Stuffing an American V8 into small British cars rarely manifests itself in the form of a Cortina, and this custom creation shows zero signs of half-baked 24-pack engineering. Subtle oversized wheels and tires ride in unmodified fender openings. The tweaked small-block Ford V8 dwells beneath a stock hood, and any high schooler or nostalgia-fueled geezer could have added the “GT 40” door script. Gear-heads might suspect this 1965 Ford Cortina packs a mean right hook, but most drivers will wrongly spy a “cute old car” they plan to victimize with their V6 SUV at the next traffic light. Someone built this insane compact with a gleam in their eye, and 1,100 miles later it awaits a new owner who enjoys excitement and the occasional evil grin. Check out more pictures and details here at PremierCars, where $79,900 makes it yours. Thanks to reader Jack M. for spotting this unusual tiny tire shredder in Springfield, Missouri.
A stroked 302 now displaces 347 cid (5.7L). An eight-stack EFI system feeds AFR heads dumping into stainless exhaust headers, combining for a seller-estimated 500 HP. Check out those finned aluminum Holman Moody valve covers! The super-clean engine compartment detailing keeps many components under wraps, a fine testament to a well-conceived and nicely executed build.
Less than a year ago the Cortina bid to $70,000 on BringATrailer. Before you complain that removing a red stripe and adding some hardware store “GT40” stickers is hardly worth $10,000, remember everything costs more these days.
The subtle approach carries through the interior where even the roll cage is visible yet cleverly disguised. The cue ball shifter stirs a Tremec six-speed manual gearbox. Appliance white metal maintains the ’60s economy car vibe while bolstered seats and a Momo steering wheel invite as much fun as you dare. A narrowed Mustang II-style front suspension brings rack-and-pinion steering and Wilwood brakes.
Heidts IRS and Jaguar-style brakes look ready for anything, and adjustable coil-overs offer flexibility, though the stance looks perfect to me. What do you think of this unusually muscular British classic?
My folks and me with their ’66? Cortina, one generation after our feature car. It was an unusual sight in rural Pennsylvania.
Great shot! Is that your baby seat riding shotgun? Those were the days!
Thanks, 8banger. Yes that seat is part of the Stroll-o-Chair set that included modular parts including wheels, a table / stand, the chair and a bassinet. So the chair could be on the ground, in a car, on the stand for eating at a table, or on wheels for walking around. Space-age technology!
That’s a Mk2.
Todd – that’s a MKII,sold in the US from 1967 -’70.
I’ve had a bunch of them over the years.
Love the Sedan Delivery in your picture !
Hi John M. That’s my Grandfather’s 1965 (?) IH Travelall 4×4 aka “The Green Monster,” one of the first vehicles I remember. I don’t remember the Cortina, except years after we sold it when Mom would see it around town. I let AI clean up this photo to show the vehicles better.
Love it! Hefty price but a lot of car. Was one of the best looking cars of the era.
Boy, that engine compartment is Packed and Neat.
That might be the best Sleeper ever.
Suspension and Baby Moon hub caps just make it Amazing.
In terms of something different, that’s the neatest thing I’ve seen in a while!
Cool car, well thought out and executed. Expensive for a reason. It’s so unique and well built it’s likely to attract a buyer at some point.
Steve R
Wow, very few cars get the Steve R. seal of approval!
One of the coolest cars I’ve seen on BF.
Learned to drive a stick shift in my Dad’s ’68 Cortina GT. His first one was a ’64, which replaced a ’58 Anglia. He definitely had a thing for English Fords. And they were definitely the only ones around for miles from our home. I’m still looking for one in my price range. This one isn’t in that range!
Check out
http://www.enfostuff.com
Thanks! Will do.
Bloody Hell …79 grand..
One can only eat fish n chips after this much quid.
I love Ford Cortina’s..
Wow!! Is this track only? Leno where you at?
Neat little car. I would love to see the face of someone wanting to challenge this car at a strip. Once the lights are green they might see the back end of this little machine that resembles a’60 Buick.
It is certainly nicely done, however if you can’t get that 500 HP to the pavement, what good is all that power? Someone who wants a hot Cortina with money to burn will buy this! There is so much of that floating around these days so it will probably sell. I will take a Lotus Cortina. That twin cam in one of these is plenty of zip for me….
Load it up with the kids and give them a ride to remember for life 👍🙌🏁
You might get a visit from Children Services.
Or at best have to clean the seat covers.
Hey Todd, been a while. While I’d like to say a chip off the old block, you sure took after mom. Little young? Just saying.
I’m always entertained by what our British cousins think of these Yankee Doodle Dandy creations. More must be better, and on the most unlikely of cars. Impressive? You bet. Logical? Perhaps, and if you were deaf ( the only sense I wouldn’t mind losing) not much of a clue. And those tail lights still creep me out. War of the Worlds, 1953.
yes, Howard! I definitely agree on the taillights and WotW 1953! Gene Barry!!
Owned a few when living in the UK, 2 were Lotus versions – a blast to drive shifting through the gears and rocking it around curves – fond memories!
Damn it Todd, you made me drool in my cereal again! What a cool car! Very much my style, but priced out of my budget. The look, the stance, the modifications all first class in my book! Sorry have to stop now to mop up the drool!
Let me win the lottery
It’s like a 4 door Sunbeam Tiger definitely and lottery car but cheaper than a hellcat
I had a ’67 and this is not a “67!!
May I suggest widened Minilites?
Nice sleeper in the looks department!!
Quite the engine swap!!
I have to say that is one wicked Cortina and very well built from the clean sleeper exterior to a very well put together drive train that thing would be a blast to drive!
A 347cid small block Ford with 500BHP in a streetable state of tune is a bit of a stretch but even it is optimistic by 50-80 BHP, it looks good to me. The build looks very well thought out. Clean engine compartment, inobtrusive roll cage, clever side exhausts…lots to like. With this kind of money, the buyer can probably afford to swap out the block for an aftermarket aluminum one for $7-$10K including labor and selling the iron block and improve the weight distribution with 70+lbs off the front end.
It would be nice to have a small headrest hang down from the rollcage at the roof so your passenger doesn’t get whiplash when you launch it , I’d loose the gt40 badges no sense in giving away the sleeperness , lol And a sound and driving video would be awesome it has to sound “Evil, Wicked,Mean, &Nasty :) It says it’s a ‘65 @ Laguna Mike
This Cobra Cortina is as crazy and as well engineered as that 1963 Suoer Duty 421 Tempest Tribute that you presented a couple of weeks ago. It’s also light-years from my first car: Dad’s hand-me-down 1959 English Ford Consul — originally sold alongside Anglias at our local Lincoln-Mercury dealer.
My friend’s father in the 60’s owned one of these in its nomal form. Still this ‘evil grin’ variety can fool the unsuspecting trafic lights racer. Nice write up Todd!