Ken Richards Mk4 Zodiac
Greetings to all,
I have always had a soft spot for Ford motor vehicles.
My first car was a Ford 8, later traded to a mate for a
1935 ford V8 coupe with a bent axle. I got around to straightening the axle and
then traded this car for a 1939 V8 coupe, I wanted a Deluxe 39 but settled for
a Standard.
Some of my mates, who were not in apprenticeships (I
started on $2.10 shillings a week) were getting into Mk1 Zephyrs. I was torn
between a 1947 ford V8 coupe or a Mk1 Zephyr (by now with hours and hours of
overtime I was getting $10,00 a week and living at home). I purchased a 1956
Mk1 Zephyr, a really nice car but for the breaking of rear axles, I could never
resist a "burnout for the boys by giving a “Demo”. The V8 Fords could
handle them no worries.
Over the years there followed a 1958 Mk2 Zephyr, then a
1964 Mk3 Zodiac, with twin exhaust pipes standard on her from the factory, a
really really nice car.
My mate was the service manager at Ford in Napier. He asked
me to bring a new Mk4 back from the Hutt to Napier. I had to have one of these!
I tracked down a 1967 Mk4 Zodiac painted black cherry, with 3 litre V6 and
colour coordinated upholstery, complete with "the works'.
I have owned this car since feb. 1970, 49576 miles showing
when purchased. What with work and what life throws at one, the speedo is only
reading 63 203 miles now - a genuine 63 203 miles. Now that I am semi retired I
hope to use this beautiful car on fine Saturdays and Sundays. It still has the
original factory paint. It sits on 14inch tyres, not the original 13 inch
wheels. 5 years ago I re-cored the radiator, (these cars tend to run hot). The
car has only been wet a very few times these past 37 years, and is always
pampered, my late wife always referred to this car as my 'mistress'.
I have always had a Ute supplied with my work hence the low
mileage on the Mk4. (Ken also had over 30,000 happy miles in his other White
Mk4 Zodiac during 16 years of ownership -now sold).
Too any trips seem to be done in the Nissan Primera.
It’s a 'tight' car, with body, steering, brakes and seats -
still like a new car. Just bit of wind noise at 60m.p.h. The aero-dynamics were
not such a big thing in 1966. In other ways these cars were ahead of their time
in 1966, the Mark4 was by far the most advanced British Ford yet, new engines
(V6), disc brakes all round, independent rear suspension. Plus overdrive, auto
trans and power steering, as optional extras
In 1970 I priced up a new MkIV Zodiac.
The car, $3965.00
Seat belts, $28.00
Rego,$19.30
Mudflaps, $4.80 (fitted)
Monsoon,$9.60
Exterior Sun visor, $29.45 (colour painted to match the
car!)
Push button radio, custom built,$98 (fitted to car).
Metallic paint or the whitewall tyres, I did not get prices
for. I wish now I had ordered a new car, tooooo late now!
I get lots of waves from people when out in the car. If it
is parked for a while someone will always come up and tell me what year the car
is, or what colour it is painted (they get both wrong). Most no-alls know nothing,
if I am asked I will tell any one, if I am told- I tell them nothing.
Listen and learn is the rule I live by. Someone out there
always knows more than me.
Cheers,
Will write again soon, a great great site for lovers of
these great old British Ford cars.
Come on guys lets get in behind it and make it 'the best’,
Write up a story of your car with some pics and send them
in.
Ken.
Ken Richards White Mk4 Zodiac.
Hi everyone.
Here is my past white Mk4 Zodiac, which I owned for some 17
years.
She had only 3 owners when I got her, it had been in a
family for 2 owners, then purchased by a bloke doing firewood. No cheap Jap
Utes or light trucks then.
It had a badly smashed drivers door. Because of her
mileage, 99 000, I was going to use her as a donor car for my 67 mk4 with only
half that mileage on the Speedo. She had dual braking, power steering, walnut
trim on the dash, 14 inch wheels, and was the very last and best of the breed.
That never happened. I did swap the 14-inch wheels to the
early car.
I got another door from the wreckers; they still had mk4s
in the very early 90s in some wrecking yards. I then freshened up the engine
and clutch and then ran up some 30,000 trouble free miles in this great old
lady. Early this year - 07 - she went to a new home.
I should have kept her; sadly one cannot drive two cars.
This was a most reliable car. I did not pamper this car. It
never gave any trouble; all the early troubles had been sorted by 1971. In the
early models, the front struts failed early on, with 58% of the cars weight on
the front. They also blew head gaskets, perhaps because the heads were not
tightened at the first free service, the rearmost studs were somewhat
inaccessible. The oil pump drive needed improvement as well. All in all these
problems were solved by 1968.
I used to see mk4s with Charger wheels (Valiant Charger)
this required that the front and rear guards be flared which I did not wish to
do. The Charger wheels centre to outside rim, were an inch greater than the
Fords. I solved this problem by drilling out the welds and moving the centre
disc one inch to the outside then re welding the rim (see above photo) you
cannot do this today, the transport dept would spew, although the car did go
through some w.o.fs. with these wheels on. Each wheel was 8 inches wide; this
gave great road handling and looked great too.
Her new owner is going to restore her. The body needed a
freshen up, I am glad it has gone to a good home.
I am going to track down a Mk1 Zephyr and restore it as an
ongoing project, anyone out there in NZ know of one at a reasonable price. Contact
me through Karl at avocalea@xtra.co.nz
with a Mkl for Ken!
Ken Richards.