View source for Ford Corsair

{{distinguish|Edsel Corsair|Lincoln Corsair}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2023}}
The name '''Ford Corsair''' was used both for a car produced by [[Ford of Britain]] between 1963 and 1970, and for an unrelated [[Nissan]]-based automobile marketed by [[Ford Australia]] between 1989 and 1992.

==Ford Consul Corsair (1963–1965), Ford Corsair V4 (1965–1970) – Britain==
{{Infobox automobile
| name         = Ford Consul Corsair <br> Ford Corsair V4
| image        = Ford Consul Corsair1965.jpg
| manufacturer = [[Ford of Britain|Ford UK]]
| production   = 1963–1970
| predecessor  =
| successor = [[Ford Cortina#TC Mark III (1970–1976)|Ford Cortina Mark 3]]
| body_style   = 4-door [[sedan (car)|saloon]]<br> 2-door [[sedan (car)|saloon]]<br>2-door [[convertible]]<br>2-door [[Cabriolet (car)|cabriolet]]<br>5-door [[estate car]]
| engine       =  {{ubl | {{cvt|1498|cc|abbr=on}} [[Ford Kent engine#Pre-Crossflow|''Pre-Crossflow'']] [[Straight-four engine|I4]] (1963–1965) | {{cvt|1663|cc|abbr=on}} [[Ford Essex V4 engine|''Essex'']] [[V4 engine|V4]] (1965–1971) | {{cvt|1996|cc|abbr=on}} [[Ford Essex V4 engine|''Essex'']] [[V4 engine|V4]] (1966–1971) }}
| transmission = 4-speed [[Manual transmission|manual]]
| assembly     = [[Halewood Body & Assembly|Halewood]], England (1964–1969)<br> [[Ford Dagenham assembly plant|Dagenham]], England (1969–1970)<ref name=Autocar1969>{{cite magazine |title=News and Views: Corsairs to Dagenham |magazine=[[Autocar (magazine)|Autocar]] |volume=131 |number=3844 |page=13 |date=7 August 1969}}</ref>
| class        =
| layout       = [[Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout|Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive]]
| height       = {{convert|55.5|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}
| weight       = {{convert|2194|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}
| width        = {{convert|63.5|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}
| wheelbase    = {{convert|101.0|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}
| length       = {{convert|176.75|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}
| related      = [[Ford Cortina|Ford Cortina Mark 1]]
|sp = uk
}}

The '''Ford Consul Corsair''' (later known simply as the '''Ford Corsair'''), manufactured by [[Ford of Britain|Ford UK]], is a [[midsize car|midsized car]] that was introduced at the [[London Motor Show]] in October 1963<ref name=Autocar196701>{{cite magazine |title=Used Cars on test: 1964 Ford Corsair de Luxe |magazine=[[Autocar (magazine)|Autocar]] |volume=126 (nbr 3717) |pages=40–41 |date=11 May 1967}}</ref> and available as either a [[sedan (car)|saloon]] or [[station wagon|estate]] from 1964 until 1970.  Also, a [[convertible]] version was built by [[Crayford Engineering]], which is now very rare and highly sought after as a classic. Two-door Corsair saloons are also rare, being built only to order in the UK, although two-doors were produced in quantity for some export markets. The Consul Corsair S was an export-only model with a two-door Deluxe body and 1500GT engine, sold in Austria and Sweden, and also in South Africa as the Corsair 83. Only one example of the fleet model, the Consul Corsair Standard, is known to survive. Unlike the Ford Cortina which had five versions (Mks), or the Ford Capri which had face-lifts, the entire production run of the Ford Corsair was a consistent Mk 1, with the body remaining the same, and the design changes being confined to the interior, engine, and mechanicals.{{citation needed|date=January 2016}}
[[File:Ford Corsair V4 Abbott estate 1966.JPG|thumb|left|Ford Corsair V4 estate 1966: The stylish Corsair estate conversion was produced by [[Abbott Coachbuilders|Abbott]].  It was more expensive than the [[Ford Cortina|Cortina]] estate, but offered no more load capacity.]]
[[File:Ford Consul Corsair (1963) 2-door.JPG|thumb|left|The 2-door Corsair was never a big seller on the home market.]]

