Hi Davy,
Was good to finally get up and see the car and meet you, shame it didn't work out.
The info below might give folk an idea of what to expect so they don't have to ask the same questions I did - hope it helps!
Good news first :
Would have been very easy to spend ages chatting to Davy, very nice folk up there! (same as my mate who only lives a few miles away)
All the bits seem to be there (bodywork, engine/box/carb/arifilter), only thing I didn't notice was a spare wheel
Interior is sound, doorcards and bootsides should clean up ok. leather seats look undamaged, if you can re-stitch the 2 seams (top corners on the front seat) that have come undone it will be fine to use.
The car bodywork is easily worth saving, Front end, chassis and most of the floor looks good!
I'd guess for me as a hobby-diy welder a weeks spare-time welding would get the body up for an MOT, all doors etc seem to open & shut ok. Boot lock is all there but won't engage so maybe just needs adjusting?
Welding bits I noticed :
Inner sills have had a few MOT patches in the past, some now need extending as the holes have spread.
Boot floor from chassis rail to outer wing (both sides), 1 side is already cut out, other side needs to be cut out - then replace both. Should be easy as they are flat panels.
Rear of chassis legs and rear valance need replacing, again fairly easy as flat panels.
Front pasenger floorpan by A-Post needs plating or replacing.
The vinyl roof has a few small holes, these aren't at all bad but the rust you can see and feel under the vinyl might lead to some big surprises...
Only other issue - the lights are on toggle switches under the dash (factory-fit), one has snapped so you will have fun getting the any lights to work.
The mechanicals were one of the big problem for me - the car wasn't ready to be started so have no idea about the engine, autobox, diff, powersteering, or if brakes have siezed on.
The old exhausts pipe is there on one side and can be used for a pattern, new full exhausts are needed both sides (not a problem - just for info).
Also noticed the steering has some play (is there a bush on the rack - where arm from steering column joins - worn?), and the chrome rod (internal rack - which slides in & out of the rack?) had some rust which may be a problem.
Never tried the brakes. The new Master cylinder is good news but system needs checking all over then bleeding to see what happens.
I've been looking at big Fords for a while, some links I found interesting ...
Mk4 thread retrorides.proboards.com/thread/137628/mk4-zephyrs-zodiacs
Mk4 specs www.automobile-catalog.com/car/1966/908375/ford_zodiac_mk_iv_estate_car.html
Owners club www.communigate.co.uk/london/mkivzzoc/index.phtml
Mk3 thread www.rodsnsods.co.uk/forum/history-archive/mk3-zephyr-zodiac-thread-12268
The Mk3 I mentioned for sale : www.rodsnsods.co.uk/forum/vehicles-sale/1965-zodiac-mk3-farnham-estate-£1650-kent-32369
My random thoughts about buying & selling Retros, for anyone who is interested
retrorides.proboards.com/thread/153698/tips-advice-buyers-sellers-motors
The orginal Ebay advert (190609282566) might give folk some useful info :
1968 Ford Zodiac Abbott of Farnham Estate car. Sold at a large premium in their day meant that few were sold, and very few survive today. Powerful V6 meant strong performance coupled with acres of space once the rear seats were folded.
I bought this car in May as a barn find in the Northern reaches of Scotland and had it transported to a secure dry storage unit in Glasgow. It has remained there untouched ever since. The attached were taken last weekend in the unit and the outdoors pictures are from May. The car was running and moved into forward and reverse gears at that time. The brake pedal just went to the floor. The car moves freely for loading onto a trailer to collect. I have not had the vehicle running since I bought it but will have an engineer visit during the time of this listing. I will add an update accordingly.
