1970 Ford Zodiac

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 £3,000, then £150 is added, making the total amount payable of £3,150.

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 was built in 1970.

We believe it was living in Manchester in 2018.

We know that it entered the vendor’s collection of static display cars in 2020.

And we know that its mileage today is 50,024 miles.

This 1970 Ford Zodiac Executive presents handsomely and, in general, wears its 52 years very lightly.

The bodywork is free of any dinks, dents, creases, ripples or folds to speak of.

The paintwork is bright, shiny and pretty good save for one rather obvious exception to the rule: some sort of oil, or tar, or fluid of some description appears to have been spilled on the car’s flanks and has left a residue of streaks and runs in several places.

We imagine these might yield fairly easily if threated with the right cleaning products and a decent polishing machine – but we can’t be sure.

The chrome work is mostly reasonable although there’s evidence of rust on and under the hub caps, and some of the chrome on the bonnet is foxed and pitted.

The passenger door currently only opens from the inside. The wing mirror on the same side is broken.

Much of the exterior rubber trim is perished, broken or missing.

The door covering the fuel filler cap doesn’t close flush with the panels either side and has lost some bits of trim.

There is some bubbling around the mirror on the driver’s side.

There are a few chips to the paint along the leading edges of the doors and bonnet.

All in all, though, this is a handsome car and one that’s in pretty good condition for its age.

The interior condition is good, too, although it’s some way from being faultless.

The seats are comfortable and supportive, both front and back.

The carpets, mats and door cards are largely untroubled by either time or use. Ditto most of the interior trim.

The headlining is torn and loose around the rear screen and, particularly, the sunroof.

The sunroof appears to be relying upon two blocks of wood to hold in the closed position.

Some of the insulation under the dashboard on the passenger side is loose and hanging down into the footwell. The rubber pad on the brake pedal is loose.

We were unable to open the glove compartment.

There is some rust in evidence inside the o/s/r door frame.

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 in decent nick and contains a spare hub cap and some miscellaneous parts in a bag.

The undersides look to have a decent amount of structural integrity and don’t seem unduly threatened by the small amounts of flaking and rust dust we can see.

Clearly, you’ll want to take a look for yourself.

The engine and engine bay look clean and dry with everything apparently in its right and proper place.

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.

This Ford Zodiac Executive is a rare survivor and a good representative of both the model and the marque.

Yes, there’s some work to be done but, from what we’ve seen, we don’t think the time or costs involved should prove prohibitive.

Provided the car’s engine and mechanicals prove to be as decent as the rest of it, we think this could be a very good buy for someone looking to turn back the clock to a very particular era in British automotive history.

We’re confident to offer this car for auction with an estimate of £3,000 - £5,000, plus Bonhams bond payment and £250 NOVA fee.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; 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’.