Zephyrs - were they 2.6 litres?

[Ray Bell]

The famous Ford Zephyr, built from about 1951 or so with a straight six, which was superseded around 1964 by a V6 in the Mk 4. Now, please tell me, those who can, what sizes did that engine come in - as fitted to the Zephyr?

I was under the impression that it was only a 3-litre, but now I'm told there were 2.6 engines too.

Please understand that I know the straight six was 2.5 or thereabouts, maybe even 2.6 in the Mk 3, but the question is just about the Mk 4 and later with the V6 engine.

[Sparky]

Ray, the 1964 Mk4 Zephyr 6 (Zodiac) was powered by the Essex V6 of 2553cc. (The Zephyr 4 had a 1703cc inline four)

As you say, there was a 2994cc V6, also designated 'Essex' and this larger engine was first used in the Mk4, and then right up until 1982 in the 3.0S Capri.

I believe the last use of the 2.5 V6 was the Mk1 Consul Granada of 1976.

Why do you need to know, if you don't mind me asking? Considering a restoration Project?

[Ray Bell]

No, simply that I didn't remember such an engine size in the model, but I guess they only brought the 3-litre version to Australia (private imports only, no volume imports). 2553, however, sounds like the inline capacity... you sure about this?

I'm also doing a story about racing 3-litre Capris in Australia.

[Sparky]

I may have made an error, Ray, but I can't be sure - I'm having trouble pin-pointing the reference material!

Have to leave this one with me, unless TimD or someone can beat me to it...

It does appear to be the capacity of the inline six, doesn't it?

Oops.

[Ray Bell]

Funny how numbers stick in your head... I'm sure that figure is familiar from the Mk 2 and 3 models, though.

It's possible, of course, that the V6 had the same bore and stroke, because the old engine was noted as being oversquare for its time. But then again, the 3-litre had the same bore as the 2.6, I'm told, so it's unlikely.

[Slowcoach]

Hi guys - I don't normally get involved in these types of discussions ,basically coz I don't know much !! However this one rang a bell - could the V6 have been the same one as used by Reliant in the Scimitar GT/SE4 , the forerunner to the more famous GTE , they used the Ford 6 in-line from the Zephyr from 64-66 , which was then superceeded by the V6 3.0L so the SE4a was born , but then the Sinai Desert War caused a rise in petrol prices so in 1967 Ford produced a smaller V6 of 2,495cc going into the now renamed SE4c . I would hope this fills in the query on the engine size as I should imagine Ford must have been using that engine in the Zephyr. Hope this helps......

[Ray Bell]

To some extent, this is 2.5 litres, however, and the mention I have is of a 2.6... and from Zephyrs.