Making progress on our 1955 Zephyr Zodiac

I have been working hard on our little 1955 Zephyr Zodiac (English Ford). I got the motor and transmission in it today. Using a 2.3L Ford with a C3 Automatic behind it. Car is very rare. We have found that is is only 1 of 8 known cars in North America.

 

Are you going to custom it or just an engine update and drive the hell outa it?

 

It will be a custom. I can't leave anything alone. We had to do a motor though, the stock straight six was frozen solid.

 

Is that the one that lived on Craigslist for over a year? If so I am SO glad someone could take it and do something with it! I was so scared it was going to be scrapped. Please keep me posted on the build!

 

yeah, i was just gonna say, i remember seeing that one on craigslist when it was for sale.

 

YES! It is the one on Craigslist forever. My wife and I had seen it and we had no money at all. All of a sudden, it showed up again about 8 months later and we went and bought it for $200.00! I will keep you posted. Thanks for the interest.

 

$200 is a good deal for a unique little car. good job, keep us posted. what part of pdx you in?

 

yea man what part of portland are you in? I'm out in Hillsboro. I've got a buddy that would love you see your car when its done!

 

We live in Milwaukie. Just on the outskirts of Gladstone. So many HAMB members popping up lately around Portland. Where does everybody hang out? My wife and I are always interested in meeting new people and finding out what others are up to in our area.

 

Didn't they have V8 60's in them? Here's what you need to do to the 2.3L. I really like that car. Dean

 

Nope, they had a straight 6. Top speed of somewhere around 80 MPH. None of them had V8's from the factory.

 

Yes - it was a straight six. I have a freshly rebuilt one (carb to pan and the original gearbox) sitting in my workshop.

I plan to use it in some sort of modified or mabe an RPU.

Try checking the UK NSRA website for tips and ideas. These are a popular car to rod here in the UK. They make nice sleds or tough looking pro-street style cars when lowered and tubbed. Engine bay is big enough for anything BBF, BBC, even Hemis have been used. The classic engine swap, though, is the Rover/Buick V8 - all alloy and lighter than the 4 you have in now.

 

They're a reasonably common car here in New Zealand, there are quite a few stockers still on the road. A popular swap here is a SBF and auto.

 

The ol mark one bro.
as a kid my neighbor had one with twin carbs.

http://www.restospares.co.nz/bc_equip.htm

t

 

looks a real cool ride
there were some guys from London called the Harris bros who kinda specialised in these mk 1s and i`m pretty sure they always dropped small block fords in em and took em up the strip.cool little car pal.

 

BOY, this brings back memories. My older brother had a '55 Zepher convertable. It was his first car in 1960. When he went off to college, I would sneak out at night and drive all over town. I disconnected the speedometer, so he wouldn't know I was using it while he was away. I was only 15. That thing got serrious first gear rubber. It couldn't have weighed 2000 lbs.

 

Nice to see UK fords getting built in the US

 

$200! And it's not all rusted away - I thought it rained a lot in Oregon? You'd be lucky to get one for ten times that here!

 

There is some rust in the floors, but not bad. The car is really solid considering that when we bought it, it was sitting under a Cherry tree. I am still finding Cherry seeds. And yes, it rains ALOT in Oregon. This winter was especially bad.

 

Thanks for all of the comments and interest in the car. We considered putting a 289 or 302 in the car, but we found a smoking deal on the 2.3L and C3. Should have plenty of get up since the car is reasonably light. Plus we wanted something that got decent fuel mileage.

 

Blackie, I just checked out your website! WOW! Amazing work. Do you have a studio here in Portland somewhere?

 

Cool project! The best thing about those English cars, is that they take up only half the garage space!!

I'm a bit south of you in Oregon City off South End Road. NONAME (Jim Arnold) is about a mile away from me. If you need any glass work on any of your cars, get a hold of him before you go anywhere else. He fixed stuff on mine that I didn't know was wrong! As for hanging out anywhere, once you hit middle age with kids, theres no hanging out anywhere! It's pretty much work, home, babysit, work, home, babysit, yardwork, try to sleep, work, home, fixing crap, work, home, etc etc etc

 

I hear you! My wife and I never get any time to ourselves. We have a 13 year old, special needs daughter, and we work 12-16 hour days. Not much time for anything else. Amazing that I can get anything done on the cars. And to top it off, our old house has no garage, just a leaky carport with no lighting. Makes the winter months very tough!

 

That's funny i was going to mention the Harris boys, yeah they ran sbf's in theirs & would drive to the strip run high 10's 11's all day & drive home, that's almost 30 yrs ago!
Raymond Mays was the tuning guy for the original 6 cylinder & his triple SU set up was the hot one to have, a good friend of mine has an ex works Monte Carlo car.

If you want wider steel rims use Econoline........ same stud pattern!

Kev.

 

Very Nice!

 

I would love to see some pictures of the ex works Monte Carlo car! I have an article in Classic Ford magazine about the Zephyr winning Monte Carlo in 53'. Thanks for the info! Any good parts sources over there? I need some bumpers. I may use something else though? Undecided.

 

No Problem i'll hook up week after next with Charlie & get some pics he's only about 10 miles away from me, there's a good chance its the same car.

The owners club over here is a good source for parts but i'd had to think about the cost to you with the current exchange rate.

Just remembered Opel Manta coil springs are the same dia but a bit harder if you need to uprate the front, & i can't remember the full details but mk2 - 3 struts & Disc's can be used, i'll ask Charlie he'll know ...... been a long time since i messed with 'em.

http://www.fivestars.co.uk/TheCars/tabid/250/Default.aspx

Kev.