Well, here’s one that hasn’t graced our Barn Finds web pages in ten years, a Ford Cortina, and in this case, it’s a third-year example, specifically, a 1964 Mark I GT. This one’s a bit rough around the edges and there is some confusion on the part of the owners, but let’s review it and see if we can sort it all out. Lake Ozark, Missouri is where this left-hand drive Brit has been slumbering and it’s available here on eBay for a current bid of $1,225 with eleven bids tendered so far.
Introduced in 1962, the Cortina continued on through 1984, with this example being a Mark I edition (’62-’65). Body styles included two and four-door sedans as well as a station wagon. This particular car is a “GT” model, which is outfitted with a more powerful engine and, according to the seller, front disc brakes, though research from the Mark I Cortina Club indicates that the disc brake inclusion didn’t occur until October of ’64. Other GT enhancements include faster ratio steering, larger rear brakes, and a firmer suspension. Apparently, one interested party suggested that this Cortina is actually a ’65 model, but the seller states that the clean California title has it identified as a ’64 edition.
The listing states that the exterior condition “needs complete restoration. A lot of body work, paint, full restoration.” Apparently, this car was originally finished in green and then later resprayed red. The body and underside appear to be solid, with no indication of rot or adverse structural integrity. All in all, it looks to be complete.
Powerwise, we should find a 74 HP, 1500 CC “Kent” in-line four-cylinder engine, driving the rear wheels via a four-speed manual transmission. The seller, however, adds, “Apparently the engine is a 1600cc cross flow. Not a 1500cc.” The crossflow engine is a derivative of the Kent powerplant and would have been available in the Cortina Mark II (’66-’70). Regardless, this one’s a non-runner. The engine compartment, sans air cleaner assembly, looks complete, but it would be nice to know if the motor will at least turn over by hand.
Inside is a black vinyl upholstery arrangement, sort of. The passenger seat is mummified in what looks like the biggest glump of duct tape that I’ve ever encountered. Beyond that, there is a complete instrument panel but a destroyed dash pad, a partially missing center console, and wrinkled door cards – typical stuff that one finds on an old car that has been sitting a spell.
No surprise, there are some unknowns here, and the engine issue is a mystery, but the fact that this is a GT trim level Cortina is an attractive calling card. The seller had plans to “build a vintage race car with the stock engine or build a fast street car and install a twin cam Zetec Ford engine,” but now he states to have “no room or time” for the project. He also mentions that he paid $5,000 for this Cortina five years ago, so maybe his loss will be someone else’s gain, right?
Just off the thumb nail picture I thought this was a Dodge dart someone had modified the front grille area. This could be a interesting ride to get back on the road
Lol! Looks like a 63 dart and a 61 rambler ambassador had a baby! Cool car!
Put the spare Lotus Twin Cam in it, has the Ban the Bomb rear lights
I am partial to the Lotus Cortina of this vintage. My friend/neighbor had one in early 70’s and I had a Lotus Elan with the same twin cam. It was a hot motor for its day and can stand proud still by todays standards.
I am partial to the Lotus Cortina of this vintage. My friend/neighbor had one in early 70’s and I had a Lotus Elan with the same twin cam. It was a hot motor for its day and can stand proud still by todays standards. The Lotus Cortinas are bringing big money today! ( if you can find one!)
If it’s a crossflow, you can make them shift a lot less expensively than a twink. Built it to FFord regs and it’ll do you well.
Cheap for a 2-door.
This was “my first car”. Maybe not this one specifically, but an identical twin, and in California as well. 1976, I was 16 and in desperate need of some wheels. My friend had a buddy down the street from him that wanted to unload a 64 Cortina GT from his yard. I gladly accepted, and used my dad’s 64 GMC pickup to tow it home and push it into the driveway. I bought a battery, fresh gas and tinkered with it for a few days and got it running. But the guy had no title, and my dad was a by-the-books kind of guy and was sure it was stolen. I begged him to give me time to get a title and prayed for the best. The next Saturday morning when the old man was off work, he work me up and said “get dressed and meet me out front”. There was my pride and joy, once again chained up behind the GMC, ready for dad to tow me and it back where it came from. The ride of shame, for sure.