The Zodiac requires some welding at the front A posts and where the sills there meet the front floors. The rear valance beneath the bumper will also need to be replaced. There will no doubt be other areas also requiring attention. I recall a small crease in the n/s front wing close to the end tip of the bumper. There is some places of surface corrosion on the panels but generally this is superficial and the panel work is mainly straight and strong, forming a good basis for restoration. The interior material is good but there are a couple of areas where the stitching has pulled away - from memory on the upright bolster of the drivers side of the front bench seat. The interior material has generally lasted well and the vehicle is complete.
The V5 is with me in my name but I will send this to my friend in Glasgow, along with the few papers/history linked to the car. There was a wallet in the glovebox which may indicate that the car was once owned by Viscount Cowdray in Chichester when new. The papers in the main seem however to refer to an earlier Zodiac Estate - perhaps the MkIV was a replacement? I have purchased a few spares over recent months, such as New Old Stock rear light lense, Automatic badge and a steering Cowling. There may be some other items. I will include whatever I find in the sale. The car comes with a pair of brand new correct for period number plates with white raised letters on black background.
I guess the obvious question is - I went to the trouble of getting up to see it, I like you, I like the car, why didn't I buy it?
1. I need to be able to drive (or at least roll) it off a flatbed into my workshop, the advert said you have had the car running so i was hoping I could check it out but it now has the carb off, plugleads (1 removed, 2 hanging lose), no battery, and no petrol. No way to tell if it will drive or roll. I did ask a coupe of times before making the trip but every question seemed to get a "have a trip up to see" reply. I did - it didn't work out.
2. Not all of what I've read/been told joins up so I'm wondering if there's something I've missed.
3. I love the fact that you want it saved and not put on a Banger track but I'm not so keen on the fact that you are sure its worth a lot more now (after being removed from dry storage and parked outside and exposed to 18 months of Scottish weather) than you paid for it. There were over 5,500 views on when it was advertised on ebay but only 7 people decided to bid. It would be a real shame to see it scrapped or raced but if nobody was offering cash when you bought it - maybe it's because people like it but don't want to own it?
Good luck with the sale, I love old Brit tin (especially Estates - as folk here know!), hope it goes to a good home and goes back on the road.
Was good to finally get up and see the car and meet you, shame it didn't work out.
The info below might give folk an idea of what to expect so they don't have to ask the same questions I did - hope it helps!
Good news first :
Would have been very easy to spend ages chatting to Davy, very nice folk up there! (same as my mate who only lives a few miles away)
All the bits seem to be there (bodywork, engine/box/carb/arifilter), only thing I didn't notice was a spare wheel
Interior is sound, doorcards and bootsides should clean up ok. leather seats look undamaged, if you can re-stitch the 2 seams (top corners on the front seat) that have come undone it will be fine to use.
The car bodywork is easily worth saving, Front end, chassis and most of the floor looks good!
I'd guess for me as a hobby-diy welder a weeks spare-time welding would get the body up for an MOT, all doors etc seem to open & shut ok. Boot lock is all there but won't engage so maybe just needs adjusting?
Welding bits I noticed :
Inner sills have had a few MOT patches in the past, some now need extending as the holes have spread.
Boot floor from chassis rail to outer wing (both sides), 1 side is already cut out, other side needs to be cut out - then replace both. Should be easy as they are flat panels.
Rear of chassis legs and rear valance need replacing, again fairly easy as flat panels.
Front pasenger floorpan by A-Post needs plating or replacing.
The vinyl roof has a few small holes, these aren't at all bad but the rust you can see and feel under the vinyl might lead to some big surprises...
Only other issue - the lights are on toggle switches under the dash (factory-fit), one has snapped so you will have fun getting the any lights to work.
The mechanicals were one of the big problem for me - the car wasn't ready to be started so have no idea about the engine, autobox, diff, powersteering, or if brakes have siezed on.
The old exhausts pipe is there on one side and can be used for a pattern, new full exhausts are needed both sides (not a problem - just for info).
Also noticed the steering has some play (is there a bush on the rack - where arm from steering column joins - worn?), and the chrome rod (internal rack - which slides in & out of the rack?) had some rust which may be a problem.
