1962 Consul 315: This faux newspaper piece of sales literature was produced by Ford of Canada, note the uniquely Canadian "Ford British" logo. The text reads:
For many months now there have been rumours about the all new automobile recently introduced in Britain and the Continent by Ford of England and now available in Canada. "Sports car turned family sedan" people were saying.
Like many rumours, there is some truth behind what was being said. The new Consul 315 does seem like a sports car to many people who have driven it. But the rumour was only half true. The Consul 315 was not designed as a sports car but rather as a low cost five passenger family sedan. However, it does have many characteristics of a sports car.
Taunt, precise steering to take the Consul 315 round any corner like it was running on rails. A 56 (and a bit) hp engine for drag race acceleration and expressway cruising allied to a 4-speed gear box as smooth as anything this side of Mosport.
Disc brakes on the front wheels are standard equipment on the Consul 315. Although these are usually found only on sports cars Consul 315 is fitted with them to make it a safer family sedan. Disc brakes provide fade free stopping and pull you up quicker from high speed.
Bucket seats are another sports car similarity. Another added luxury touch for owners of the Consul 315, the car that is not quite a sports car but quite a family sedan.
But sports car or not, Consul 315 does handle like a dream. Take her down the fast straight at 60 m.p.h. or better -- a touch on the brakes as you near the corner; no dipping or swaying --a deft change into 3rd gear -- accelerate through the corner; not a sign of roll; thanks to Consul 315's anti-roll torsion bar -- the merest touch on the steering wheel to straighten her up -- back into top gear and away. You can't help driving better in a Consul 315!
