Ford Taunus TC

The Ford Taunus TC is a passenger car of the middle class from Ford, built by fall 1970 to summer 1982. It was offered with four-cylinder in-line engines and six- cylinder V- engines and had rear wheel drive. He is the successor of the Ford 12m and 15m (P6 ), the front-wheel drive (P6 ) and V - 4 engines were executed technically different. In 1982, he was replaced with the exception of the engines redesigned Ford Sierra. The British Ford Cortina MK III was built on the same platform and the same design from 1976 ( hence the designation "TC ").

The nickname " Knudsen Taunus " of the model until the end of 1975 comes from Semon E. " Bunkie " Knudsen. He was from the beginning of 1968 until the autumn of 1969 Ford CEO and under him received new models a distinctive edge in the radiator grille and on the hood ( " Knudsen Nose" ).

Model history

The smaller types had new four-cylinder inline engines with overhead camshaft ( OHC ), which were developed from the engine of the American Ford Pinto. The built in Cologne six-cylinder V- engines from the previous series P5 or P7 were the top models reserved. From 1.6 liters of displacement and a three -speed automatic could be ordered instead of the standard four-speed manual transmission gearbox. As previous Ford P6 and P7 models TC had a rear axle, not more leaf springs, but in each case two longitudinal and lateral links, and coil springs. The new Taunus also had a safety steering column, as usual in the competition already long.

The Taunus was available as two - and four-door notchback sedan. From the first TC- series, which was built from 1970 to 1975, there was also a two-door fastback coupe. Also was a station, traditionally called " tournament" at Ford, available. The trim levels and designations varied according to Construction period: The N (default), L, XL, GXL and GT series was the first TC to N, L, GL, S and Ghia second in the. As of September 1979 ( TC '80), the S trim level was converted into the S- package; from the equipment variant L is a LS, GL, GLS and was then was the Ghia became the Ghia S.

Taunus and Cortina of the first TC- series differ from each other externally ( pronounced hip movement at Cortina, stronger beading on the hood of the Taunus) and by the motors. From model year '76 the exterior was then equal.

While the first " Knudsen Taunus " still stands out clearly from its smoothed successors, the last two model lines TC and TC '76 '80 ( revised grille in the '80 TC differ primarily in the front section drawn with large plastic slats and around the edges indicators ), the tail ( TC '80 has wider tail lights than the TC '76 ) and in the proportions of the body: the TC '80 has a higher passenger compartment than the TC '76.

Model Overview

TC '71 ( September 1970-August 1973 )

Engines:

The first Taunus TC was established in September 1970 ( model year 1971, therefore, '71 ) is presented. Five trim levels were to have: Standard, L, the luxury -inspired XL, the sporty GT and foil made up as a top model in the GXL. All variants were available as two - or four-door sedan. The combination was only available as standard; L or XL and the coupe was not available in the standard version.

Standard, L ( equipped with round headlights that they should stand out from the better models ) and XL (square headlights) were standard with a 1300 cc OHC LC - Four Cylinder: Equipped (LC low compression, low compression ), the 55 bhp. On request, there was also a 1600 cc OHC engine HC (HC - high compression, high compression ) of the same design with 72 hp (later also available with lower compression and 68 hp). GT and GXL standard were also equipped with a 1600 cc OHC -HC engine made ​​88 HP of ( among other things due to a Fächerkrümmers and a Weber carburetor ). They had a sports -tuned suspension and a more powerful braking system with larger drum brakes on the rear axle and were with extras such as a compartment in the center console, umschäumtem sport steering wheel, round halogen auxiliary lights and dashboard instruments ( tachometer, ammeter, oil pressure gauge ) etc..

On request, a two-liter V6 engine with 90 hp was available for the Taunus GT and GXL, which was already known from the 20M models of the 1960s ( the so-called " Cologne V6 " the P5 series ). End of 1971, a 2.3-liter V6 engine was then (as in the 20M the predecessor series P7) available as a new top engine, which was the same with the two-liter in its design and with its 108 hp the Taunus to the then remarkable 175 km / h accelerated. Because of poor quality in the first period after the start of production of the Taunus by ADAC got the "Silver Lemon " - the price of new cars serious defects - awarded. The car testers criticized also the overall uncomfortable spongy suspension and confusing dashboard, similar to the 1969 Ford Mustang.