Never tried the brakes. The new Master cylinder is good news but system needs checking all over then bleeding to see what happens.
I've been looking at big Fords for a while, some links I found interesting ...
Mk4 thread retrorides.proboards.com/thread/137628/mk4-zephyrs-zodiacs
Mk4 specs www.automobile-catalog.com/car/1966/908375/ford_zodiac_mk_iv_estate_car.html
Owners club www.communigate.co.uk/london/mkivzzoc/index.phtml
Mk3 thread www.rodsnsods.co.uk/forum/history-archive/mk3-zephyr-zodiac-thread-12268
The Mk3 I mentioned for sale : www.rodsnsods.co.uk/forum/vehicles-sale/1965-zodiac-mk3-farnham-estate-£1650-kent-32369
My random thoughts about buying & selling Retros, for anyone who is interested
retrorides.proboards.com/thread/153698/tips-advice-buyers-sellers-motors
The orginal Ebay advert (190609282566) might give folk some useful info :
1968 Ford Zodiac Abbott of Farnham Estate car. Sold at a large premium in their day meant that few were sold, and very few survive today. Powerful V6 meant strong performance coupled with acres of space once the rear seats were folded.
I bought this car in May as a barn find in the Northern reaches of Scotland and had it transported to a secure dry storage unit in Glasgow. It has remained there untouched ever since. The attached were taken last weekend in the unit and the outdoors pictures are from May. The car was running and moved into forward and reverse gears at that time. The brake pedal just went to the floor. The car moves freely for loading onto a trailer to collect. I have not had the vehicle running since I bought it but will have an engineer visit during the time of this listing. I will add an update accordingly.
The Zodiac requires some welding at the front A posts and where the sills there meet the front floors. The rear valance beneath the bumper will also need to be replaced. There will no doubt be other areas also requiring attention. I recall a small crease in the n/s front wing close to the end tip of the bumper. There is some places of surface corrosion on the panels but generally this is superficial and the panel work is mainly straight and strong, forming a good basis for restoration. The interior material is good but there are a couple of areas where the stitching has pulled away - from memory on the upright bolster of the drivers side of the front bench seat. The interior material has generally lasted well and the vehicle is complete.
The V5 is with me in my name but I will send this to my friend in Glasgow, along with the few papers/history linked to the car. There was a wallet in the glovebox which may indicate that the car was once owned by Viscount Cowdray in Chichester when new. The papers in the main seem however to refer to an earlier Zodiac Estate - perhaps the MkIV was a replacement? I have purchased a few spares over recent months, such as New Old Stock rear light lense, Automatic badge and a steering Cowling. There may be some other items. I will include whatever I find in the sale. The car comes with a pair of brand new correct for period number plates with white raised letters on black background.
I guess the obvious question is - I went to the trouble of getting up to see it, I like you, I like the car, why didn't I buy it?
1. I need to be able to drive (or at least roll) it off a flatbed into my workshop, the advert said you have had the car running so i was hoping I could check it out but it now has the carb off, plugleads (1 removed, 2 hanging lose), no battery, and no petrol. No way to tell if it will drive or roll. I did ask a coupe of times before making the trip but every question seemed to get a "have a trip up to see" reply. I did - it didn't work out.
2. Not all of what I've read/been told joins up so I'm wondering if there's something I've missed.
3. I love the fact that you want it saved and not put on a Banger track but I'm not so keen on the fact that you are sure its worth a lot more now (after being removed from dry storage and parked outside and exposed to 18 months of Scottish weather) than you paid for it. There were over 5,500 views on when it was advertised on ebay but only 7 people decided to bid. It would be a real shame to see it scrapped or raced but if nobody was offering cash when you bought it - maybe it's because people like it but don't want to own it?
Good luck with the sale, I love old Brit tin (especially Estates - as folk here know!), hope it goes to a good home and goes back on the road.
