It is also named after the big globe in the middle of the hood in front of the car. Otherwise the '12 ' marks the displacement and the m points on a masterpiece. After all it is the first Ford with self-supporting pontoon body. 'Self-supporting' means, that no special frame is necessary below the body, but all elements contribute to the stability, even the roof and windows. The weight decreases significantly with increased load. Interior and luggage space are significantly greater.
The fenders indeed are bolted at the 12m, but look no longer at its pontoon body as mounted extra parts. The engine hood extends in the same height the entire front of the car and the wheels. Model are the English Ford's 'Zephyr ' and 'Consul' from last year and of course an American version (Figure 1). This also can be seen in the quite unsuccessful introduction of a pickup truck in Europe.
Yes, a little help is needed from Ford Europe and a lot of USA, the project P 1 to arrange with the still small designer team. The construction location in Cologne will be pointed out by the double Ford logo with the letter 'F ' and 'K' on the trunk lid and the front end of the lateral trim strips. The car is quite different especially in the body of his predecessor. Its practical utility is often praised.
At that time the car is rather attributed to the middle class. Here the two eternal rivals, Ford and Opel, compete not in small car sector, where both hold no offer at hand. The reason is adjacent to the transport of the Opel Kadett production in the Soviet Union probably even and particularly in the income structure in Germany seven years after the Second World War.
For far less than DM 500, - average income of employees the car is a possibility more likely to self-employed, including especially those whichmust drive many kilometers per year. A pronounced small car is for those clients out of question. This then do not find the tax burden in Germany too high. Important factor is also the export, so perhaps the globe. At least, the quantities are considerable from the beginning. From one in about 5 minutes become 288 at three shifts per day and then continuously over 100,000 per year.
The American parent company these numbers may seem small. After all the market is there more than 50 million new vehicles per year in total compared to 1.5 million in Germany. To open the German market also against the competition from Opel, the price drops during the production time continuously. To date the strategy has not changed, to decrease the work of the suppliers to lower-cost production. In addition, a model 12 is introduced without any chrome with single steel tube seats, center mounted gearshift and other simplifications.
From today's perspective, driving a car appears at the time, even cheap. With prices around DM 0.50 (in spite of high taxes) for gasoline probably the 2500-km intervals attract attention but usually cost far less than DM 10, -. A major maintenance amounts to four times, although the next gear and rear axle oil change are to provide a lot of grease nipples and points. With the appearance of the oil filter also is more rarely the due oil exchange.
The engine all remain the same except for additional 3 kW (4 HP). However, in the transmission all gears are synchronized during the production period. In addition, the fourth is optional. The cardan shaft shall be of no center bearing and the rigid rear axle also changes not much. The front will be converted from transverse leaf spring to wishbone with "maintenance free" coil springs. One is brave at the time bad roads in some cases even with cobblestones, to reduce the wheels at 13 inches as the first manufacturer in Germany with a corresponding gain in space.
How do it rides in a car with no heating? No, no auxiliary heating is meant. Not any heating, even not one connected with the cooling liquid. Probably one need in the winter coat and hat. Today there are almost no cars without air conditioning. The extra charge for heating is well usual at the time even at the competing brands.
Specifically mentioned in the prospectus is also the turn signal instead of after the war generally used direction indicator. One light in front and one back and the in 1955 introduced in the middle are at this time very advanced. As special feature the indicator can be reset with the steering angle. And then the horn ring as a security element, because one finds it in dangerous situations immediately. Even double fanfares are assigned to the same cathegory. After all, the body already has a slightly better crash performance than its predecessor.