TC '74 ( September 1973-December 1974 )

Engines:

1973 Taunus according to the criticisms of the press has been redesigned: The dashboard was sober and functional ( and maintained in this form in the Taunus '76 ); the suspension has been retuned and standard equipped with front and rear stabilizers, which drivability a little improved. Externally, little changed; All models now had uniformly dark gray plastic grille with rectangular headlights, for standard and L had no longer a coat of arms in the middle of the cooler, but only the Ford logo on the hood. The GT trim level was accounted for, but the XL was a tachometer, optionally also the 2-liter V6 engine; the top model GXL got a black side protection with wider trim and a dashboard and door panels with real wood veneer.

TC '75 ( January 1975-December 1975 )

Engines:

Beginning of 1975, the Taunus was revised again. In the simple models standard and L is the trim around the windows were now matt black, the crowned arms with the engine capacity indication on the front fenders evaded numbers and the Ford emblem on the front grille and the logo on the hood were on all models with a simple " Ford "lettering replaced on the driver's side of the grille. The Ford logo on the tailgate, the date for standard and L took up the entire width and was executed on XL and GXL as wide aluminum bar, wandered in a reduced form in the upper left corner of the trunk lid, the Taunus lettering was, instead of the previous, now running in a curved cursive in simple block letters. The station wagon, which now take the tournament " Leisure -Taunus " was was to have with GXL equipment.

At the turn of 1975/1976, the new model was introduced, which was indeed smoothed externally, but technically still a lot with the TC of the first series had in common, the Taunus TC '76.

TC '76 ( January 1976-August 1979 )

Engines:

Early 1976, the Taunus was revised again. The " Knudsen Nose" fell off the wagon and got a total of more simplistic look. In the interior, new steering wheels came to the dashboard of the predecessor.

Furthermore, the equipment designations were changed: So there was except now instead of the base and L XL GL; of the GXL was the Ghia. Furthermore, could choose the Taunus S sporty buyers. Only these, there were the 98 hp four-cylinder (108 - hp V6 as an option ).

The coupe was taken off the market, so that the customer could only choose between two - and four-door sedan and five-door the tournament. This, there was not as S or Ghia.

TC '80 ( September 1979-June 1982 )

Engines:

Although there are many similarities with the Taunus '76, almost all visible metal parts had been changed. The model year '80 has higher window due to the changed roofline. Furthermore, larger front to built the fenders wrap-around turn signals, a slat grille, wider taillights, bumpers with plastic corners and a different front bumper. The S trim level was omitted. Instead, an S package was available for the L, GL and Ghia.

The Taunus '80 with the 2.0 V6 engine was made ​​for the Turkish market by the company Otosan near Izmir until the mid- 1990s.

Special models

Special limited edition models were offered with the following versions include:

• Taunus Cologne
• Taunus Festival
• Taunus favorites
• Taunus Brilliant (1982 )
• Cortina Carousel ( UK ) with two-tone paint
• Cortina Crusader ( UK ) with two-tone paint

Successor

The direct successor of the Ford Taunus with a new body shape and improved chassis is published in August 1982 Ford Sierra. This was replaced in March 1993 by the front-wheel drive Ford Mondeo.

After setting the Taunus production in Cologne and the Genk production were brought to Argentina and Turkey. Ford Taunus Argentina brought the '80 as a coupe out - ie a form that has never existed in this model in Europe. The Turkish Otosan under license of the company, however, has been modernized with a lot of plastic and adapted to the tastes of car buyers. This " Taunus IV" was also equipped with the instrument panel of the first Ford Sierra generation. Otosan built the Taunus in this form until 1994.

The Taunus in Argentina

From July 1974 to 1985 the Taunus in Argentina was produced as a four-door sedan with two-liter or 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine ( 93-134 SAE-PS/68-99 kW) and a coupé ( only 2.3 liters). 1981 saw a facelift with facelift, similar to the German Taunus '80, the mitmachte also the coupe. The limos were available as L, Ghia and Ghia S in versions L and GXL, from 1981, the GT Coupe and from 1983 in the sports version of SP 5 Total 197 031 Taunus in Argentina originated; also there was the Sierra 's successor.