Ford Corcel
Encyclopedia
The Ford Corcel is a car which was sold by the Ford Motor Company
in Brazil
, Chile and Venezuela
.
The Corcel's origins lay in the Renault 12
. Willys-Overland's Brazilian operation included manufacturing the Renault Dauphine
and Gordini and, when it was bought by Ford do Brasil
in 1967, plans were underway to replace it with the Renault 12
, and Ford inherited the project.
However, the styling of the Corcel was unique to Brazil before 1978. From this year, the Corcel II, as it became known, bore a strong resemblance to the Ford Escort and Ford Taunus
sold in Europe
and in Argentina
, but its underpinnings were the same.
The first year of production of the Brazilian Ford Corcel was 1968, when it came as a four-door sedan with a 1.3-litre, 68 hp water-cooled engine. A coupe
and a three-door station wagon version of the Ford Corcel, latter called Belina, were eventually launched. Later, a L (for "Luxury") and a GT version were produced. Each passing year many styling changes were made, borrowing several details from the Ford Maverick
, and becoming more and more like a Pony car
.
The facelifted Corcel I (mk1.5) had a more aggressive look in contrast from the conservative 1968 version. On other hand, the Corcel II had a very conservative and family-oriented design.
Some of the L and all GT versions also came with 1.4-litre 85 hp water-cooled engine with double-barrel carburetor, which was very easy to modify for greater power. Some shops had the option to install an unofficial small tuning kit that would improve the engine's horsepower to 95. Note that all of these HP values were accounted using the low quality, low octane south-American petrol of the time. Using today's better fuel would 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 front-wheel-drive stability and low weight (920 kg), which allowed a high power-to-weight ratio
. It would not be faster than the V-8 Maverick
and Chevrolet Opala
, but it would beat everything else, including 4- and 6-cylinder 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. These changes were also applied to the Belina, while the 4-door version was dropped. But the Corcel II was heavier too (970 kg). The Ford Corcel II originated a pick-up
version called the Ford Pampa
in 1982, which would eventually be available with four-wheel drive.
The Ford Del Rey
was introduced in 1981, with a more upright roofline and a four-door model available. A station wagon version (Ford Scala) differed from the Belina only in trim. The traditional Ford name Victoria was to be used on this version but was dropped at the last minute.
All had a slight face lift for the 1985 model year. The Corcel II became known again simply as the Corcel. The interior was now the same for all four models. Outside, while the Corcel and the Del Rey were fastback
and sedan versions of the same car, the Belina and the Scala, which were the same car with some interior/exterior differences were now almost identical; only a few details, such as the taillamps, differentiated these two models. The Belina was made available with the same four-wheel-drive system used in the Pampa. This system seemed to have questionable reliability; Quatro Rodas magazine did a long-term test of a Belina 4x4 (50,000 km) in which break downs were very frequent.
1986 was the last year for the Corcel. The Belina was also discontinued in 1986, but its name was, from then on, applied to what had been the Scala (a name that had never really caught on).
The engine was a CHT
, an improved version of the Ventoux engine
used in the first Corcel of 1968. By now it had been bored and stroked to 1555 cc, with a redesigned cylinder head
, a rotating valve design and many other peripheral improvements.
In 1989, as a result of the Autolatina
joint-venture, the higher output Volkswagen
AP-1800 engine replaced the 1.6L in all models of the Del Rey and Belina, made available in all models of the Pampa except for the ones with four-wheel drive.
The Del Rey and the "new" Belina were discontinued in 1991, being replaced by the Ford Versailles
and Ford Royale
respectively (Passat B2 version fascia). The Pampa would be sold on until 1996, when Ford introduced the smaller, Fiesta Mk2-based Ford Courier
.
Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK...
in Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, Chile and Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
.
The Corcel's origins lay in the Renault 12
Renault 12
The Renault 12 is a family car produced by French automaker Renault between 1969 and 1980. Available as a saloon and estate , it was also produced under licence in many countries across the globe into the early 21st century....
