One of the most salutary partnerships in the history of automaking was the Ford/Lotus tie-up. The romance began brewing in the 1950s: Colin Chapman used Ford’s 105E engine to develop his twin-cam, and the Lotus Elan and its variants were designed by an ex-Ford man, Ron Hickman (anyone know what Black & Decker product Hickman designed? – an example is sitting in my shop right now!) So Chapman saw Ford folks frequently. Once the twin-cam was completed, Ford asked Lotus to homologate its Cortina, launched in 1962 as a mid-sized economy car. The Cortina was styled by Roy Brown Jr. – demoted to Ford Britain after he produced the poorly-received Edsel. Once the saloons arrived at Lotus, Brown’s design was left intact but parts of the sheet metal were replaced by aluminum, the floors were altered to accommodate the Lotus version’s beefier suspension, and the engine bay became home to that twin-cam. Not your grandad’s Cortina. Here on craigslist is what appears to be an occasionally-raced, 1966 Lotus Cortina Mk I, with an asking price of $45k or near neighborhood. This car is located in Los Angeles, California, where fires have wrought destruction lately (may all affected find comfort and recovery soon). Iain sent us this tip – thanks!
Like the exterior, the interior needs a helping of … help. Most of the seating surfaces, including the top edge of the rear seats, need new upholstery. The wiring is wonky, the lid to the console compartment is dented, the carpets are shot. But all the bits appear to be present; the maintenance sticker is even still inside the glove box door. I have always wished the Cortina’s dash was more elegant, but I guess it has a workmanlike quality that suits its performance mission. It certainly doesn’t lack for gauges. I love the steering wheel; the seller notes that the original gearshift knob is missing so he gave it a generic wood replacement. The least of the buyer’s worries!
The 1558 cc twin-cam four-cylinder engine turns – but that means the seller hasn’t run it. It breathes (or will, once it runs) through twin side-draft Webers; with a compression ratio in the neighborhood of 9.5:1, output is about 105 bhp – quite a sight better than the 78 produced by the plain old OHV four found in Ford’s thrifty Cortina saloon. I mentioned that the Mark I was made with aluminum panels and sturdy suspension; Chapman took other measures to lighten the car. But complaints arose about its relative frailty, especially on the track, so as the years passed, the car was braced, strutted, and finally given steel panels. This late Mark I is probably all steel.
While more than 1 million Cortina saloons were sold, only 7400 of the Lotus variant were made, and of these, just 3300 were Mk Is. The seller at least gives a reason for his rather aggressive price: he saw an example sell on another venue for almost $90k. That would be this car, but it is nearly perfect in every way. Lesser, but still running drivers like this one can be had for half that price. So let’s see, pay roughly $50k for a perfectly adequate driver, or $45k for our subject car… ? I think a discount is in order here; what do you think?
Thanks a lot, Ms. Rand. Just when I forgot about those tail lights( that strongly resemble the Martian on War of the Worlds,,scared the XXXX out of me) another pops up.
Always liked Cortinas, perhaps because of the Mk.ll the old man had. I think this may be a “GT”, and all painted this color(?) and that motor put out over 100 HP( 108) and propelled this 1500 pound car like 0-60 in 10 seconds, 17.6 in the 1/4, but could easily top 100 mph. That’s mighty impressive. Impressive as that may be to me, the car was another flop over here, again, it wasn’t what Americans wanted from Britain. This is a really cool car.
Maybe $450? The engine room already looks like it’s been in the Califonia fires. I’m sure there is someone out there that wants this car but I don’t know of anyone.
This is a great write up Michelle. Unfortunately I dont know much at all about Ford Cortinas. I always thought they had a good look to them, in its day, it must have been a blast to drive. The price is a bit eye watering considering the condition and the fact it isn’t running. Like I always say. I always learn something new on here. I didn’t know that Roy Brown who designed the Edsel was “demoted ” to Ford of England. Hopefully the seller gets more realistic in their price and it gets restored.
@Michelle Rand If you want a deeper dive on the marque, please check out Mark Kempson’s dense website https://www.lotuscortinainfo.com/
All of the LHD cars were the facelift airflow cars. All steel panels and leaf sprung. Aluminum hood, trunk lids and doors were available as an option but kinda rare on the LHD cars.
Thanks, I did run into that site. I could have gotten buried in it … extensive information in there… Anyone who is serious about the Lotus Cortina should use that site as a reference.
