Following the success of the 'Ford Zephyr Zodiac' (1953-56), Ford decided to launch the 'Zodiac' as a separate badge on the 1956 MkII versions. Colin Neale took charge of the styling for Ford's '3 Graces', the MkII versions of the Consul/Zephyr/Zodiac cars. Launched in early 1956, the Zephyr and Zodiac went into production first with 2553cc 6-cylinder engines, followed by the Consul with its 1703cc 4-cylinder engine. Carbodies of Coventry built convertible versions of the cars, and ED Abbotts of Farnham turned the cars into Estate cars. In 1958 revisions were made to the cars, including lowering the roof by 1.5inches to create the 'lowline' version. MkIII versions of the 'Z-cars' were launched in 1962, but only with the badges 'Zephyr' or 'Zodiac', and in 1966 the new MkIV versions went into production and continued until the pan-European 'Granada' car took over in 1972.