. Willys-Overland's Brazilian operation included manufacturing the Renault Dauphine
Renault Dauphine
Renault Dauphine is a rear-engined economy car manufactured by Renault in one body style — a three-box, four-door sedan — as the successor to the Renault 4CV, with over two million examples marketed worldwide during its production from 1956-1967....
and Gordini and, when it was bought by Ford do Brasil
Ford do Brasil
Ford do Brasil is a subsidiary of American automaker Ford Motor Company, founded on April 24, 1919. The operation started out importing the Ford Model T cars and the Ford Model TT trucks in kit form from the US for assembly in Brazil...
in 1967, plans were underway to replace it with the Renault 12
Renault 12
The Renault 12 is a family car produced by French automaker Renault between 1969 and 1980. Available as a saloon and estate , it was also produced under licence in many countries across the globe into the early 21st century....
, and Ford inherited the project.
However, the styling of the Corcel was unique to Brazil before 1978. From this year, the Corcel II, as it became known, bore a strong resemblance to the Ford Escort and Ford Taunus
Ford Taunus
The Ford Taunus is a family car sold by Ford in Germany and other countries. Models from 1970 onward were similar to the Ford Cortina in the United Kingdom...
sold in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and in Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, but its underpinnings were the same.
The first year of production of the Brazilian Ford Corcel was 1968, when it came as a four-door sedan with a 1.3-litre, 68 hp water-cooled engine. A coupe
Coupé
A coupé or coupe is a closed car body style , the precise definition of which varies from manufacturer to manufacturer, and over time...
and a three-door station wagon version of the Ford Corcel, latter called Belina, were eventually launched. Later, a L (for "Luxury") and a GT version were produced. Each passing year many styling changes were made, borrowing several details from the Ford Maverick
Ford Maverick (North America)
The Ford Maverick was a compact car manufactured from April 1969-1977 in the United States, Canada, Mexico and from 1973-1979 in Brazil — employing a rear wheel drive platform dating to the original 1960 Falcon...
, and becoming more and more like a Pony car
Pony car
Pony car is an American class of automobile launched and inspired by the Ford Mustang in 1964. The term describes an affordable, compact, highly styled car with a sporty or performance-oriented image.-Origins of the breed:...
.
The facelifted Corcel I (mk1.5) had a more aggressive look in contrast from the conservative 1968 version. On other hand, the Corcel II had a very conservative and family-oriented design.
The Corcel GT was moderately successful in Brazilian Tarumã, Interlagos and beach rally street car championships during the seventies, thanks to its front-wheel-drive stability and low weight (920 kg), which allowed a high power-to-weight ratio
Power-to-weight ratio
Power-to-weight ratio is a calculation commonly applied to engines and mobile power sources to enable the comparison of one unit or design to another. Power-to-weight ratio is a measurement of actual performance of any engine or power sources...
. It would not be faster than the V-8 Maverick
Ford Maverick (North America)
The Ford Maverick was a compact car manufactured from April 1969-1977 in the United States, Canada, Mexico and from 1973-1979 in Brazil — employing a rear wheel drive platform dating to the original 1960 Falcon...
and Chevrolet Opala
Chevrolet Opala
The Chevrolet Opala was a mid-size car sold by General Motors do Brasil from 1969 to 1992. It was derived from the German Opel Rekord and Commodore, but used GM USA sourced engines, two four-cylinder engines: the Chevrolet 153 4-cylinder from Chevy II/Nova which later got a new crankshaft and...
, but it would beat everything else, including 4- and 6-cylinder Mavericks and some Dodge Chargers that subscribed the events. Those championships unveiled that the front drive universal joint
Universal joint
A universal joint, universal coupling, U joint, Cardan joint, Hardy-Spicer joint, or Hooke's joint is a joint or coupling in a rigid rod that allows the rod to 'bend' in any direction, and is commonly used in shafts that transmit rotary motion...
was prone to break under heavy stress, so in 1976 the Corcel line adopted the Constant-velocity joint
Constant-velocity joint
Constant-velocity joints allow a drive shaft to transmit power through a variable angle, at constant rotational speed, without an appreciable increase in friction or play. They are mainly used in front wheel drive and all wheel drive cars...
.
In 1978, following the Corcel, Ford launched the Corcel II, with completely re-made design and straight lines opposing the pony car style. These changes were also applied to the Belina, while the 4-door version was dropped. But the Corcel II was heavier too (970 kg). The Ford Corcel II originated a pick-up
Pickup truck
A pickup truck is a light motor vehicle with an open-top rear cargo area .-Definition:...
version called the Ford Pampa
Ford Pampa
The original Ford Pampa is a light utility vehicle manufactured by Ford of Brazil between 1982 and 1997. It was derived from the Ford Corcel and Ford Del Rey. It was the bestselling car-based pickup in Brazil for several years....
in 1982, which would eventually be available with four-wheel drive.