The Corsair was designed by the same team as the Mark 1 [[Ford Cortina|Cortina]], with Roy Brown Jr. overseeing the styling by Charles Thompson, and Fred Hart in charge of the engineering. Replacing the [[Ford Consul Classic|Consul Classic]] range, it was essentially a long wheelbase re-skinned Cortina with extra soundproofing and more comfortable seating for high speed long-distance driving. The windscreen and side windows are shared with the Cortina, the mechanical components with the Cortina GT, and the body's internal panels are basically similar. The Corsair had unusual and quite bold styling for its day, with a sharp horizontal V-shaped crease at the very front of the car into which round headlights were inset. This gave the car a relatively aerodynamic shape; the top speed of the Corsair 1500 was higher than the equivalent Cortina 1500 even though the Corsair was slightly larger and heavier. The jet-like styling extended to the rear where sharply pointed vertical light clusters hinted at fins, recalling the Ford Consul Mark 2. The overall styling theme was shared with the early 1960s [[Ford Thunderbird (third generation)|Ford Thunderbird]]; both cars were inspired by Uwe Bahnsen's design for the 1960 [[Ford Taunus P3]], but the Corsair was an economical medium-sized motorway cruiser with smooth light-weight bodywork, and very like the Taunus in concept.

In 1964 Tony Brookes, with his twin brother as one of the drivers, and a group of friends captured 15 International class G World endurance records at Monza in Italy with a Corsair 1500 GT. (Monza Yearbook 1965)
[[File:Ford Corsair Convertible reg 1967.JPG|thumb|left|Ford Corsair V4 2-door convertible 1967. The Corsair convertible was a product of [[Crayford Engineering|Crayford Auto Developments]] which was first exhibited at the [[London Motor Show]] in October 1966.<ref name=Autocar196610>{{cite magazine |title=Cars stand by stand: coachwork: Crayford Auto Developments [stand]173 |magazine=[[Autocar (magazine)|Autocar]] |volume=125 (nbr 3688) |page=844 |date=21 October 1966}}</ref>]]
[[File:Ford Corsair 2000E 1996cc Jan 1969.JPG|thumb|left|With the [[vinyl roof]]ed Corsair 2000E Ford attempted to compete on price half a class up in the category dominated (in the UK) by the [[Rover P6|Rover 2000]] and [[Triumph 2000]].]]

The Corsair Deluxe was initially offered with the larger {{cvt|60|bhp|kW|0}}, single-carburettor, 1.5 L [[Ford Kent engine|Kent engine]] that was also used in the smaller [[Ford Cortina|Cortina]], and the Corsair GT came with the same {{cvt|78|bhp|kW|0}}, 1.5-litre engine as the Cortina GT. The car received positive reviews from motoring journalists, with some reservations about the dash layout and the closeness of the steering wheel to the driver. Although the 1963-65 Corsair range outsold the Classic, the car was not a best-seller like the Cortina, but given the low development costs it was presumed to be profitable for Ford. The range was revised in September 1965, gaining a better dashboard and interior ventilation, but adopting new [[Ford Essex V4 engine]]s which were rough at idle and coarse on the road.{{citation needed|date=August 2015}} The Essex engine was made in {{cvt|1663|cc|L|1|disp=flip}} capacity for the Corsair V4 Deluxe, and a 2.0-litre version with high fuel consumption and disappointing performance was installed in the Corsair V4 GT. One marketing tagline for the V4 models was "The Car That Is Seen But Not Heard", which was a real stretch of the ad man's puff, given the inherent characteristics of the engine. The other tag was "I've got a V in my bonnet". These V4 engined cars were poorly regarded by the public, and sales began to taper off. In January 1967 a much improved version of the 2.0 L engine was released, and in April 1967 the problematic V4 GT was replaced by the 2000E model. A 3.0-litre conversion using the [[Ford Essex V6 engine (UK)|Ford Essex V6 engine]] was one of the options available via Crayford Engineering.
<div style="float: right; margin: 0 0 0.5em 1em; width: 23.5em; text-align: right; font-size: 0.86em; font-family: lucida grande, sans-serif; line-height: normal;">
<div style="border: 1px solid #999999; background: #ffffff; text-align: left; padding: 1em 1em; text-align: left;">''' Ford Corsair production data:<ref name=owners>Ford Corsair Owners' Club Records at August 2018</ref>'''

