The 1962 Taunus 12M P4 – The first front-wheel-drive Ford

What was the original front-wheel-drive Ford? It was not the Fiesta, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, but a neat-looking saloon with faint US overtones from Cologne – the P4-series Taunus 12M.

In the late 1950s, Ford of Germany began work on the Project NPX-C5, the replacement for the Taunus G13/G4B, which dated from 1952. Meanwhile, Ford USA was developing ‘Project Cardinal’ as their rival to imported Volkswagen Beetles and the Renault Dauphines. Not only was it the first FWD car with the blue oval badge, but it was also the first mass-market V4 saloon. Of course, the Lancia Appia was V4-powered but was very much a specialist vehicle.

Ford believed that the V4 configuration would be more fuel-efficient than an inline configuration. By 1960, they commenced work on a new engine factory in Cologne, as their initial plan was to build the Cardinal’s engines and transmissions in Germany. However, by November of that year, Ford’s Dearborn head office ordered the cancellation of NPX-C5, as they decided that the Cardinal should be built in both Germany and the USA. 

Some managers at Ford Germany were not entirely happy with the Cardinal, regarding the front-wheel-drive system as too complex and the new model as too large. However, development continued until the new Vice President and General Manager of Ford USA, Mr. Lee Iacocca, paid a visit to Cologne. He later wrote in his memoirs that while the Cardinal would suit European markets, it would not suit American motorists.

On the 11th of April 1962, Ford announced that it would not be made in the United States. The price difference between the Cardinal and the Falcon would be minimal, and it would not be able to directly rival the Beetle and the Dauphine. The Cardinal would be entirely a Cologne product.

The P4-Series Taunus 12M debuted on the 15th of September 1962, and proved so successful that Ford sold 43,000 units in four months. For a very reasonable DM 5,330, the German motorist could enjoy one of the most technically advanced cars in its class. Auto, Motor und Sport magazine noted that “true family cars around 5000 DM aren't exactly commonplace” and within a year Cologne had sold 160,000 P4s. 

As for UK sales, Ford GB had been developing its own medium-sized car, and Project Archbishop made its bow five days after the P4 as the Consul Cortina. Ford GB and Ford Germany did not collaborate in the early 1960s, and in 1962, Autocar told its readers that there were no plans for UK imports via the concessionaire, Lincoln Cars of London.

The P6 replaced the P4 in 1966, and this 1962 example is an Italian-market Taunus - https://www.carandclassic.com/car/C1500197. And this wonderful English-language launch film should persuade you of the Taunus P4’s front-wheel-drive merits - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2WnpDFjQW8

With thanks to Neil Stewart of https://www.villiersclassics.com/ for his time.

With thanks to Neil Stewart for the permission to use the images in this blog.