1964 Ford Zodiac Mk III

This motor car is being sold as part of an overseas collection. It has been imported under the Bonhams temporary admission customs bond and is therefore subject to the lower rate 5% import tax if the car is to remain in the UK & purchased by a private individual. The 5% is calculated on the final selling price. For example, if the car sells for £8,000, then £400 is added, making the total amount payable of £8,400.

The winning bidder will receive a receipt for the final hammer value, and proof that HMRC fees are paid. If the car is subsequently exported abroad within 30 days then these fees are refundable.

A company buying the car will have to pay VAT on the hammer price, as well as duty + VAT.

Lastly, there will be a nominal administration fee of £250 for processing the NOVA application, and payable direct to the shipping company. A completed and processed NOVA will provide you formal proof that all duties & taxes are paid in UK and thus allow you to register the vehicle with the DVLA

In common with the majority of cars in this collection, this vehicle has been on static display for a number of years and there is no history available beyond that displayed in our photography section.

We have not started or driven the car so cannot vouch for its mechanical viability or functionality. It will require recommissioning prior to road use and is sold ‘as seen’.

It is available for view and inspection at our HQ near Abingdon and we will be delighted to show the car to you and/or your appointed engineer.

In common with many vehicles from the vendor’s collection, the car comes with virtually no history or service records.

We know it is a 1964 Ford Zodiac Mk III (213E) with a 2553 cc, single-carburettor, six-cylinder engine producing 109 bhp.

We believe it was living in or around Abingdon (very near us) from at least 1989 until as late as 2014, when it entered the vendor’s collection of static display cars.

This belief stems from the fact that the boot is full of cardboard boxes containing awards and cups won mainly at Ford and Zephyr & Zodiac Owners’ Club (ZZOC) events (mostly around Abingdon) for well over a decade.

In most instances, this car either came top or second in its class.

We think this extraordinary vehicle has won more trophies than Real Madrid.

One such is for ‘Best Rebuild’, awarded by the ZZOC in 1990. It doesn’t seem unreasonable, therefore, to assume that it was rebuilt in 1989/90.

We know that its mileage was recorded as being 75,814 on the occasion of its 2006 MoT.

We know that its mileage today is 80,917 miles.

And we know that the vehicle number is: Z64D227413D.

Lastly, we’re pretty sure you’ll be waiting a very long time before you find a Ford Zodiac Mk III anywhere near as good as this one.

This won’t take long.

The bodywork is not far from immaculate.

Ditto the paintwork

Ditto the chrome, glass, wheels, lights, lenses, trim and badging.

The one thing that grabs attention for the wrong reason is that something has been dripped or spilled on to the n/s/r of the roof.

It could be oil, or tar, or some equally gloopy, sticky stuff – and it may have dripped from another car carried above it on a transporter.

Who knows?

Either way, we’re fairly confident that the right cleaning products and some elbow grease should shift it.

Also, we spotted a small patch of slightly tarnished or discoloured paint on the o/s of the bonnet.

Finally, after looking very hard for quite a long time, we found one or two tiny chips on the edge of the driver’s door.

That’s it.

Everything else is a vision of virtually showroom-fresh loveliness.

The time-warp experience continues on the inside.

The grey leather upholstery - front and back - is in excellent condition for the car’s mileage, let alone its age.

The seats are comfortable, supportive and functional.

By now, you won’t be surprised to read that everything else is in equally good condition, too.

The carpets, mats and headlining have resisted the ravages of time and use with remarkable fortitude.

Ditto the wood and chrome trim, fixtures and fittings around the dashboard.

Ditto the door cards and parcel shelf.

Ditto the steering wheel and instruments.

Even the fabric trim around the door closures is intact and in fine fettle – and that’s almost never the case.

We can’t make any claims about the functionality of switches, knobs, levers, toggles, buttons, dials or other electrics as we haven’t tried to start the vehicle.

The boot is excellent, too, of course. You can see your own reflection in the underside of the boot lid.

The boot contains a spare wheel, tools and boxes of cups, gongs, medals, certificates, trophies, etc, all attesting to the fact that this car has long been more than a bit special.

The undersides look to have all the structural integrity you would wish to find. There is a tiny spot of entirely normal rust dust here and there, but nothing at all to worry about as far as we can tell. As ever, you’re strongly advised to come and have a look for yourself.

The engine and engine bay look cleaner, dryer and shinier than the average operating theatre.

The car doesn’t come with a service history or any record of work done.

Currently, this car has neither an MoT certificate nor a V5.

It must be registered in the country of your choice and you will need to contact the appropriate vehicle licensing agency for instructions on how to do this. Any paperwork shown in the gallery is a facsimile and in no way constitutes any kind of licensing or registration certification.

Zodiacs and Zephyrs had their moment of televisual glory in one of the first of the ‘realistic’ British cop shows – ‘Z Cars’.

One of the show’s characters, ‘Fancy’ Smith, was played by a fresh-faced Brian Blessed, who was just beginning to learn the noble thespian craft of bellowing very loudly.

We think he’d probably shout himself hoarse yelling the praises of this wonderful 1964 Ford Zodiac Mk III.

Provided the car’s engine and mechanicals prove to be as hugely impressive as the rest of it, we think this car is within spitting distance of reclaiming its concours-winning glory or, if you prefer, just being a magnificently preserved vehicle and the source of a great deal of classic motoring pleasure.

We’re confident to offer this car for auction with an estimate of £8,000 - £14,000, plus Bonhams bond payment and £250 NOVA fee.

Viewing is always encouraged. This particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; we are open weekdays between 9am-5pm, to arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.