{| class="wikitable"
|+ 
|-
! Consul Corsair 1500 (1963-1965) !! Units
|-
| Corsair 1500 Standard 2 Door || {{right|355}}
|-
| Corsair 1500 Standard 4 Door || {{right|953}}
|-
| Corsair 1500 Deluxe 2 Door  || {{right|33,352}}
|-
| Corsair 1500 Deluxe 4 Door || {{right|103,094}}
|-
| Corsair 1500 GT 2 Door || {{right|6,610}}
|-
| Corsair 1500 GT 4 Door  || {{right|15,247}}
|-
|  || 
|-
| Total Corsair 1500 (1963-1965)|| {{right|159,951}}
|}
{| class="wikitable"
|+ 
|-
! Corsair V4 (1965-1970)!! Units
|-
| Corsair V4 Deluxe 2 Door  || {{right|6,450}}
|-
| Corsair V4 Deluxe 4 Door   || {{right|118,065}}
|-
| Corsair V4 GT 2 Door   || {{right|1,534}}
|-
| Corsair V4 GT 4 Door   || {{right|12,589}}
|-
| Corsair V4 2000E 4 Door  || {{right|31,566}}
|-
| Corsair V4 Estate   || {{right|899}}
|-
| Corsair V4 Estate 2000GT || {{right|40}}
|-
|Corsair V4 Estate 2000E  || {{right|1}}
|-
|  || 
|-
| Total Corsair V4 (1965-1970)|| {{right|171,144}}
|-
|
|
|-
| '''Total Ford Corsair production''' || {{right|331,095}}
|}

Two-door Corsairs were almost all LHD cars, <br>destined for Europe/export.

</div></div>
An estate car by [[Abbott Coachbuilders|Abbott]] was added to the range on the eve of the [[Geneva Motor Show]] in March 1966,<ref name=Autocar196603>{{cite magazine |title=Corsair GT Estate Car |magazine=[[Autocar (magazine)|Autocar]] |volume=124 (nbr 3656) |page=526 |date=11 March 1966}}</ref> and in 1967, the Corsair underwent the Executive treatment like its smaller Cortina sibling, resulting in the 2000E model with dechromed flanks, which necessitated non-styled-in door handles, special wheel trims, reversing lights, a vinyl roof, and upgraded cabin fittings including a polished wood dashboard. The 2000E, priced at £1,008 in 1967, was positioned as a cut price alternative to the [[Rover P6|Rover 2000]], the introduction of which had effectively defined a new market segment for four cylinder executive sedans in the UK three years earlier:  the Corsair 2000E comfortably undercut the £1,357 Rover 2000 and the £1,047 [[Humber Sceptre]].<ref name=Autocar1967>{{cite magazine |title=Ford Corsair 2000E road test |magazine=[[Autocar (magazine)|Autocar]] |volume=126 (nbr3705) |pages=35–37 |date=15 February 1967}}</ref>

A five-seater convertible and a four-seater cabriolet conversion were available via [[Crayford Engineering]]. Only 18 Cabriolets were built, using technology from the [[Karl Deutsch GmbH]] in Germany. Only four are known to survive. 

The Corsair's performance was good for a car of its type and period, with a top speed in its later 2.0&nbsp;L V4 version of {{convert|110|mph|kph}} as measured by the speedometer,<ref>Measured at {{convert|100|mph|kph}} by Motoring Which?{{clarify|date=August 2015|is that the mag title, or a question "which ''Motoring''?}} April 1968 issue</ref> thanks to the progressive 28/36mm twin-choke Weber downdraught carburettor.

The Corsair was replaced by the Mk 3 Cortina in 1970, when the enlarged Cortina became Ford's midsized car, and a new smaller model, the [[Ford Escort (European)|Escort]], had already filled in the size below. The new [[Ford Capri]] took on the performance and sporty aspirations of the company.

