The Ford Taunus P7b occupies a specific and underserved corner of European classic car collecting. Built at Ford's Cologne and Genk plants between 1967 and 1973, the P7 generation represented Ford's core family-car offer in continental Europe, and the GXL trim sat at the top of that range. KK Scale's 1:18 die-cast model in Light Green with Matt Black roof is one of the few replicas to give this West German saloon the shelf presence it deserves.
Ford Taunus P7b: West Germany's Sporting Saloon
The Taunus P7 was introduced in 1967, with the P7b facelift arriving in 1970 bringing revised front-end styling. Production ran through to 1973 at Ford Cologne and Genk. The GXL designation marked the top-specification variant, positioned above the standard L and GL trims, and came with a sportier interior, additional chrome or body-colour trim, and a vinyl roof option. It competed directly against the Opel Rekord and VW 1600 in the European family-car segment — a three-way rivalry that defined the mainstream German road-car market of the early 1970s.
Two-Tone Livery: Light Green and Matt Black
The Light Green and Matt Black roof combination is an authentic period finish for the GXL. Blacked-out contrast roofs — whether vinyl or painted — were a recognised factory or dealer option on GXL variants during the 1971 model year, reflecting a wider European fashion for two-tone treatments on sporting-trim saloons and coupés. It is a colour scheme that reads as visually assertive without being anachronistic: precisely the kind of understated period detail that gives a display piece credibility. The Taunus GXL also drew power from Ford's Cologne V4 engine, an architecture shared with the Ford Transit and other European Ford models of the era.
KK Scale and the 1:18 Die-Cast
This model is produced by KK Scale, a maker that has built a focused catalogue around 1:18 die-cast replicas of European classic road cars. The brand has released several Taunus variants, making this Light Green P7b GXL part of a considered series rather than an isolated issue. Construction is die-cast metal throughout. The 1:18 scale reproduces the Taunus's characteristic proportions — the long bonnet line, the squared-off greenhouse and the period-correct two-tone finish — in a format suited to open display.
In the Display Cabinet
The Taunus GXL pairs naturally with other early-1970s European saloons in 1:18: an Opel Rekord C or D places the direct commercial rival alongside it, while a Ford Capri Mk I — which shares the Cologne V4 engine family and the same production era — makes for a coherent Ford Europe grouping. Collectors working through Ford's European lineage might also consider the earlier P5 and P6 Taunus generations. The Light Green and Matt Black finish gives this model strong visual separation on a mixed shelf, even within a densely populated 1970s European display.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Ford Taunus GXL?
The GXL was the top-trim variant of the Ford Taunus P7b, produced from 1970 to 1973 at Ford Cologne and Genk. It sat above the L and GL variants and featured a sportier interior, additional trim and a vinyl roof option.
What engines did the Taunus GXL use?
The GXL was fitted with Ford's Cologne V4 engines — a family also used in the Ford Transit and other European Ford models. Output varied by displacement and state of tune.
Who makes this 1:18 model and what material is it?
It is produced by KK Scale and is built in die-cast metal at 1:18 scale. KK Scale specialises in 1:18 die-cast replicas of European classic road cars and has released several Taunus variants.
Is the Light Green and Matt Black roof finish historically accurate?
Yes. Two-tone schemes with blacked-out roofs were a recognised factory or dealer option on GXL variants during the 1971 model year, reflecting a widespread European fashion for this treatment on sporting-trim saloons.
