Taunus Generations

The G13 Taunus 12m was the first new German Ford after World War II. It featured ponton styling, similar in style to British Mk1 Consul/Zephyr .

Something else the new Ford Taunus 12M had in common with British Fords was the retention of a sidevalve engine at a time when competitors were increasingly moving over to overhead-valve units. The Taunus 15m was launched using a new OHV engine. The Facelift was released in 1953 as reworking of the existing model

The P3 had a completely new body and was completely restyled, earning it nicknames including "Taunus Badewanne, or Bathtub" The new Taunus instead offered a streamlined & modern outline. The new Taunus, provided greater interior width than its predecessor, despite being no wider on the outside. Although the 1.7-litre version was launched with the same 60 PS power output as the outgoing model, the new model was a full 6 mph faster, which was attributed to improved aerodynamics and a lighter body shell, with the same range of body styles as the previous generation, however, three engine sizes were now offered:

• 1.5-litre: 1498 cc, 55 PS 
• 1.7-litre: 1698 cc, 60 or 65 PS
• 1.8-litre: 1758 cc, 70 or 75 PS 

 The range was launched in September 1964 and volume production of the two and four door saloons began in November 1964. The "Turnier" estate version followed in January 1965 with coupé bodied cars coming along some time later. The car was slightly larger in its overall exterior dimensions than its predecessor,  and big changes with the P5 were under the bonnet where a broadened range of engines included, for the first time on a post-war German Ford, a V6. All the four-cylinder cars were badged as Taunus 17m. All the six-cylinder cars in the range were badged as Taunus 20m. The range of body styles was as before, still including the expensive coachbuilt cabriolet

The Ford Taunus P7 inherited its wheelbase from the P5, but the new body was nevertheless longer and wider, though lower. The P7a was poorly received when new which led to an emergency emergency face-lift in1968 to become P7b. The RS badge was also applied to the larger car alongside the P6. Body configurations were the same as those offered on the previous P5 range, as was, broadly, the engine range, with the addition of a 2.3 V6. As with the later P6, the P7a/b was never officially a Taunus, but was known only by 17m/20m designations

In 1970 a new Taunus, the Taunus Cortina (TC), was introduced. Ford offered a two- or four-door sedan or a five-door estate (identified like previous Taunus estates as the Turnier). Between 1970 and 1975, for the first Taunus TC, a stylish fast-back coupe was also included in the Taunus range.

This model also formed the basis of the Cortina Mk3, but with different door skins and rear wing pressings from the "coke-bottle" styling of the Cortina. In addition, there was never a Cortina Mk3 equivalent to the fast-back bodied Taunus TC coupé. The Taunus TC and Cortina Mk3 were both developed under the auspices of Ford of Europe, and most major components including key parts of the bodyshell were identical. The TC1 also has the option of V6 engines in 2.0 & 2.3 capacities that were not available in the Cortina Mk3

In 1979, the Taunus TC3  replaced the Taunus TC2 the major components remained basically the same. Minor bodywork modifications affected the base of the side windows which was very slightly lowered. Other changes visible from the outside included bumpers now wrapping around the sides of the car & the roofline becoming slightly higher on the saloons. The rear light clusters were made substantially larger. At the top of the range the choice of 2.3-litre engine cars was reduced with the loss of the Ford Taunus Sport, but across the range it now became possible to specify an "S" options package which in essence comprised a stronger antiroll bar and firmer suspension.