Ford Taunus P4
The Ford Taunus 12M is a small family car that was produced by Ford Germany between September 1962 and August 1966.
| Ford Taunus 12M | |
|---|---|
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Ford Germany |
| Also called | Ford Taunus P4 Ford Cardinal |
| Production | 1962–1966 |
| Assembly | Cologne-Niehl, Germany Genk, Belgium |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Large family car (D) |
| Body style | 2-door or 4-door saloon 3-door "Kombi" estate car 2-door coupé 3-door sedan delivery 2-door coach-built (Karl Deutsch) cabriolet |
| Layout | Front-engine, front-wheel drive |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 1183 cc V4 1498 cc V4 |
| Transmission | 4-speed all-synchromesh manual with column-mounted gear change lever |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 2,527 mm (99.5 in) |
| Length | 4,248 mm (167.2 in) |
| Width | 1,594 mm (62.8 in) |
| Height | 1,458 mm (57.4 in) |
| Curb weight | 860–870 kg (1,896–1,918 lb) |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | Ford Taunus 12M P1 |
| Successor | Ford (Taunus) 12M/15M P6 |
The Taunus 12M name had been used for the car's predecessor and it would apply also to subsequent Ford models which is why the 12M introduced in 1962 is usually identified, in retrospect, as the Ford Taunus P4. It was the fourth newly designed German Ford to be launched after the war and for this reason it was from inception known within the company as Ford Project 4 (P4) or the Ford Taunus P4. It was the first Ford to be fitted with front-wheel drive.
More unusually, the car was originally designed not for production in Germany but to be produced in North America and sold as the Ford Cardinal, a home-grown competitor for the Volkswagen. A last minute change of strategy saw the US production plans cancelled, and in 1960 Ford of Germany received a fully developed modern new design which they adapted for German conditions in order to replace their own by now badly outdated Ford Taunus P1.