The coupés and convertibles have style and class in abundance. That’s simply the default setting. Need proof – look no further than our last two Prime Find’s: a very cool Chevrolet Corvair Convertible and an avant-garde Panhard 24CT. But it’s no secret that we here at ViaRETRO are every bit as fond of the more low-key and conservative saloons and hatchbacks which were the everyday heroes of yesteryear. Arguably, these are the classics which truly represent our automotive history. And luckily, you actually don’t always have to sacrifice style just to get the practicality of a four-door saloon. Sometimes, you can indeed both have your cake and eat it too…
At this point, you’re probably nodding knowingly to yourself while expecting to read on about a Jaguar XJ6 or perhaps the Citroën DS. But no, there is no need to be quite so mainstream. These are of course both iconic designs, but conversely that’s precisely why you were expecting them. Let’s be brave and I shall instead draw your attention to a mass-produced Ford saloon from the mid-sixties. Pardon…?? Well, before you choke on your morning coffee, bear with me a moment here.
In late 1964, Ford Germany introduced their new 1965 model-year Ford Taunus 17M/20M – also known as the P5 as it was the fifth post-war Ford to be designed and developed by German Ford. Perhaps a little confusingly, it became the successor to the P3 Taunus 17M, while the Taunus 12M in both P2 and P4 form were smaller and cheaper cars despite sharing the Taunus model name.
The new Taunus P5 was generally well received by both the motoring press and not least the consumer. That said, the design of the new P5 was not as radical and bold as its predecessor. Instead, it was a more conservative and mature interpretation of the P3 while still maintaining the family resemblance – especially in the facial expression with unusually shaped headlights amidst a time where round headlights was definitively the norm. The P5 also grew a little in most dimensions and especially the track was significantly wider which not only improved handling, but also gave the P5 a more substantial look than its predecessor. All in all, it was and still is quite a handsome design – and yes, I’m even going to go as far as calling it both stylish and elegant. Just look at those beautifully integrated chrome bumpers both front and rear. Then there’s the way the front indicators and main rear light cluster end up being a perfect continuation of the upward turned bumpers. The almost pontoon-like shape which defines the upper curvature of the front and rear wings. The rakish rear wheel arch. And of course, that vast grill with those oddly shaped headlights. I’ve personally always felt that the P5 deserved much more credit for its well-balanced design.
Yet the biggest change was probably to be found under the bonnet. While the base 17M continued relying on Ford’s well-tested 1.7-litre V4 engine, the new 20M ended up being the launch car for Ford’s new V6 Cologne engine. The V6 was largely based upon the smaller V4 which also meant that they conveniently shared many components and could bolt up to the same transmission as well. Launched as a 2-litre engine, the Cologne first delivered 85hp – a number which later grew to 90hp as they upped the compression ratio a little. As a sidenote, the Cologne engine proved hugely versatile as it remained in production until 2011 while delivering power to everything from ordinary family saloons, sportscars, jeeps and even vans.
With the V6 installed, the Taunus 20M took especially the German market by storm as it was a not unsubstantial 18% cheaper than its nearest rival – the Opel Rekord 6 which had been launched only months earlier probably in anticipation of the upcoming new Ford Taunus. As such, it’s hardly a surprise that they managed to sell all of 710,000 examples of the Ford Taunus P5 in the only three years it was in production before the next generation Taunus P7 took over for the 1968 model-year.
However, like so many other workhorse saloons, the Taunus P5 seems to have sadly become virtually extinct today. But as I was dreamily trawling through the classifieds I came across a four-door 1966 Ford Taunus P5 which is luckily even a V6-engined 20M TS. Now we might as well cut to the chase and address the condition of this particular P5 – some will love it while others will no doubt be somewhat sceptical. Me personally; I’m on the fence on this one. The classic car dealer just west of Cologne in Germany calls it “Daily Driver Quality” and continues to explain that the car is fully functioning and ready to go, and that it could be either enjoyed as is or lend itself to a rolling restoration. Well, on the one side I could point out that I daily drive my Reliant Scimitar too, yet it still manages to present much tidier than this Taunus. But then on the other hand, the dealer also claims that much of the golden metallic paintwork is still the original factory paint and the same apparently applies to the interior which apart from the dash top still looks reasonably intact. So this is real patina! There is certainly a charm to it. Here are a few pictures which we have borrowed from the dealer:
It’s also worthwhile noting that the Taunus 20M is up for grabs at an entry-level budget. There’s seemingly some history with the sixties Ford which started life in Switzerland before being imported into the Netherlands in 2001 since which it’s only had a single owner. With an up-to-date APK (the periodic vehicle check for the Netherlands – like the MOT in the UK or the TÜV in Germany) this Taunus P5 can be yours at Euro 5,900 which is currently equivalent to £ 5,100. While the P5 undercut its rivals on price when new, it now seems that this 20M is continuing that trend. There’s no denying that this is a lot of usable sixties V6 saloon for the money. Here’s a link to the full advert: 1966 Ford Taunus 20M TS
What say you dear reader – is the P5 a truly stylish middle-class saloon or is it just another boring family hack? And what about the condition of this one – charming or not? Would you preserve the patina and drive it as is or commence a full restoration before taking to the roads?
With our Saturday instalment of Prime Find of the Week, we’re offering our services to the classic car community, by passing on our favourite classic car for sale from the week that passed. This top-tip might help a first-time-buyer to own his first classic, or it could even be the perfect motivation for a multiple-classic-car-owner to expand his garage with something different. We’ll let us inspire by anything from a cheap project to a stunning concours exotic, and hope that you will do the same.
Just remember – Any Classic is Better than No Classic! We obviously invite our readers to help prospective buyers with your views and maybe even experiences of any given model we feature. Further to that, if you stumble across a classic which you feel we ought to feature as Prime Find of the Week, then please send us a link to primefindoftheweek@viaretro