Ford MkIV Zephyr & Zodiac Advertising Brochure

The very short piston stroke requires only short stiff connecting rods which connect to a 4 main bearing crankshaft.
A skew gear driving a slightly inclined shaft has the distributor above and the oil pump below. This is adjacent to the main driving gear which reduces torsion flexibility to a minimum.

A high output dynamo is mounted on the top of the engine and is driven by a V belt which also drives the water pump.
The distributor is mounted on the top of the engine allowing ready access for adjustment and inspection.
The Zenith carburettor, in conjunction with a high compression ratio, gives a fine balance of performance and economy in the use of the premium fuel recommended for this engine.

As an additional refinement, an automatic choke which works on the temperature of the cooling fluid within the head and manifold, ensures reliable starting in adverse weather conditions and eliminates fuel wastage.

The fuel pump is mounted high on the engine in a direct airflow giving immunity from vapour-lock when running. As an additional precaution to cope with the extreme conditions of a stationary car or tropical sunshine, a fuel return pipe runs from a T junction back to the fuel tank. This gives a good flow of fuel at a steady pressure on starting and cools off the fuel lines to prevent vapour-lock.

Cylnder heads have inlet ports facing inwards and exhaust ports facing outwards, giving a crossflow of combustion gases from a water heated inlet manifold to the three branch exhaust pipe.
Autolite power-tip plugs in the cylinder head are self cleaning and make maximum use of fuel.

The Zephyr's new "V" engine is remakably compact in relation to its high power output.
This fact provided the Ford of Britain design team with a unique opportunity to reconsider the whole layout of the car. The spare wheel is mounted forward of the engine.
Four-wheel independent suspension eliminates rear axle intrusion, providing a deep, wide, spare-free boot with no unusable corners.
The boot holds six people's luggage with ease within smaller external dimensions. The extra room has been used to produce an extremely spacious and comfortable car.

The Ford of Britain Aeroflow venilation system has received high praise from press and public alike. It provides the driver and front seat passenger with individually adjustable Aeroflow facia vents which can direct a stream of warm or cool air in any direction, merely by fingertip adjustment.

Twin air extractor louvres at the rear remove air as it is used, completely changing the air within the car every 25 seconds - without draughts.
A two speed electrical booster fan circulates the air when the car is stationary or warms thewhole interior rapidly, a feature much appreciated by rear passengers.
The diagram illustrates the way in which Aeroflow distributes fresh, clean air throughtout the car for the comfort of driver and passengers.

The Zephyr Mark IV has an advanced and extremely efficient 4-wheel independent suspension system with semi-trailing arms and shackles, coil springs and telescopic dampers.
The individually sprung rear wheels, being free from the twisting forces imposed by a normal rear axle, maintain close contact on wet and slippery roads and permit the full power of the car to be used with safety.
Combined with a long wheel-base, wide track and a body with very little overhang, precise cornering at high speeds and much greater tyre adhesion under all circumstances is assured.

Four-wheel independent suspension is the reason too for the Zephyr's incomparable riding comfort.
Long wheel travel on the coil springs soaks up the bumps and jerks; road irregularities are eliminated where they occur - at wheel level.
Driver and passengers are insulated from discomfort whatever the road surface.

Why a V6 Engine?

The Zephyr V6 is powered by a 2.5 litre engine developing 118.5 BHP
The wide spacing of the cylinders and internal hot areas allow full circumferential cooling and ensure reliable long life.

The two banks of cylinder heads have a flat face with vertically mounted valves, the combustion chambers being formed by a recess machined in the crown of each piston (bowl-in pistons). This ensures a close control of combustion characteristics and is largely responsible for the very high efficiency of the V6 engine.

The valves are operated by ball seated, stud mounted rockers allowing micrometer fine tappet adjustment, actuated by hollow pushrods which permit a metered supply of pressure oil to the upper joints.