1962 Ford Consul Custom – Classified of the Week
June 23, 2020
And now, in the words of Monty Python, for something completely different. Namely this weird, but ultimately wonderful 1962 Ford Consul Classic with a custom twist. Shy and retiring types need not read on – this is a car that will be on the receiving end of many a neck-stretching stare.
The Ford Consul Classic was a confused and slightly underwhelming car. We’re grateful for it because it formed the basis of the first Capri, namely the Consul Capri. A dinky but beautiful coupe with fins and chrome aplenty. The Classic, however, was a more ‘normal’ family car, available in two or four-door. It had the same ‘notchback’ design as the Anglia, and while it wasn’t inherently bad, it wasn’t spectacular, either. By the time it was launched, it was already old technology, and pretty soon it was replaced by the much more advanced Cortina. The Consul Classic, after that, simply faded into obscurity. Which is a shame, because there was potential there. It was a good-looking machine, especially in two-door guise. One of those cars that, with the right nip, tuck and fold, could be stunning. If only someone was brave and bold enough to do it.
Enter stage left Mike Wareham of South Coast Customs. He’s a man with vision aplenty, as evidenced by this gold-flake custom creation. He took a car that was, by all accounts, a bit of a mistake by Ford, and turned it into something stunning.
As you can see, there is very little about this Consul Classic that’s original. The most notable change being the three-inch roof chop. The body has been smoothed, there are no door handles, the lights have been modified, the rear lights are now LED and reside behind red Perspex, the bumpers are gone and the whole thing has been dropped on the deck. It sits on chrome ‘smoothie’ wheels with wonderfully period whitewall rubber. The paint, which includes clever custom fades to better emphasise the lines of the Classic is deep and rich and you could easily lose yourself if you stare into it for too long.
The interior is a work of art, too. Created by Neil Tadman, it’s a sea of white and gold-flake vinyl. The seats, doors and dash have all been fettled. In the middle, there is a ‘ski slope’ centre console, covered again in gold flake vinyl from which the long four-speed shifter protrudes. The pillars, the dash, it’s all been sorted. It’s an exquisite work of art.
Power is taken care of by a 1,500cc pre-crossflow four-cylinder Ford engine with a four-branch manifold and 28/36 twin-choke Weber carb. The whole thing has, again, been detailed and painted and it sits in a smoothed engine bay in which all the wiring and other visual distractions have been hidden.
Is it cheap? No, of course not, it’s thirty grand. But it’s worth every penny. This car has had hundreds of hours poured into it by automotive artisans. It’s a rolling art piece as much as it’s a classic car. It’s a glowing beacon shouting that the custom car scene is still alive and bustling today. It’s a demonstration of what, with a bit of vision, a lot of time and plenty of metal flake paint, can be done to a once humble, perhaps even boring car. Though boring is one thing this Consul Classic will never, ever be again.
