Ford 12M P6 Harlequin by aRi F. Huber

About "Ford 12M P6 Harlequin"

by aRi F. Huber

About the artwork

As is well known, the 1960s were very eventful times, also at Ford in Cologne. In 1966, the new P6 series rolled out of the Ford plants freshly assembled for the first time. So P4 baroque was yesterday, now rock and pop art was the order of the day - after all, the Beatles were in the top five in the US charts. Ford desperately needed a modern successor to the P4, although it was quite a success, but this time they introduced two new cars at once: Ford 12M and Ford 15M, instead of TAUNUS it initially just said FORD on the rear. A wonderfully straight cut middle class car for the whole family with four variants. Round headlights for the 12M and rectangular ones for the 15M as an external distinguishing feature, and the latter was much better equipped as standard.

But the competition was not asleep in the development of new cars, as McPershon struts at the front but lumpy leaf springs at the rear were no longer quite up to date. The standard version with 45 or 50 hp was simply too weak to drive south with a full load and the engine was much too loud and growly, so that one would have liked to drive a little faster. The equipment and comfort was too low, so that Ford had to constantly improve it in three series in only four years from 1966 to 1970. After only 668,187 units, the limousines, coupés, station wagons and panel vans were finished. Still a must for classic car enthusiasts, easy to repair, indestructible engine and very reasonable starting prices under 10,000 euros.