I think the seller is hoping someone offers him 50 cents on the dollar, so he can scream SOLD! and run for the bank.
I think the green spear is to dark. It should be more of a yellowy green.
These things had very poor build quality and were rust magnets. GLWYTA!
Surely that photo of the rear is from a 1961-63 Rambler, right? Nice car at a quarter of the price.
First off, the seller really doesnt seem to know what he has. His line in the CL writeup about the car winning the Indy 500 is priceless. Still, it needs a lot of work and most certainly isn’t in the $45k range. They didn’t sell well in the US market because they were on the Ford showroom floors sitting next to Shelby 350’s with a higher price tag. They are fantastic cars. I owned a RHD LC, as well as a MK1 GT, currently in possession of a 68 Mk2. In terms of this car, I certainly wouldn’t pay more than $15k, if that. Parts are available, both here in the US and across the pond.
Like the Mk.2 better, reminded me of contemporary Falcon. My 2008 Focus is painted the same green as the stripe on the feature car – I call it my bogus Lotus Focus.
Looks genuine but you need to be an expert as these are frequently cloned. Very dought after for historic racing in UK/EU and a very competitive proposition to Alfa GTA at 20% of the price. The asking price is too high, but the concept is attractive.
So you have a Workmate, Michelle? As does every home which gave Ron Hickman way more money than Chapman ever did….
I have a Workmate. Very nice, compact bit of kit!
Bet you have a Workmate…! Really useful things; got my first one just over a year ago and don’t know how I’ve managed without one this long.
There’s footage on youtube of Jimmy Clark racing a Lotus Cortina at Oulton Park.
I’m in the U.K. and live 4 miles from the Ford factory, now mostly residential properties. I grew up with Lotus Cortina’s, Escort Mk1s, Mexico’s, RS 2000s. You can buy a Mk1 Lotus Cortina, drivable on the road and in reasonable condition for between £35-40k. So what they are asking for this one is way over the top in that condition. I would value it more like $30k.
I wouldnt follow BaT for your comps. (price a model based on comparative sales of comparative cars – just is as done for homes & much else). In fact I go there for NO thing (evena glance). Car’n Driver site owned by Hurst Magazine. OK in its early daze, out of it now. Just 2 problems to begin the list: auction, internet (& that is just the beginning for them). Highest possible prices…
I come here for my auto stuff instead. Move level headed.
Never understood this cortina club. Like the 1st chippers, the guys who pepped up the families’s carolla or civic I ‘didnt get it’. Sure a 2000GT, Z car, may B even the cosmo w/rotary. But very different cars than the latter. I’m the same way w/an angelica as drag or ‘gasser’. Glad the place(s) have room for us all. Variety is the spice of life~
Exciting little car, though – well worth preserving!
This Cortina is in very poor condition. Look at the the photo showing the engine- the strut towers are blown out and a large area of the inner fender shows extensive rusting. Unless you have access to new inner fenders, walk away. Shake your head guys but $45000!
I’d love to have one of these, a Brock-enhanced Datsun 510, and a 2002Tii. Imagine choosing which to drive!
Those tail lights were used on Eric Broadley’s 1963 Lola GT, progenitor of the Ford GT 40. They were probably the coolest thing about the Lotus Cortina other than the twin cam heads.
My parents gave me my Workmate about 50 years ago. It served as a TV stand for a couple of years and has now outlived several iterations of my most useful tool – the cordless drill. Former Dallas Cowboy Bob Lilly famously advertised the Workmate back in the day.
I know, who cares. But this site is all about nostalgia anyway.
My Dad bought a new ’64 Cortina, we kids thought it was the coolest little car. After 5 years it was traded in on an ex race car, ’68 Cortina GT. Which was a really cool little car. This, when all the neighbors drove full size Buicks, Pontiacs, Fords, etc. I learned to drive a stick on that one, at 10 years old! Sadly, the British Steel was no match for the iron ore dust at J&L Steel. By ’72, she was toasty. Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda, bought a Cortina when no one wanted these things, 35 years ago.
I had Cortinas for years.I’d buy another MKI 2 door GT,
if one came along in good shape for the right amount of money.
My “claim to fame” is that I probably the only one in America
to own a MKI,MKII,& MKIII at the same time.The MKI GT was the
best-driving of the three.
No photo of engine and head numbers? Or of stamped chassis number?