From 1952 to 1968, all German Fords were called the Taunus, using the model names 12M, 15M, 17M, 20M, and 26M (on some Scandinavian markets, for a short while the branding 10M was used on a slightly better-equipped export version of the early Taunus, which is said to be the precursor of later uses). The "M" is said to stand for "
Meisterstück", in English "Masterpiece", but that word was found to be already registered by another German automaker. Taunus was also sometimes adopted as the brand name in export markets, particularly where British and North American Fords were also available. The 12M, 15M, and 17M models had an engine, which in the first 12M was a carryover of the sidevalve (flathead) engine from the first Taunus series, and beginning with the 15M, it was replaced by an overhead-valve design similar to the British Ford Consul engine. With the introduction of the new 12M line (internal code P4) for 1962 came the
V4 engine, which starting in late 1964 with the larger 17M/20M became the base engine for the Taunus M-series. The 20M and 26M models had the
Ford Cologne V6 engine, which is basically the same engine design with two extra cylinders added. The 12, 15, 17, etc. numbers refer to the
engine displacement; 1200, 1500, 1700 cc, etc. However, a few exceptions from that rule were made, such as 17M 1800, which was powered by the V6 in its smallest displacement and the 20M 2300S (in the later P7 series), which used a 2.3-litre version of the same engine. From 1962 to 1970, the smaller models 12M (P4) and its successor 12M/15M (P6) had front wheel drive. All other models had rear wheel drive. These models were offered:
Smaller line: 12M, 15M First generation 12M (G13; 1952–1959), 15M (1955–1959) The
Taunus 12M presented in 1952 was the first new German Ford after World War II. It featured
ponton styling, similar in style to British
Ford Zephyr. Something else the new Ford Taunus 12M had in common with British Fords was the retention of an old
side-valve engine at a time when competitors were increasingly moving over to overhead-valve units. The Taunus 15M used a new and more powerful engine: • 12M: 1172 cc, , • 15M: 1498 cc, , Body styles were two-door
sedan, two-door
station wagon, and
sedan delivery.
Second generation (12M; 1959–1962) The second generation 12M was not a new car, but a reworking of the 1952 model. All cars were called 12M, though both engines were continued. The car with the bigger engine was called Taunus 12M 1.5-litre. Body styles were the same as in the 1952 model.
Third generation 12M (P4; 1962–1966) The new
Ford Taunus 12M P4 was similar in size, but a completely new car based on the Ford Cardinal project: New body, new
V4 engine, and front-wheel drive. It was the first Ford car with front-wheel drive (second was the
Ford Corcel, third was the
Ford Fiesta). Engines available included: • 1.2-litre: 1183 cc, , • 1.5-litre: 1498 cc, , Body styles were two-door sedan, four-door sedan, two-door coupé, two-door station wagon, and sedan delivery.
Fourth generation 12M and 15M (P6; 1966–1970) The
Ford Taunus P6 came with new bodies, whilst engines and platform were continued. The car with the bigger engine was now called 15M again. Engines available included: • 12M 1.2-litre: 1183 cc, , • 12M 1.3-litre: 1305 cc, , • 15M 1.5-litre: 1498 cc, , • 15M 1.7-litre: 1699 cc, , Body styles were unchanged from the P4. In 1970, the P6 was replaced by the Taunus TC.
Bigger line: 17M, 20M, 26M First generation 17M (P2; 1957–1960) Growing prosperity in postwar Germany encouraged Ford to offer a line of bigger and more expensive cars. The
Ford Taunus 17M of 1957 was as long as (though significantly narrower than) the British
Consul Mk2, but a different car. It presented a style similar to American
1955 Fords, featuring substantial (at least by European standards)
tailfins. The transatlantic flamboyance of the car's styling gained it the sobriquet "Baroque Taunus", showing styling influences from the North American
Mercury Monterey of the same time period. Unusually for middle-class German cars of this period, it was available with either two or four doors. The competition noticed, and from 1959, the
Opel Rekord also became available with four doors. The P2 used an overhead-valve (OHV) engine with 1698 cc and . A maximum speed of was quoted. A road test of the time commended the smoothness of the three-speed, all-synchromesh manual transmission system. At a time when competitors boasted that all four corners of the vehicles were visible from the driver's seat, the new Taunus instead offered a streamlined form. However, in Germany the concept of streamlining in cars was associated with narrow passenger cabins reminiscent of the 1930s and of the still popular
Volkswagen Beetle. The new Taunus, however, provided greater interior width than its predecessor, despite being no wider on the outside. Although the 1.7-litre version was launched with the same 60 PS power output as the outgoing model, the new model was a full faster, which was attributed to improved aerodynamics and a lighter body shell. Three engine sizes were now offered: • 1.5-litre: 1498 cc, , • 1.7-litre: 1698 cc, , • 1.8-litre: 1758 cc, ,
Third generation 17M and 20M (P5; 1964–1967) The
Ford Taunus P5 came with a new body and new engines. The 17M now gets a V4 engine: • 1.5-litre: 1498 cc, , • 1.7-litre: 1699 cc, , The 20M had a
V6 engine with 1.8 litres and or 2.0-litres (1998 cc) and , with a top speed of .
Fourth generation 17M and 20M (P7; 1967–1968) For the new
Ford P7, there was a new body; engines and platform were carried over from the P5. Rear lights were no longer mounted at corners. The 20M-model had a fake air scoop on the bonnet and a new, bigger engine. The engines of the 17M/20M P5 were continued, with only one addition on the top end. It was the • 20M 2.3-litre: 2293 cc, ,
Fifth generation 17M, 20M, 26M (P7b; 1968–1971) Shrinking sales of the
P7 forced Ford to offer a restyled car only one year later, and the new car was again called P7. Rear lights again mounted on corners. Here, to avoid confusion, it was called
P7.2, sometimes it is called
P7b. The name "Taunus" no longer used. The 26M, introduced in 1969, is the top-of-the-line version with a new bigger engine (2.6-litres), bigger brakes, dual headlights, power steering, and the most luxurious trim level. V6-engines were slightly revised. The engine programme is enlarged; now, two base engines (V4 and V6) in six displacement sizes and nine power stages are available: • V4 • 17M 1.5-litre: 1498 cc, , • 17M 1.7-litre: 1699 cc, , • V6 • 17M 1.8-litre: 1812 cc, , • 20M 2.0-litre: 1998 cc, , • 20M 2.3-litre: 2293 cc, , • 20M, 26M 2.6-litre: 2550 cc, , , optional on 20M, but standard on 26M. ;Ford 20M RS The Ford 20M RS Coupé was made in Germany as a (2300 S) P7b and (2600) P7b. In the 1968
London-Sydney Marathon, Ford entered three Ford 20M RS from Germany and Belgium. In 1969, a Ford 20M RS won the
Safari and occasionally a Capri was seen with works involvement. This is the last specifically German Ford. In early 1972, it is replaced by the new
Consul and
Granada. ==Taunus TC (1970–1975)==