What year was the Ford Zodiac made?
The Ford Zodiac first appeared in 1939. The name was used for several generations of larger Ford sedans in the UK, with production stretching from the prewar era through the 1950s and into the early 1960s, across multiple updates and rebrandings.
Origins and prewar launch (1939–1945)
The Zodiac was introduced in 1939 as Ford UK's premium large sedan, designed to sit above the standard Ford line alongside the Zephyr family. It was built at Ford's British plants and featured a refined silhouette and a six-cylinder powertrain. The outbreak of World War II interrupted civilian car production in Britain, and factories shifted to war work for the duration of the conflict.
Postwar revival and mid-century evolution (late 1940s–early 1960s)
With the war in the rearview mirror, Ford UK relaunched and refreshed the Zodiac as part of its Zephyr/Zodiac range. Throughout the 1950s and into the early 1960s, the Zodiac served as the more upscale alternative within Ford's UK lineup, receiving styling and mechanical updates while maintaining its place as a family luxury sedan. The exact model years varied by market, but the Zodiac remained a recognizable badge of Ford’s British prestige into the early 1960s.
End of the Zodiac line and its legacy (mid- to late-1960s onward)
By the mid- to late-1960s, Ford had largely phased out the Zodiac name in favor of newer design lines and naming conventions, marking the end of its long-running UK-based badge. Today, the Zodiac remains a classic emblem of mid-century British motoring, prized by collectors for its blend of traditional Ford engineering and era-specific styling.
Summary
The Ford Zodiac began in 1939 and endured through several generations in Ford UK's lineup, spanning the prewar period, the postwar revival, and into the early 1960s before the badge was retired. It remains a notable chapter in British automotive history.
