The Ford Taunus 12 M P4 turns 50 and celebrates!
06/01/2012
When the Ford Taunus 12 M P4 was presented to the world public in 1962, both the media and the buyers of the economic miracle era were totally surprised. A mid-range car from Ford with front-wheel drive, a V4 engine and an enormous amount of space. What had gotten into Ford?
From Detroit to Cologne
The car developed by Ford in Detroit for the American market was withdrawn by Ford management shortly before the launch and - because they didn't want to throw the considerable development costs out of the window - was quickly placed with Ford in Cologne.
Ford Cologne was in the process of developing a successor to its 12 M Type G13 - also known as the Streifentaunus - and the decision-makers in Detroit were convinced that this model under the name "Cardinal" would be right for the German market. The Ford bosses in Cologne were not so enthusiastic, but the parent company made the decision without further ado.
From Cardinal to Taunus
In a relatively short time, the development engineers in Cologne changed a few details on the "Cardinal" and reduced the engine capacity from 1.5 liters to 1.2 liters, because in Germany this car was to compete against the VW Beetle and the Opel Kadett.
The production line was largely supplied from the USA, modified to meet the changed requirements and the engines were to be built in the new engine plant in Cologne-Merkenich, which had opened just under two years earlier.
The new car was given the designation 12 M P4, whereby the 12 refers to the displacement, the M means masterpiece and the designation P4 is the fourth project at Ford Cologne after the humpback Taunus, the P2 - also known as the Baroque Taunus - and the P3 - also known as the bathtub.
Model diversity
Gradually, Ford development brought first the two-door and then the four-door saloon, then the estate, a coupé and a panel van onto the market. A number of convertibles and hearses were also built by the specialist coachbuilders Deutsch and Welsch.
The engines with 1.2 liters and 40 hp installed from the start, or 1.5 liters and 50 hp for an extra charge, were supplemented in the TS towards the end of 1962 by a 1.5 liter version with 55 hp, which was then also used in the coupé and replaced by a 65 hp version from August 1964.
145 new long-distance records with the 12 M P4
Ford's advertising was also effective in the far south of France when it wanted to demonstrate the "long service life and durability" of the V4. Together with BP, who had just launched a new engine oil on the market, the Ford test drivers used a standard 12 M with a well-behaved 40 hp (29 kW) to chase it around the Miramas race track in southern France at top speed for four long months from July 1963 - over a distance equivalent to the distance between the earth and the moon.
After 358,274 kilometers, the masterpiece's "moon trip" ended with a crumpled body (the car had already rolled over at 284,275 kilometers because the driver had fallen asleep at night due to the monotony of the long drive on the five-kilometer oval. After the accident, he looked like a carefully mended mummy. A total of 145 new long-distance world records were the reward for the effort. The Ford Taunus 12 M P4 had proven its durability, with only a few maintenance jobs and minor repairs to keep the technicians on their toes. At 218,184 kilometers, a new oil pump was due, and after 258,534 kilometers a shock absorber had to be replaced.
International meeting of the P4 from June 15 to 17, 2012
The 50th anniversary of the Ford Taunus P4 will be duly celebrated this year. From June 15 to 17, 2012, a large international P4 meeting will take place in Weiterstadt near Darmstadt. Hildo Grabmann from Pfungstadt - Ford P4 type consultant and owner of a P4 Coupé - will organize this meeting in cooperation with LH Event GmbH at the Steinbrücker Hof in Weiterstadt on the occasion of the annual Asparagus & Barbecue Festival.
Between 80 and 120 different P4s - including all models available at the time in all possible color combinations - are expected. P4 drivers from many European countries, e.g. Hungary, Austria, Switzerland, France, Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway and Finland, have already announced their attendance. The world record P4 will also be there! A very special event is therefore in the offing here, as P4s are an absolute rarity on the roads today and even at classic car meetings.
That's why this meeting is currently being registered in the Guinness Book of Records. A further 100 to 150 classic cars - particularly of the Ford brand - have also announced their attendance.
The organization therefore asks all P4 drivers to contact Hildo Grabmann, either by telephone on 06157-5272 or mobile on 0171-233 5705 or by email at [email protected]. Further details and all registration documents can also be requested there.