This would be worth big money in the UK being a genuine GT, even with the non original engine. They have a dedicated following. And it’s easy to convert to RHD. If I were in the UK, I would snap this puppy up, import it into the UK and then turn a decent profit without even touching it.
What a hoot! First one I ever saw. It could clean up nice, and that dashboard is a gift from the gods. Too bad it’s 3000 miles away!
Interesting car. The chrome side trim in UK was only used on the 1500 Super model, but maybe the US market required a bit more bling for the GT model. I think the GT model always came with disc front brakes, but by the time this was built they were standard across the range anyway. The airflow ventilation and revised front grille were available from late 1964, and I guess the VIN will confirm the dates.
The replacement crossflow engine would have been a logical swap at some point in the past, and only a purist would be offended. 2 door Cortina shells are worth good money for competition purposes. To me it would make more sense to build this as a rally or track car rather than a concours rebuild, but the new owner will decide.
Nice fun driver, in the same category as the Volvo 444/544.
Ok, so a couple of things. First, the Mk1’s ran until 1966, while the Mk2’s were in production from 1967 until 1970, giving way to the Mk3’s. The Mk1 and Mk2 models came in 3 iterations, Deluxe, GT and Lotus Cortina. The GT and LC’s came with full instrumentation, while the Deluxe had a speedo and a combo gauge that included idiot lights for charging and oil pressure. The Mk1’s had a 1500 non crossflow engine, while the Mk2’s used the 1600 crossflow engine as currently shown in this car. Some early Mk2’s had 1500 engines in them as it appears Ford needed to get rid of stock. These cars were built in England and imported to the States where they could be purchased on Ford showroom floors. Parts were readily available via their parts department. Word is that Ford discontinued importing them with the introduction of the Pinto, which if my memory serves me correctly, initially used the Kent crossflow as its power provider. My first car was a 66 Mk1 GT, moved up to a RHD Mk1 Lotus Cortina and currently own a 68 Mk2 Deluxe that has had some modifications. By the way, the MK2 Lotus Cortina never made it to our shores.
In 1965 I managed to buy the very first Cortina Mk 1, 1200cc, 2 door coupe off the production line in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Initially it was given to the CEO of Ford’s wife but it was sold to an employee after a couple of months as she wanted a 4 door. The buyer moved to Durban, where I was living, and joined the General Post Office where he was given a panel van so he sold the car to me. I did many thousands of miles with it but it turned out to be the worst car I have ever owned, and I’ve owned plenty! My wife used it to work and back from Monday to Friday and I worked on it on just about every Saturday and Sunday! I have owned many Cortina’s of all shapes and sizes since but none of them ever gave anywhere near the problems that the first 1200cc did. Having only a 3 main bearing crankshaft it had a propencity to run the centre bearing often!
i had A 1968 Gt 1600 , good little car only had it for 18 months put 40k on it never let me down , when I got out of the military got a job that came with a vehicle so I sold the Cortina ,used to see it driving around for years later then gone !
I have owned a range of Cortinas, and loved most of them! My first was a 1968 Mk2 GT with the 1600cc crossflow engine. Bought it new for $2468. On one trip, it took me from LA to NH in 49 hrs and 6 minutes, at an average speed of 78mph. I later owned a tired MK1 Lotus Cortina (LHD), a Mk1 Estate (Wagon, LHD) which i dropped a 1600 Crossflow GT engine into and several Mk2 Deluxes which I generally traded off for something else.My wife made me sell the Lotus, as she thought it was an eyesore.
You should have told her that “You are getting more like my previous wife every day.” When she claims that she didn’t know that you were previously married, your answer should be, “I wasn’t”
How about $16.00. LMAO. Give it to a local kid and let him play with it and work on the car. Maybe he might learn something while he is working with his hands. Much better way of about life instead pressing buttons for fun in your life !!!