Patrick Babe with his greatly loved 1963 Ford Zodiac Mark III at Brophies Beach, Whitianga..
“I’m actually a devoted long time Jaguar fan having owned and driven several different models as day-to- day transport over the years. I also once worked for a company in Hastings that specialises in restoration work along with high end customer specific modifications for previous generation Jaguar models. Having served my apprenticeship as fitter and turner, I was able to take my skill set to a new level working on Jaguars which has had obvious benefits when carrying out my own restoration work on the Zodiac”.
When looking for a project car to restore back to its former glory, Patrick’s wish list included a vehicle that was slightly outside the norm in terms of its exterior appearance, not going to be a huge financial drain on the pocket, R/H drive, a parts supply which was readily available and having a manual transmission. The Zodiac ticked all those boxes especially with its large, by English standards, rear fins and lots of polished chrome work.
It’s a car that has often been described as a scaled down version of what was rolling off the American assembly lines at the time, but with far more practicality to cope with the more compact English roading network.
The Mark lll version was also a big step up from the previous generations and seen in many English motoring circles as an executive vehicle, a step up from the rest, one that stood out from the crowd and a ‘one owner’ car, which you like to be seen driving around in.
“While Ford had an assembly plant in NZ at the time which built the same model, this particular car was pre-ordered from the Ford factory in Dagenham London and then shipped direct to New Zealand where it stayed in the same family for around 54 years. In theory, I am only the second owner,” says Patrick proudly.
He explained how avoiding a season or two of harsh winters on the salt laden UK roads that eventually created huge corrosion issues over time for the majority of the British fleet was in fact a huge blessing as on close inspcetion he found it still had a solid chassis and minimal rust.
“When negotiating the sale, I got the feeling the car had once loving owners, but as it was handed down through the family, the love affair had well and truly ended and neglect had set in,”said Patrick. “ It had not been garaged for some time and was in need of some extensive restoration work. On close inspection, I discovered it had solid bones however, and everything about it was original. This is always a blessing when trying to breathe life back into an old car and the main reason I took on the challenge”.
The 2.5 litre engine and 4-speed transmission has undergone a total rebuild using all the skills and precision learned, working on those Jaguars and is one part of the restoration of which Patrick seems the most proud .
“I did it all myself and was very pedantic in getting all the machining and tolerances set to the original factory specifications. It’s so smooth it would easily pass the old school test of having a glass full of water resting on the top engine cover with the engine idling. These engines have amazing low down torque combined with top end power and don’t really cost a lot more than a modern vehicle of similar engine size to refuel. On the road, the classic design leads to great all round vision and comfort which is perfect for outings around the Coromandel”.
The interior trim including the upholstery, hood and dash lining are totally original and in remarkably good condition while some exterior rust repairs were carried before the Zodiac underwent what is called in the industry as a closed door respray in the original colour.
“I completely removed all the chrome work and exterior fittings before the respray was carried out so from close-up, the outside still looks very original. As the colour is the same as that used in the original build, places such as the door apertures and under the bonnet were left untouched. It was a cost-effective exercise and enabled me to keep the car in its original colour scheme throughout,” adds Patrick.
While the car is now garaged when not in use, Patrick is not overly precious about where and when he uses it.
“I bought it because I love the shape and history of this particular model of Ford and have thoroughly enjoyed the work I have put into getting it back into this condition, but I also love driving it. It’s become a great topic of conversation with strangers, many of whom have a story to tell about their own past ownership experiences with a Ford Zodiac Mark lll”.
Maybe Patrick has found the right balance, a forever devoted Jaguar fan who also loves owning and driving a classic Ford.
“It’s so smooth it would easily pass the old school test of having a glass full of water resting on the top engine cover with the engine idling.”
