AEC Mammoth Major Mk3 1940s-1950s (Fina Fuel Oils)

AEC Mammoth Major Mk3

What is your favourite lorry of all time?

The Mk 3 Mammoth Major was a hugely popular eight-wheeler from the late 1940s through to the 1950s. It was renowned for its powerful air-assisted brakes operating on the front, third and fourth axles. The Mark 3 was normally powered by AEC's tried and tested 9.6-litre six-cylinder diesel, but after 1949 the larger 11.3-litre engine was sometimes specified, particularly for drawbar use, and at 150bhp made this one of the most powerful eight-wheelers of its day.

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AC 289 Mk3 coil-sprung 1966

AC 289 Mk3 coil-sprung

What is your favourite car of all time?

In May 1966, AC combined the new coil-spring chassis with the lighter 289-cu in engine to produce a car specifically for the European market. It was one of the best balanced Cobras of all. Production of the leaf-spring cars had ended in March 1965, after the introduction of the 427. The last 427s were made as late as 1968, but the last Cobra was a European-spec-coil-spring 289 built in February 1968.

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Austin Healey 3000 Mk3 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967

Austin Healey 3000 Mk3

What is your favourite car of all time?

The 3000 MkIII BJ8 arrived in November 1963 and featured a 148bhp version of the familiar 2912cc inline-six. There was a revised interior with full-width wooden dash, tunnel console and better trim. Phase II cars from May 1964 used radius arm, instead of Panhard rod rear suspension. The 3000 Mk 3 was priced new at £1,106 (1964). For many, this was the definitive Big Healey.

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Classic MG Midget Mk3 Car 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969

MG Midget Mk3

In late-1966, the MG Midget, like the Austin-Healey Sprite received an engine transplant, which made it a much improved car. Although still recognisably from the little A-series family, the new unit was a 1,275cc unit, effectively a detuned S engine, with 65bhp and a much more robust feel than the earlier 1,098cc engine. Along with the Sprite, which became the Mk4 at the same time, the latest Midget was also given a neat, lower profile fold-away soft-top. Production of this type ran until autumn of 1969, when a further facelift was made to what had become a British Leyland model.

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Ford Capri Mk3 Zakspeed Turbo 1981-1982 (Mark 3)

Capri Mk3 Zakspeed Turbo

What is your favourite Ford Capri?

From July 1981 the German market took another step forward with the launch of the Zakspeed-engineered Capri Turbo. It was a strange mixture of 2.8-litre carburettor-fed Granada engine with a KKK turbocharger, 2.8 injection running gear and X-Pack body panels, and was clearly designed to cash in on the success of the fabulous Zakspeed racers. Only around 200 were built and officially it was only ever available in Germany, through RS dealerships.

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Classic Ford Cortina Cars 1962-1982: Mk1, Mk2, Mk3, Mk4, Mk5

What Is Your Favourite Car Of All Time?

The Ford Cortina Story

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The Ford Cortina's place in motoring history is assured. Lasting exactly two decades, it became the benchmark saloon for family and business motorists during the Sixties and Seventies, ahead of strong competition from its rivals BMC, Vauxhall and Rootes.

Cortina Production Figures

MkI 1962 - 1966 1,013,391
MkII 1966 - 1970 1,027,869
MkIII 1970 - 1980 1,126,559
MkIV 1976 - 1980 1,131,850
MkV 1980 - 1982 1,131,850

Cortina Mk I 1962 - 66

In the late 1950s, Ford identified the need for an all-new family car. Although tempted by BMCs mini-car concept, which had taken the motoring world by storm, their engineers took a very conscious decision not to try and emulate this, but instead to build a reliable roomy car at a low price - the Ford Cortina. The only car that Ford launched in 1962, it was a design that went on to become the benchmark for family and business motoring for the next two decades.

Cortina Mk1 1962 - 66

The Mk 1 was launched in September 1962 with just one engine size of 1,195cc. The initial production of only 20,000 also carried a Consul bonnet badge. By January 1963, a 1,500cc-engined model was available with larger brakes and chome body strip embellishments. With prices including purchase-tax of £639 for the 2-door standard model and £666 10s 3d, for the deluxe model, Cortina soon became Ford's most important car range, sweeping all competition aside to become Britain's best selling car.

Cortina Mk2 1966 - 70

October 1966 gave first sight of the new Cortina. It offered crosp, clean almost European lines and a more powerful 1300cc engine complementing the 1500cc unit. Crossflow engines were available from August 1967. New safety features were strongly promoted - including door handles and switches that were designed to 'break-away' in an accident, child-proof locks on rear doors and dished steering wheels. Apart from the charismatic Lotus Cortina which was discontinued in 1970, the M II range will probably be best remembered for one particular model - the 1600E.

