IN the early 1960s a top-end Ford was a truly aspirational car.

The Zephyrs and Zodiacs of the time were large, comfortable and very pleasant to drive.

The Mk III series was one of the best Fords products for years and had become a TV star, being the vehicle used in the hit police drama Z Cars.

But in 1966 along came the Mk IV and somehow things were not quite the same.

The new models were larger than their predecessors and were a very bold statement of executive driving.

The massive three-box designs just did not flow for a proportion of customers and even though Ford had high hopes for these cars they were not the stunning models people expected.

They were certainly modern, with independent rear suspension, a long bonnet and short tail.

Because shortening the bonnet was deemed a bad move in terms of style, the occupants were shifted rearwards and the spare-wheel was placed ahead of the radiator. An unusual move, but one that might have had safety benefits in the event of a collision.

This radical move took a little getting used to and this, one of the first cars I drove as a motoring journalist, proved that progress was maybe not always for the best. My mount was the four-cylinder Zephyr lV and I remember well how the driving position just did not seem to be right.

It was not a bad performer with 87mph on tap but was just not as pleasant to drive as the old Zephyr.

The Zephyr 6 and top of the range Zodiac in this range were better drives, especially the last of the Zodiacs which featured a very American, aircraft-like interior. On the exterior, quad headlights, turbine-style wheel trims were the order of the day. Standard fittings included a headlamp flasher, reversing lights, a cigar lighter and coat hooks.

The Mk IV Zodiac with its 3.0-litre V6 engine could top 100mph and reach 60mph in 11 seconds. In 1966 it would have set you back £1,228 compared to the 1962 Zodiac's pricetag of £813.

The older Zodiac sold 77.709 units while the Mk IV struggled at 48,846 sales.

But in the early 1970s in drove the new Consul and Granada, with much more European looks. The 3.0-litre V6 Granada underlined the fact that this new car could really cut the mustard with books overflowing at 374,000 UK sales.