It was imported via Lincoln Cars Ltd., a subsidiary of Ford that was also responsible for the brand’s American imports.

“The Taunus is terrific!” boasted the advert, going on to explain that you’d love it “from the moment you first set eyes on its sleek silhouette, to the time when you step inside and test the comfort, the luxury and the roominess”. Unfortunately, the four-cylinder Taunus wasn’t cheap, with the four-door saloon version of the 17M coming in at £1134 including Purchase Tax – at a time when the luxurious, six-cylinder MkII Zodiac cost just £957. No wonder the Taunus remained such a rare sight back in the day.