Ford Pilot
The Ford Pilot wis a lairge caur frae Ford introduced in August 1947. It wis effectively replaced in 1951 wi the launch o Ford UK's Zephyr Six an Consul models, though V8 Pilots wur still offered for sale, being gradually withdrawn during that year. During the period o manufacture 22,155 caurs wur produced.
Engine an running gear [edit]
The Pilot wis the first lairge post-war Ford. It wis based on a pre-war 22 hp chassis, an wis initially offered with the 2227 cc side-valve engine frae the 1939 model. The engine wis soon replaced: maist Pilots wur fitted with a more generously pouered 3622 cc, 90 hp (67 kW) sidevalve V8 engine, haein a stroke o 92.25 mm an bore o 79 mm with single Solex carburettor. It haed 6-volt electrics. The gears wur changed bi means o a gear lever on the steering column; the gearbox itself haed three forward ratios an ane reverse. Steering uised a form o worm an roller system kent as a Marles steering box wi an "hour-glass cam an a double roller". The caur wis evidently seen as rather auld-fashioned even at the time, but its front brakes wur hydraulically-controlled. The rear brakes wur rod-operated.
Maist Pilots wur fower-door saloons, but Estate an pick-up versions wur produced, the latter for the export market anerlie. The front windscreen coud be opened for ventilation pivoting aboot a top hinge. Production ended in 1951 when the Pilot wis replaced bi the Ford Zephyr.
Like ither Fords o the era, the Pilot uised vacuum-driven wipers takin their pouer frae the engine manifold; as a result they tended tae slow drastically or even stop when full throttle wis uised under load. The caur wis reputed tae be capable o 80 mph (130 km/h) an hae a 0 tae 60 mph (96 km/h) time o 21 seconds an return 18 miles per imperial gallon (16 L/100 km; 15 mpg-US).
Competition [edit]
The Pilot achieved some sportin success an Ken Wharton drove ane tae victory in the 1950 Tulip Rally an Lisbon Rally.
See also [edit]
- Ford Prefect - the intermediate family saloon
- Ford Anglia - the cheapest Ford o the range
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