Ford Corcel
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The Ford Corcel was a car sold by Ford Motor Company in Brazil and Venezuela. It was originally based on the project from the Renault 12 when Ford do Brazil acquired a Brazilian factory from Renault called Willys, in 1960s. However, the styling of the Corcel was unique to Brazil before 1978. From this year, the Corcel II bore a strong resemblance to the Ford Escort and Ford Taunus sold in Europe and in Argentina, but still under the same mechanic.
The first year of production of the Brazilian Ford Corcel was 1968, and came with a 1.3-litre 62hp water-cooled engine. The Ford Motor Company released a station-wagon version of the Ford Corcel, calling it Ford Corcel Belina. Later, a L (from Luxury) and a GT version were made. Brazilian Ford Corcel GT was the first Brazilian car with factory original 5-speed manual transmission. With each passing year, many visual changes were made in the style of the car, stealing several details from the Ford Maverick, and becoming more and more like a Pony car. The Corcel from 1977 had a more aggressive look in contrast from the conservative 1968 version.
Some of the L and all GT versions also came with 1.4-litre 72 HP water-cooled engine with double-barrel carburetor, and was very easy to modify to achieve higher strength. Some car shops had the option to install an unnoficial small tuning kit that would improve the engine´s HP to 95 on the act of buying. Note that all of these HP values were accounted using the low quality, low octane south-american petroil of the time, around 50. Using today´s better fuel (O.R. ~85) do improve these values significantly.
The Corcel GT was moderately successful in Brazilian Tarumã, Interlagos and beach rally street car championships during the seventies, thanks to its stability from the Front Wheel Drive and low weight (920 kg), high power-to-weight ratio, losing to the V-8 Maverick and Opala, standing toe-to-toe with the Chevrolet Chevette and beating everything else including 4 and 6 piston engine Mavericks and some Dodge Chargers that subscribed the events. Those championships unveiled that the front drive universal joint was prone to break under heavy stress, so in 1976 the Corcel line adopted the Constant-velocity joint.
In 1978, following the Corcel, Ford launched the Corcel II, with completely re-made design and straight lines opposing the pony car style. But the Corcel II was heavier too, heighting 970 kg. The Ford Corcel II originated a pick-up version called Ford Pampa in 1982. The Ford Del Rey, introduced in 1981, used the same base but had a different body style and better upholstery.
The Corcel II was produced until 1986, but the Del Rey remained until 1991. The stronger AP-1800 engine from Volkswagen was used from 1989 to 1991 in the Del Rey and from 1989 to 1996 in the Pampa because of the Autolatina joint-venture.
[edit] External links
- [1] - Beach Rally championship results showcasing victory and good positions of the Ford Corcel
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