Over its six-year production, 310,000 Corsairs were built, of which about 600 are thought to survive in the UK as of 2019. Conversely, of the 200 convertibles built, around 75 have survived.{{citation needed|date=July 2016}}

The Corsair was also manufactured by Ford in Ireland and South Africa. A small number of Corsairs were exported to Australia and New Zealand.   
{{clear}}

== {{anchor|UA|Australia}} Ford Corsair (UA, Australia) ==
{{Infobox automobile
| name = Ford Corsair (UA)
| image = Ford Corsair GL (16265005364) (cropped).jpg
| caption = Ford Corsair (UA) Ghia sedan
| manufacturer = [[Nissan Australia]]
| production = 1989–1992
| predecessor = [[Ford Telstar#AT|Ford Telstar (AT/AV)]]
| successor = [[Ford Telstar#AX|Ford Telstar (AX/AY)]]
| body_style = 4-door [[Sedan (automobile)|sedan]]<br>5-door [[hatchback]]
| engine = 1,974&nbsp;cc ''[[Nissan CA engine#CA20E|CA20E]]'' [[Straight-four engine|I4]]<br>2,389&nbsp;cc ''[[Nissan KA engine#KA24E|KA24E]]'' I4
| assembly = [[Clayton, Victoria|Clayton]], Australia
| class = 
| layout = [[Front-engine, front-wheel-drive layout|Front-engine, front-wheel-drive]]
| height = 
| weight = 
| width = 
| wheelbase = 
| length = 
| related = [[Nissan Pintara#U12|Nissan Pintara (U12)]]
}}Between 1989 and 1992, the Ford Corsair name was used by [[Ford Australia]] for a [[badge engineering|badge-engineered]] version of the [[Nissan Pintara#Second generation (U12; 1989–1992)|Nissan Pintara]] (a version of the [[Nissan Bluebird (U12)|Bluebird]]).<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20180916164145/https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=3c4xAQAAIAAJ&q=%22ford+corsair%22+australia&dq=%22ford+corsair%22+australia&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiv8PCcgv7LAhVMthQKHa8BDF4Q6AEILDAD ''The Bulletin''], Volumes 114-115, 1993, page 70</ref>

Known during development as 'Project [[Waltzing Matilda|Matilda]]',<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=RUi7FJ4pRsEC&q=button&pg=PA28 ''Information, Opportunism and Economic Coordination''], Peter E. Earl, Edward Elgar Publishing, 2002, page 28</ref> the Corsair was produced under a model-sharing scheme known as the [[Button Plan]]. It was offered as a four-door [[Sedan (automobile)|sedan]] and as a five-door [[Hatchback#Liftback|liftback]], in GL and Ghia trim levels with 2.0&nbsp;L (CA20E) and 2.4&nbsp;L (KA24E) four-cylinder engines.

The Corsair was intended to replace the [[Mazda 626]]-based [[Ford Telstar#AT|Ford Telstar]], which was imported from Japan. The two were sold side by side in the Australian Ford range, with the Telstar available only as the high-performance TX5 hatchback. However, it proved less popular than the Telstar had been, losing sales dramatically during 1991.<ref>{{cite journal | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=CcQTAQAAMAAJ&q=corsair++ | journal = International Motor Business | volume = 149 | publisher = Economist Intelligence Unit | date = January 1992 | pages = 68, 80 | title = The Automotive Sector in Australia }}</ref>

When Nissan closed its Australian plant in 1992, the Corsair was discontinued and the imported [[Ford Telstar#AX|Telstar]] once again became Ford's main offering in the midsized segment, until being replaced by the [[Ford Mondeo|Mondeo]] in 1995.<gallery widths="220">
File:Ford Corsair GL (16861472086) (cropped).jpg|Sedan
File:1990 Ford Corsair Ghia (9157120895) (cropped).jpg|Hatchback
</gallery>{{clear}}

==Edsel Corsair==
{{Main|Edsel Corsair}}
[[File:1959 Edsel Corsair Convertible - 49792836128.jpg|thumb|1959 Edsel Corsair Convertible]]
The unrelated Edsel Corsair was produced by the former Mercury-Edsel-Lincoln Division of the [[Ford Motor Company]] in the United States and sold under its [[Edsel]] marque in 1958 and 1959.
{{-}}
==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060804142303/http://fordcorsair.com/ Corsair web pages]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5P6mLeGvq8I Ford Corsair Liftback Commercial (1991)]

{{Early European Ford vehicles}}
{{FordEurope}}
{{Ford Motor Company vehicles}}

[[Category:Ford of Europe vehicles|Corsair]]
[[Category:Cars introduced in 1964]]
[[Category:1970s cars]]
[[Category:Rear-wheel-drive vehicles]]
[[Category:Cars of England]]
[[Category:Sedans]]
[[Category:Station wagons]]
[[Category:Convertibles]]
[[Category:Hatchbacks]]
[[Category:Front-wheel-drive vehicles]]