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A luxury variant of the Ford Zephyr, the Zodiac first went on sale under the name of Zephyr Zodiac in 1954 with the Zodiac Mk II being introduced in 1956. Together with the Consul Mk II, the cars were known as “the Three Graces”. They were all eventually replaced by the Cortina and Granada from 1972.

Although many features were retained from its first incarnation, like the two-tone paintwork, whitewall tyres and gold-plated badges on the boot, the Zodiac MK II was given some additional elements to distinguish it from the other variants. These included a front grille that extended across the front of the car, wraparound rear windows and stylised tail fins at the rear. This gave the car a distinctly glamourous American feel which dated quickly as new fashions took hold in the 1960s. Production ceased in 1962 and it was replaced by the restyled Zodiac Mk III in the same year.