Believed to be an original demo for a dealer in Devon
Light restoration project
Very solid and original throughout
THE APPEAL
With styling inspired by the cigar-shaped 1960 Ford Thunderbird, the Ford Corsair made its debut at the 1963 London Motor Show and was pitched as a more luxurious and avant-garde alternative to a Cortina.
It was a clever design, using much of the structure, glass and running gear of the Cortina GT to keep costs down, but with the striking and streamlined bodywork giving it a prominent look of its own and the feel of a much bigger car.
This one is a fascinating example. Recently unearthed from a long period of slumber, it was re-registered by the DVLA (incorrectly) as an import in 2021, but with research carried out by the owner and with additional information directly from Ford’s own archive, it has since been discovered that the car is one of the original launch batch of Corsairs, dispatched new to Bond’s Ford of Tavistock, Devon, and built in August 1963, two months before the motor show at which the model was revealed.
It's a fascinating car that needs preserving as is, or taking to the next level.
THE HISTORY AND PAPERWORK
UK V5C issued in 2021
Registration number issued by DVLA is AFM 814A – the one in the photos is that which was assigned to it new in 1963
Correspondence from Ford Motor Company and the Corsair Owners Club verify the car’s history and identity and could very well be used to get the original registration reassigned by DVLA, along with correct date of first registration of 7th October, 1963
Built in August 1963 and supplied as a launch demonstrator to Ford main dealer Bond’s of Tavistock
Blue leatherette upholstery with factory option bucket seats
All seat facings in good order with no evident damage other than some sun fading
Complete headlining with some discolouration
Modified fascia panel with additional vacuum, oil temperature and battery gauges
Strip speedometer
Some wear and minor damage to dash, and surface rust to front dash rail
Temporary ignition barrel installed as original key was lost
Door cards are all tired and in need of renovation
Whilst there is a general patina to the interior, the cabin is complete and largely undamaged, and should respond well to a sympathetic restoration, which is what this car deserves
THE EXTERIOR
Aqua Blue with Ermine White roof
Previously repainted in original colour scheme
All panels are straight, tidy and dent-free
Minor rust bubbles to rear lower quarter panels and one rear door
Small amount of damage to passenger door edge and nearside rear quarter panel
Some brightwork absent from the car in the pictures comes with it for refitting
Most chrome parts in sound and usable order but heavily pitted in places
All correct badges and trim are present, other than one missing hubcap
Underside appears sound, rust-proof protected and wit prior welded repairs carried out to a good standard
Overall very presentable and in need of very minor titivation to take it to the next level
THE MECHANICS
1,498cc Ford inline four
Four-speed manual transmission
Starts and runs, engages all gears
A full inspection and check-over is recommended as the car has seen very little use for many years, but it’s mechanically all there and in working order
SUMMARY
For one of the original launch Corsairs to resurface 60 years after the car was introduced to the world is quite a coup – but here is one of them. It’s a verified pre-launch manufactured car supplied new as a dealer demo and with all the paperwork from Ford to back this up.
Sure, it’s not perfect and it’s going to need a level of cosmetic attention to truly take it to the next level, but it’s a historically fascinating car that’s all there, is solid, complete, straight and requires little more than gentle cosmetic work to bring it to a great standard.
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