by Richard Dredge (13 Jul 07)

If you're a parent, you'll know that despite all those strange leaks, smells and noises your offspring produces, you can't help but love them. It's the same with this 1953 Ford Zephyr Six rally car; all the sounds and odours it emits just give it more personality, and the more you drive it, the warmer you feel towards it. When it comes to that great euphemism "character", this is exactly the sort of car for which it was dreamt up.

Back in 1953, Maurice Gatsonides (he of Gatso speed camera fame) took this very car to victory in the Monte Carlo Rally. Well, sort of, because in 1956 it was involved in a massive smash that led to it being written off then reshelled. So this car is effectively a replica of the original rally version, converted to right-hand drive in the process but retaining all the, er, "charm" in the process.

The Zephyr is part of Ford's huge Heritage Collection, retained to help the company promote more than a century of car building. Sitting alongside in its warehouse, you'll find all sorts of Blue Oval treats such as a Mk1 Lotus Cortina, four-wheel drive Capri, V8 Pilot and various other rarities, including numerous Granadas, Fiestas and Cortinas.

Ford recently lent the Zephyr to me and co-driver Steve Beamond so we could explore the delights of the Laon Historic classic car festival in France – it was only fitting that we should drive a car which was once victorious across La Manche.

We collected the car from its Dagenham base in the run up to the weekend, and while escaping this corner of London is always a good idea, it's probably best to do it in a Zephyrless manner, at least on a Friday afternoon.

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