Ford Consul VIN Decoder: History, Engines and VIN Lookup Guide
Every Ford Consul carries an identification number, and reading it is the quickest way to confirm what a particular car really is before you trust a seller’s description. The Consul name ran through several eras of Ford of Britain, from the smart Consul saloons of the 1950s to the Granada based Consul of the early 1970s. Because most Consuls were built before the modern 17 character VIN, they use a shorter chassis and serial number, and reading it confirms the model and roughly when the car was built. You can run a Consul number through the decoder at the top of this page, and the guide below explains the format, walks through the eras, and points out what matters most when you check one.
How a Ford Consul VIN is put together
The Consul predates the 17 character VIN that Ford adopted in 1981, so it carries a shorter chassis and serial number rather than a modern VIN. The number is stamped on a plate in the engine bay and on the body, and it identifies the model series and the individual car. Because these cars are old, the most reliable approach is to match the chassis number on the car with the registration document and any history that comes with it, and an owners club can confirm what a correct number looks like for a given year. The quick reference below covers the clues you will use most often when you read a Ford Consul number.
| VIN clue | What it means |
|---|---|
| Chassis and serial number | Stamped on a plate in the engine bay and on the body |
| Model series | The Consul generation, from the 1950s saloons to the Granada based car |
| Engine | A four cylinder on most cars, a V6 on the 1972 to 1975 Consul |
| Registration document | Should match the chassis number on the car |
| Production records | Owners clubs can confirm a correct number for the year |
On a car this old, matching the chassis number with the paperwork is the first and most important check.
How a Ford Consul is identified
The Consul is older than the seventeen character VIN, so it does not have one. A British Ford of this era is identified by its chassis number, stamped on the car and shown on the identification plate in the engine bay, with a serial number tying the body to Ford’s records. There is no modern position by position code to read, so the plate and the stamped number, checked against the paperwork, are what establish the car.
Where to find the number on a Ford Consul
Look for the identification plate in the engine bay, usually on the inner wing or the bulkhead, and for the stamped chassis number on the body. On a car of this age the plate, the stamped number and the registration documents all need to agree. A car whose plate is missing or whose numbers do not match is much harder to value, so check carefully before you buy.
Reading a Consul number in practice
Rather than decoding positions as on a modern VIN, you match the chassis and serial numbers against Ford records and the owners clubs to place the car and confirm its history. The clubs keep the knowledge that turns an old number into a year and a specification, so on a car this age they are the best place to verify what you have.
A short history, generation by generation
The Consul arrived in 1951 as the four cylinder member of Ford of Britain’s new Consul, Zephyr and Zodiac family, modern monocoque cars that were a big step forward. The Mk2 of 1956 grew larger, and the Consul Classic of the early 1960s was a more ornate small saloon. The name then rested until 1972, when it returned as the more affordable four cylinder and V6 version of the new Granada, sold until 1975 when both simply became Granada. The table below sums up the eras.
| Generation | Years | Body styles | Key engines |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Consul Mk1 | 1951 to 1956 | Saloon, convertible | 1.5 four |
| Ford Consul Mk2 | 1956 to 1962 | Saloon, estate | 1.7 four |
| Ford Consul Classic | 1961 to 1964 | Saloon, coupe | 1.3 to 1.5 four |
| Ford Consul (Granada based) | 1972 to 1975 | Saloon, estate | 2.0 four, 2.5 and 3.0 V6 |
Ford Consul engines and specifications
Because the engine matters to what a Consul is worth, confirming it against the car is well worth doing. The figures below cover the main engines, with power as a range because output changed across the eras.
| Configuration | Years | Power | Layout |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Consul 1.5 and 1.7 four | 1951 to 1962 | about 47 to 59 hp | Inline-4 petrol |
| Ford Consul Classic 1.3 and 1.5 | 1961 to 1964 | about 54 to 60 hp | Inline-4 petrol |
| Ford Consul 2.0 four | 1972 to 1975 | about 82 hp | Inline-4 petrol |
| Ford Consul 2.5 and 3.0 Essex V6 | 1972 to 1975 | about 120 to 138 hp | V6 petrol |
Ford Consul by model year
Buyers searching for a specific year want to know what they are getting, so the table below maps several years to the model series and engine. These cars predate the 17 character VIN and are identified by their chassis number.
| Model year | Identification | Series | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Consul 1954 | chassis number | Mk1 | 1.5 four |
| Ford Consul 1958 | chassis number | Mk2 | 1.7 four |
| Ford Consul 1962 | chassis number | Classic | 1.3 to 1.5 four |
| Ford Consul 1973 | chassis number | Granada based | 2.0 four, 3.0 V6 |
Reliability and the things worth checking
These are mechanically simple cars, but every survivor is now a classic, so condition and originality matter far more than complexity. The most common points to check are summarized below.
| Engine or area | What to check |
|---|---|
| Ford Consul four cylinder | Robust and easy to service, check for wear and oil leaks |
| Ford Consul Essex V6 | On the 1970s car confirm the V6 and check cooling and history |
| Ford Consul body | Rust in floors, sills and lower panels is the main enemy on survivors |
| Ford Consul originality | Confirm the chassis number matches the paperwork and the trim is correct |
Buying a used Ford Consul
When you find one worth pursuing, read the chassis number first and make sure it matches the registration document and any history with the car. Spend most of your time checking for corrosion, and confirm the car is complete, since trim for these models can be hard to find. When you are ready, enter your Ford Consul number in the decoder above, then use the advice here to make sure the car is genuinely what it claims to be.