consul
Image:Ford_Consul_MkI_tail.jpg|1952 Consul
</gallery>
<gallery>
Image:Ford_Consul_MkI_convertible_rear.jpg|Carbodies Convertible
Image:Ford_Consul_MkI_convertible_rearo.jpg|Top down Consul
Image:Ford_Consul_MkI_inside.jpg|Inside the Consul
</gallery>
<div style="clear: both"></div>

==Ford Consul II (1956–1962)==
{{Infobox Automobile 
| name         = Ford Consul II
| image        = 250px|Ford Consul II saloon
| production   = 1956–1962<br>371,585 fixed roof and 9398 convertibles produced<ref name=AZ1945-70/>
| successor    = 
| body_style   = 4-door saloon, estate car, factory-built estate car and pick-up (Australia only), convertible.
| engine       = 1.7 L  Straight-4
| width        = <ref name=BritishCars/>
| wheelbase    = <ref name=BritishCars/>
| length       = <ref name=BritishCars/>
| height       = <ref name=Motor1956/>
}}

In 1956 a new Consul appeared with the Ford code of 204E. Compared with the original it had a longer wheelbase, larger 1703&nbsp;cc,  engine and a complete restyle. One thing not updated was the windscreen wipers which were still vacuum-operated. The roof profile was lowered in 1959 on the Mk2 version which also had re-designed rear lights and much of the external bright work in stainless steel.  Front disc brakes with vacuum servo appeared as an option in 1960 and were made standard in 1961 (4-wheel drum brakes only, in Australia). The name became the Consul 375 in mid-1961. 