Cortina Mk3 1970 - 76

Given the 'Detroit look' by Head Engineer Harley Copp, the beautifully styled Mk 3 Cortina was appreciably bigger than the Mk 2. At launch, there were 2 and 4-door saloons, and a four-door estate in L and XL trims and featuring 1300 and 1600 overhead valve and 2-litre over head camshaft engines. GT and top-of-the-range GXL models were offered with 1600cc and 2 - litre engines. As proof of the total acceptance of the new Cortina, Ford sold a record 187,159 cars in 1972 alone. Eventually between 1970 and 1976, 1,126,559 Cortina Mk IIIs in all body styles were sold.

Cortina Mk4 1976 - 80

In September 1976 Ford introduced the more sophisticated and fashionable 'square-look' for the Cortina Mk 4. The new Cortina design featured increased visibility courtesy of a larger glass area, a lower waistline and an aerodynamic integral front-spoiler. It inherited much of the outgoing Mk III Cortina's dash layout. With firm control of the top-selling sopot, the Cortina continued to be improved with the addition of V6 power from a 2.3-litre engine available in GL, Ghia and S (for Sport) models.

Cortina 'Mk5' 1960 - 82

Although not officially a Ford marque, the 1980 revisions to the Cortina changed the appearance sufficiently for the trade and public to dub the new car the 'Mk 5'. Providing Ford with a 'family design image', the new Cortina range now closely resembled that of the larger Granada. Glass area was again increased, larger wrap-around bumpers gave more protection to the bodyshell and a new aerofoil grille further improved both appearance and the delivery of cooling air to the engine bay.

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Capri Mk3 Cars: 280 Brooklands, 2.8 Injection Special, 2.8T Tickford

What Is Your Favourite Car?

Ford Capri Mk3

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The third-generation Capri which arrived in March 1978 was mechanically similar to equivalent Capri 2s, but used a revised body with new grille, bumpers and front valance incorporating airdam, together with four headlamps and extended bonnet leading edge. The UK range at launch was as follows: 1300L/GL, 1600L/GL, 1600S, 2.0GL, S or ghia and 3.0S or Ghia.

Capri 3000S 1978-1981

The third-generation Capris were introduced at the Geneva Show in March 1978, allegedly with 150 revisions, but in practice little different from their predecessors. The new extended bonnet gave the headlamps a sort of eyebrow effect. The S models ran on Ghia wheels but gained a soft plastic rear spoiler and prominent S side striping. Desirable extras from the options list were Recaro seats (75.84), headlamp washers (56.14) and a high quality steel sunroof (£146).

Capri 2.8 Injection 1981-1984

Ford created a sensation with the Capri2.8i - the first UK-market version to use the Cologne V6 engine, the first to have fuel injection (160bhp), and the first to have its chassis redeveloped by Rod Mansfield's SVE department. Priced originally at £7995, it was an immediate success, with a genuine 129mph and 0-60 in a sizzling 7.9s. This became the definitive sporting Capri, and by the time the final 280 version had been sold in 1987, over 25,000 had been produced.

Capri Zakspeed Turbo 1981-1982

From July 1981 the German market took another step forward with the launch of the Zakspeed-engineered Capri Turbo. It was a strange mixture of 2.8-litre carburettor-fed Granada engine with a KKK turbocharger, 2.8 injection running gear and X-Pack body panels, and was clearly designed to cash in on the success of the fabulous Zakspeed racers. Only around 200 were built and officially it was only ever available in Germany, through RS dealerships.

Capri 2.8T Tickford 1983-1986

Ford backed limited production of what probably rates as the most dramatic of converted Capris, the 2.8T Tickford. A conversion based on the 2.8i, but with a 205bhp turbocharged 2.8-litre engine, the model was easily recognised by its extrovert body kit, which included spoilers and side skirts, together with its distinctive blanked-off front grille. Tickford reckoned on producing around 250-400 cars, but with prices starting at £14,985 it was hardly surprising that only 83 cars entered production, the last in 1987.

Capri 2.8 Injection Special 1984-1986

In October 1984 the Capri range was rationalised to just 2 models, the limited edition Laser and the Injection Special. The Capri 2.8 Injection Special was launched to coincide with the London Motor Show, its main features over and above the standard 2.8i being leather trim, spoked RS wheels, rear seat belts and a limited-slip differential. Minor colour coding was also applied - the grille, the bonnet lip extension and the headlamp bezels now finished in body colour, although the rear spoilers and mirrors remained matt black.

Capri 280 Brooklands 1986

A final run of 2.8-litre injected models badged as the Capri 280, were introduced in March 1987. Painted in Brooklands dark green, with red and white coachlines, they were tastefully trimmed in leather and fitted with 7J X 15-in alloy wheels. Costing £11,999 each, just 1,038 280s were built making them instant classics. It represented a dignified end for Ford's sport coupe, which had seen continuous production for the 18 years from November 1968 until December 1986 and notched up a total of nearly 1.9 million copies.

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