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UPDATE: The Frankentina Holman-Moody Cortina

UPDATE – Reader Chip tipped us off that this Cortina has been relisted again. It’s been on the market off and on for the past 9 years or so, but the seller has a big development this go around that could help them find a buyer! You see, they somehow managed to find the Holman-Moody serial plate. If you can verify that the plate does in fact go to the car, this could be one heck of a special find. The question is, would you be up to doing the needed homework and restoration work? You can take another look at it here on eBay with a BIN of $6,800 and the option to make an offer. Our thanks to Chip for the tip!

FROM 8/1/2012 – This 1968 Ford Cortina GT looks like someone went to it with a hack saw, but if the story behind it turns out to be true, it could be a rare and important car. It’s believed that this car was built by the famous Holman-Moody company. No one knows how many of these were built, as there doesn’t seem to be any account of them. This mystery vehicle can be found here on eBay.

The story behind this Cortina “Dume Buggy” is that a shipment of Cortinas headed to the states had the deck above them drop, crushing the roofs. Being seriously damaged, Ford decided to give a few to Holman-Moody to see what they could do with them. The vehicle that resulted was this topless Cortina truck. We have yet to find any documentation to prove this story, but the car does have a VIN tag issued by Holman-Moody stating that it’s a Cortina Dume Buggy.

A standard Cortina GT would be powered by a Ford 1.6 liter straight 4, but this car’s engine is missing. Given that Holman-Moody built many of Ford’s factory race cars, it’s hard to tell what engine this car could have had installed in it or what modifications it might have originally had. For all we know it could have had a small block V8 in it.

Information about this Frankentina is scarce. Without some type of documented proof, it’s hard to know whether this really was built by the famous racing company or by someone with a hacksaw and a fake Holman-Moody VIN plate. If some evidence surfaces that prove that this is a Holman-Moody special, it could be worth some serious money. We will keep digging and if we come across some evidence we will let you know. If anyone has ever seen another one of these or knows more about it, let us know!

Comments

  1. Avatar J. Pickett

    Ugly, useless, save the vin plate.

    Like 6
  2. Avatar Catfishphil

    Wow, it’s like anybody will try to sell anything that has any sort of implied providence to it. Not to be pessimistic! Maybe it’s the economy, or the dollar bill signs in people’s eyes when they want all those car auctions on TV…

    Like 4
    • Avatar Barn Finds

      True, but sometimes there is more to a pile of junk than meets the eye.

      Like 3
  3. Avatar TVC15

    Sorry , No documents , no car

    Like 5
  4. Avatar scot c

    ~ the Terry McGean article at Hemming’s lends some credibility. i’m interested to know the confirmed story. curiosity.

    Like 2
  5. Avatar Larry

    Hey I have this Yugo that sox’s and Martin built back in the 70’s, the engine and trans are missing and i don’t have any paper work, all i want for it is $5000, what a steal !!!

    Like 5
  6. Avatar mikey

    The problem (big problem) with the ad is the silly hype.

    Too much hype and no proof=nothing.

    Like a car salesman………shifty eyes and bad shoes………..

    Like 3
  7. Avatar Doug M

    Jesse, I see your point. Rather than passing this up, it is presented here as a lead that someone else can follow up on if their interest or knowledge supports this theory. The benefit to chasing these threads jis that you can eventually score with something really rare. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

    Like 3
  8. Avatar Doug M

    …Just read the Ebay ad and now have a new favorite car descriptor: “Very cherry in spots!”

    Like 4
  9. Avatar Carlo

    Hemmings mentioned these on their website. Apparently there’s at least one other out there.
    http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2009/08/24/holman-moody-cortina-found/

    Like 1
    • Avatar chip durlacher

      google holman moody cortina now —-there is a sports illustrated article from 1969 documenting the cars… so cool it is on ebay

      Like 1
  10. Avatar AMCFAN

    I know the after the story on this car. The seller listed the car for months after the original post with a hefty start price. At last the seller tried to to drum up interest by starting the bid @ $750. with no reserve. The bidding frenzy never happened. The car sold for the opening bid. After the sale the seller just happened to loose the HM vin tag and title! He felt real bad as he just had it! He offered to take $300 for the car with the promise I’ll call you when I find the tag and paperwork. No thanks. Last sightings were the seller listing the few undamaged Cortina GT parts.

    Like 4
  11. Avatar james

    I contacted Lee Holman and gave him the links, Waiting to see, Maybe he will post a response on here, If you bleed FORD Blue, You know how awesome that would be.

    Like 3
  12. Avatar james

    Lee Holman said they built a few of those for friends, So who knows what the sellers intentions where. They are or where real, according to Mr.Holman. im looking into it further.

    Like 2
  13. Avatar qmmq

    I love this site, and will continue using it multiple times a day. But, if you’re looking for something to buy? Look else where. Really well done writing, highly enjoyable (knowledged) comment’s…for the most part.

    Theirs plenty of political sites to go hate on. Just saying.

    Like 3
  14. Avatar sir_mike

    So after 9yrs.they now ”found” a HM vin plate??? Might have been built at the HM factory by workers with extra time to kill.Probably built to run on the beach’s there.Rear axle is not a Cortina unit.Looks 5 lug.I bought a few Cortina items from them back in the day for mine.

    Like 3
  15. Avatar RoughDiamond

    We forget there were all kinds of unusual circumstances and special odd ball builds taking place all the time back then. I have no issue believing the lost VIN tag and I would venture a guess that Lee Holman could verify if the VIN plate was legitimate. I really hope everything checks out on this car. If it does, Lee Holman may buy it for the Holman-Moody connection alone.

    Like 1
  16. Avatar Steve Clinton

    Ford Crapola.

    Like 1
  17. Avatar Howie Mueler

    Looks like Frankenstein Holman-Moody.

    Like 1
  18. Avatar Eric Lloyd

    Yes there was a load of Cortina’s that the deck collapsed on . They were unloaded in Saint John New Brunswick Canada. They were further damaged by the crew that took them to the holding yard

    Like 0
  19. Avatar Big Al

    Never take anything serious from the mouth of a Clinton….😏

    Like 0

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