Ford Taunus Parts & Accessories

Ford Taunus Parts & Accessories

The Ford Taunus was a line of European family cars produced by Ford of Germany from 1939 through 1994, sold primarily in West Germany and European export markets while sharing its later platforms with the Ford Cortina, Ford Sierra, and other Ford of Europe models. The postwar Taunus models progressed from the 1.2-liter Taunus 12M in the 1950s through increasingly sophisticated front-wheel drive designs in the 1970s and 1980s, and the GLS V6 and TC models of the 1970s offered genuine performance in the European midsize segment. The Taunus TC and TC2 were developed jointly with the British Cortina as the Cortina Mark III and IV, sharing their bodyshell and many mechanical components. Collectors and restorers maintaining Ford Taunus models in the United States face a parts sourcing challenge given that these European Fords were never sold in the North American market, requiring sourcing from German and European Ford specialists.

Popular Upgrades

Taunus performance builds from the TC era focus on the 2.0-liter and 2.3-liter Cologne V6 engines with Weber 32/36 DGAV progressive carburetors, Peco or Janspeed exhaust header systems from European suppliers, and Bilstein or Sachs replacement shock absorbers that improve over the original equipment. The 1970s Taunus TC uses a MacPherson front strut suspension that accepts replacement spring and strut cartridge upgrades from German aftermarket suppliers. Electronic ignition conversion kits from Pertronix Ignitor that fit the Bosch distributor used in the Cologne V6 are available and significantly improve starting reliability and spark consistency.

Performance and Handling

The Taunus TC uses MacPherson strut front suspension and a rear live axle with semi-trailing arms, a design common to European Fords of the 1970s that provided a reasonable compromise between ride quality and handling. Sport springs from H&R and Eibach that were originally developed for the contemporaneous Cortina often fit the TC platform with minor verification, as the two cars share significant structural dimensions. Rear axle bushing replacement with polyurethane kits from Powerflex restores the lateral stiffness that worn rubber allows to degrade on high-mileage European Fords.

What engines were used in the Ford Taunus?

The Ford Taunus used a range of engines across its decades of production, including the OHV Kent 1.3 and 1.6-liter four-cylinder in the 12M and 15M models, the Pinto 1.6 and 2.0-liter SOHC four in the TC models, and the Cologne 2.0 and 2.3-liter V6 in higher-specification TC and GXL trim levels. The Cologne V6 is the most desirable engine for performance builds because of its availability of European aftermarket carburetor and exhaust upgrades, and it shares basic architecture with the Cologne V6 used in the US-market Ford Granada and Mustang II. Identifying the specific Taunus model and production year before ordering engine components is essential given the breadth of engines used across forty years of production.

Where do I find parts for a Ford Taunus in the United States?

Ford Taunus parts for US-based collectors are sourced through German Ford dealers who maintain classic parts programs, European Ford specialty suppliers including Osram Ford Classics and other online retailers, and the Ford Taunus Club registry which maintains parts contacts for members. Many mechanical components for the Cologne V6 cross-reference to US-market Ford vehicles that used the same engine, including the Ford Granada and early Mustang II, making these items easier to source domestically. Body and trim items unique to the Taunus typically require European sourcing with international shipping.

Why These Parts Fit Right

Parts in this collection are verified against specific Taunus model and year data to ensure correct fitment across the range of four-cylinder and V6 engines and platform configurations used from the 1950s through 1990s. European cross-references to the Cortina and Sierra are noted where components are shared. Fast shipping on available Taunus-compatible parts keeps your European Ford project moving forward.

Browse our exhaust systems for Cologne V6 and Pinto four-cylinder manifold and exhaust options, explore suspension components for Taunus MacPherson strut and rear axle bushing hardware, and check our air intake systems for Weber carburetor and Cologne V6 intake upgrades.