The Ford Del Rey
Ford Del Rey
The Ford Del Rey is a midsized car produced by the Ford Motor Company in Brazil from 1981 to 1991. It was a remake from the popular Ford Corcel II. Like the Ford Corcel II, the Del Rey was designed exclusively for Brazil, but was sold in Chile, Uruguay and Paraguay as well...
was introduced in 1981, with a more upright roofline and a four-door model available. A station wagon version (Ford Scala) differed from the Belina only in trim. The traditional Ford name Victoria was to be used on this version but was dropped at the last minute.
All had a slight face lift for the 1985 model year. The Corcel II became known again simply as the Corcel. The interior was now the same for all four models. Outside, while the Corcel and the Del Rey were fastback
Fastback
A fastback is a car body style whose roofline slopes continuously down at the back. The word can also designate the car itself. The style is seen on two-door coupés as well as four-door sedans.-History:...
and sedan versions of the same car, the Belina and the Scala, which were the same car with some interior/exterior differences were now almost identical; only a few details, such as the taillamps, differentiated these two models. The Belina was made available with the same four-wheel-drive system used in the Pampa. This system seemed to have questionable reliability; Quatro Rodas magazine did a long-term test of a Belina 4x4 (50,000 km) in which break downs were very frequent.
1986 was the last year for the Corcel. The Belina was also discontinued in 1986, but its name was, from then on, applied to what had been the Scala (a name that had never really caught on).
The engine was a CHT
Ford CHT engine
The letters CHT denote a particular type of 4-cylinder internal combustion engine produced by the Ford Motor Company in Brazil during the 1980s. It is a completely different engine from the CVH engine and should not be mistaken with it...
, an improved version of the Ventoux engine
Renault Ventoux engine
The Ventoux was an automotive engine designed by Renault for the Renault 4CV, used subsequently until 1997, and named after Mont Ventoux in Provence....
used in the first Corcel of 1968. By now it had been bored and stroked to 1555 cc, with a redesigned cylinder head
Cylinder head
In an internal combustion engine, the cylinder head sits above the cylinders on top of the cylinder block. It closes in the top of the cylinder, forming the combustion chamber. This joint is sealed by a head gasket...
, a rotating valve design and many other peripheral improvements.
In 1989, as a result of the Autolatina
Autolatina
AutoLatina was the name of a joint venture between Volkswagen Group subsidiary Volkswagen do Brasil and Ford Motor Company subsidiary Ford do Brasil in South America...
joint-venture, the higher output Volkswagen
Volkswagen
Volkswagen is a German automobile manufacturer and is the original and biggest-selling marque of the Volkswagen Group, which now also owns the Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, SEAT, and Škoda marques and the truck manufacturer Scania.Volkswagen means "people's car" in German, where it is...
AP-1800 engine replaced the 1.6L in all models of the Del Rey and Belina, made available in all models of the Pampa except for the ones with four-wheel drive.
The Del Rey and the "new" Belina were discontinued in 1991, being replaced by the Ford Versailles
Ford Versailles
The Ford Versailles is an automobile. Two different vehicles have been sold as the Ford Versailles:* 1954-1957 in France* 1992-1996 in Brazil-France:...
and Ford Royale
Ford Royale
The Ford Royale was a 4-door estate car, manufactured by Ford. The Royale was also available as a 3-door hatchback, as well as a 4-door estate. It was essentially a rebadged Volkswagen Quantum, though it was available in 2-door form, which was a body style not available on the Royale.The vehicle...
respectively (Passat B2 version fascia). The Pampa would be sold on until 1996, when Ford introduced the smaller, Fiesta Mk2-based Ford Courier
Ford Courier
- North America :This was a commercial model based on Ford's full-size stationwagon line. Its model code was designated 78A.From 1952 to 1956 access to the rear storage area was through a unique door hinged on the side. For 1957 and 1958, the rear access door was a combination of the lift gate and...
.
External links
- http://www2.uol.com.br/bestcars/classicos/corcel-1.htm - Carros do Passado: O cavalo brasileiro
- http://www.cronospeed.com.br/2006/automobilismo/rali/07fev.htm - Beach Rally championship results showcasing victory and good positions of the Ford Corcel