www.EnfoStuff.com

Hi All,
My name is Gary Kiernan, some of you know me from my long term association with British Fords through NAEFR. I was quite well known for having owned a couple of 302 V8 engined Cortinas affectionately known as "Bogus". In fact, over the years I have owned Anglias, Prefects, Consuls, Zephyrs, Capris (both 315E and 2.8I), Falcons, Escorts, Galaxys and Mustangs; in fact of the almost 100 cars I have owned in my life about half have been Fords. Hardly surprising for a man born in Essex, although I have lived in the US for 25 years and currently reside in Cave Creek, Arizona.
As mentioned elsewhere in this forum, I am currently the caretaker of the car known as the "Tillbrook Zephyr". This car was built in the late 60's by one Keith Tillbrook who was a well known race car mechanic, while his brother built a similar version, both of which survive today. My car still has its original Raymond Mays equipped engine, the sister car now has a Mark II Zephyr engine with single Weber. The full spec of my car includes the following: R.M aluminium head, high profile cam, custom pistons, six branch header with dual E-type jag exhaust, triple 40 DCOE webers, Aquaplane oil cooler, lowered suspension, additional tube shocks on front, 5 1/2 inch wheels, additional gauges i.e rev counter, oil pressure and water temperature. Now here comes the good part. I first saw this car in the April 1972 issue of Car and Car Conversions as a pimply youth not yet licensed to drive and fell in love with it. Fast forward to about 3-4 years ago and I saw a picture of it at the yahoo Zephyr group when it was under the care of, but not owned by, Kevin at Zodiac motor services in Kent England. He was quite amazed that I remembered the car from all those years ago and we kept in touch. About 18 months ago he told me it was coming up for sale, and the deal was done and it is now in my garage keeping my Fiat Twin Cam engined Morris Minor Convertible company.
I will now attempt to add some photographs for your delecation!

Hi Gary, welcome. Thanks for telling your story. BTW, would it be possible to repost those photos a size or two larger?

Cheers,

Michael

PS: Gary is also the proofreader for the E-Ford Lines.

Michael,i am trying to figure out the resizing.should get it done today

Hello Gary, it was me that mentioned your Zephyr! Hope you didn't mind. Both those Zephyrs have been outside my house as I live just two streets from Kevin. Another friend in the next street knew Keith Tillbrook and used to shall we say, 'pace him' against his Lotus Twin Cam Anglia. I wanted to buy your car from Andrew but sadly a lack of cash meant I couldn't. Nice to see that 'PYN' is in good hands though.

Paul

hi paul
i'm glad you did mention it as it spurred me on to post some info and some pics of the old girl.it also spurred me on to book her in for a new radiator,the old one expired in the arizona heat,so i can put some miles on her.funny thing is,living in arizona means that when summer comes we tend to put our cars away,it can reach almost 120 degs F!i get a lot more use over the winter,spring and fall.sort of the opposite of the rest of the world. in fact last year in the middle of summer i was invited to a car show in california.my friend reasoned that as it was 30 degs cooler in CA,it would be a nice break for me.then i realised i would have to drive 400 miles in a black car,across the desert,with no A/C.i decided against it.
cheers
for now
gary

The Zephyr is stunning Gary!

Hi Gary,

I can go with the black car/heat thing as I have a black 59 Impala Coupe which turns into an oven on a hot day! Yesterday was an example as I took the Chev to a show at Battlesbridge (which you probably know), followed Kevin in his 57 Consul Farnham and Mick in another of Kevin's cars, a 58 Zephyr. It is quite warm here at present albeit not as warm as Arizone but the inside of the Chev was a bit hot when it was time to depart. Drove home with all the windows down with a nice breeze. Lots of nice cars there and I guess the US chaps would have loved seeing all the UK Fords!

Paul

paul,in fact PYN was at the Battlesbridge show 2 years ago before i bought her.as we speak she is getting a new radiator and the front brake cylinders replaced {again] as thay have leaked twice!i see that kevin has the consul farnham on ebay right now,very rare piece of kit with the Handa overdrive.
cheers gary

from 1 Ford Junkie to another..with almost the same list!!
I still own Falcons,Galaxys,Mercs...and yup..a Pinto!!..oh...and an Edsel !! (mind ya...they'r all wagons)

your not alone my freind

Gary,

I remember that PYN was at Battlesbridge as Kev picked me up from my house in it to go to his workshop to meet Andrew who you bought it from. Great car! Kev and I went there in his Thames 400E van which incidentally was photographed yesterday for a feature in Classic Ford. They may well be doing a feature on my Anglia but I'm not holding my breath! The Consul is really nice and drives very well, it's a very useable car.

Paul

Gary

Just looking through to see who is on here and found your intro post. Didn't realise you came from the home of (english) Fords!
Guess you might know some of the Essex/Kent Cortins boys that get on BuySellCortina. There is big Ford show at Battlesbridge on August 15, Unfortonately I'm not going, (booked in elsewhere) but I'll try to get another Cortina club member to take some photos and post them, if he remembers his camera!!!

Ian

Ian, having lived here for almost 30 years I am a bit out of touch. Battlesbridge is a great show (Anglia Paul usually goes) and it is always nice to see the pics. I performed a modification on the Zephyr recently which makes her go and sound a lot better. I opened the rear windows. Awesome!

And I just found an ad for your Zephyr in a 1988 copy of Motor Sport magazine Gary. At a dealers for £6,950 back then. And hopefully I will be going to Battlesbridge in the Anglia assuming the seats have been done by then.