1962 Ford Consul Classic Rare four-door: quirky and fun; very smart Looking remarkably like a big Ford Anglia or a miniature Galaxie, the Consul Classic was designed in the late 1950s but didn't enter production until 1961 because the Dagenham plant was working flat-out trying to keep up with demand for the new Anglia.

Initially available with a 1,340cc engine, this was soon upgraded to a 1,498cc Kent engine driving through a four-speed all-synchro gearbox.

The car had front disc brakes with independent front suspension using Macpherson strut units and at the rear the live axle used semi elliptic leaf springs.

A contemporary road tester was impressed, noting that "probably the most impressive thing about the Classic is its road holding".

It also had an exceptionally large boot with a high-lift sprung lid that made it an ideal car for family holidays.

Despite a top speed of 80mph and 35mpg economy, it was a slow seller by Ford standards, mainly due to its controversial styling and ...